Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 27, 1995 TAG: 9505300038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
An applied biology class at Radford High School is having a whale of a time this week with a BIG project.
Literally.
"Blubber," a 70-foot whale constructed with two huge sheets of plastic and clear tape, takes up the entire armory at the high school when inflated. Science teacher Frank Taylor started the project to teach his 10th-grade students to appreciate the size of the largest mammal on Earth: the blue whale.
"I just wanted something exciting, interesting and worthwhile," said Taylor, whose small class spent Friday reinforcing the whale's seams. "Maybe they'll look back on this years from now and say, 'I remember biology.'"
The students have learned that their whale, Blubber, is actually smaller than most blue whales, which can grow to 85 feet long and weigh as much as 285,000 pounds. Taylor also told them how whales eat, by filtering plankton through their teeth-like baleen, then licking it off with a big, soft tongue.
The construction project began two weeks ago. The students learned about the blue whale's habits and habitats, then began building their first model. Using plans provided by a national wildlife program called "Project Wild," the students scaled down the 70-foot model to one that was 7 feet long.
"That went pretty well," Taylor said, pointing to a smaller whale, about the size of a newborn blue whale. "There was a lot of math involved in changing the dimensions."
Next, it was on to the big whale, which required the plastic and tape - less than $100 in supplies.
Once the students cut the pieces for the body, they carefully taped them together, leaving one open end at the tail. A simple box-fan provides enough air to keep Blubber aloft. And the students can even walk inside the giant creature.
"Next year, we're planning to take the whale to the elementary schools and share it with the kids there," Taylor said. "It's good for the older ones, and the younger kids get a lot out of it."
by CNB