Connect students directly to the concept in a personal way. Capture students' attention by initiating a group problem-solving activity before delivery of instruction. Begin with a situation that is familiar to students and builds on what they already know. Construct a learning experience that allows diverse and personal student responses. Facilitate the work of cooperative teams of students.

Measuring of a great whale, comparison to student size.

Objective: To provide the students with an awareness of the size of five great whales in comparison to their own body size.

Activity: Students, working in small groups, are asked to go outside to a grassy area and measure out the length of the whale which they have been assigned. Each group will mark this length with yarn. Whales students will measure include:

Blue whale - 91 ft.
Humpback whale - 45 ft.
Fin whale - 80 ft.
Sperm whale - 55 ft.
Right whale - 50 ft.

The groups are then asked to estimate the number of class members it would take, lying head to foot, to equal the length of "their" whale.

Assessment: Involvement of the students in the experience and their contribution to it.