Humpback Whale for Kids Ages 6-8

Humpback Whale

Hello! I am a Humpback Whale, and I'm as long as a school bus. I was born in warm waters, but I travel on a long migration to chilly seas like Alaska every year to find food. I have a special way of eating called bubble-net feeding, where I use bubbles to trap tiny fish and krill. I am also famous for my long, beautiful songs, which people started recording around the 1950s. Our populations were once very small, but in 1966, we became protected. Now, I help the whole planet by feeding tiny ocean plants that make the air we breathe.

First scientifically named 1781

International Whaling Commission Protection 1966

Discovery of Whale Songs 1967

A Humpback Whale's Splashy Story

A big splashy hello to you! My name is Humpback, and I am a Humpback Whale. I was born in warm, tropical waters, but some births have been observed in cooler regions where it feels like a cozy bath. The very first thing I did was swim to the top with my mom, and she helped me take my first big breath of fresh air. It was amazing! Even though I was just a baby, I was already very big. Now that I'm grown, I am as long as a whole school bus! But don't worry, I am a gentle giant. I love to glide through the big blue ocean, swimming and playing with my family. The water is my home, and I love exploring every part of it, from the sunny surface to the deep, quiet places below.

Every year, I go on a super long trip called a migration. It is one of the longest journeys of any mammal on our whole planet! My family and I swim together, leaving the warm tropical waters where I was born. We travel for many, many miles until we reach the chilly seas in places like Alaska. You might wonder why we swim so far to where the water is so cold. It's because that's where all the yummy food is! The cold water is full of delicious things for a whale like me to eat. The migration allows humpback whales to access nutrient-rich feeding grounds, essential for building energy reserves and maintaining health, so we have enough energy for the long swim back to the warm waters to have our own babies.

When I get hungry, I have a very clever trick for catching my dinner. It’s called bubble-net feeding! I swim in a big circle deep under the water and blow lots of bubbles from my blowhole. The bubbles float up and create a big, bubbly net that traps tiny fish and krill, which are like tiny shrimp. Then, I swim up through the middle of my bubble net with my mouth wide open and gulp down a huge, tasty meal! Besides being a clever hunter, I am also a famous singer. My songs are very long and deep, and other whales can hear them for miles and miles underwater. People with special microphones first started recording our beautiful songs around the 1950s, and they are still listening to us today.

For a while, a long time ago, there were not very many of us Humpback Whales in the ocean because of hunting. Our populations became very small, and we were in trouble. But then, people realized we needed help. In 1966, a special rule was made to protect us all over the world. It helped us so much, and now there are many more of us swimming in the seas! I have a very important job in the ocean. My poop might sound silly, but it is full of nutrients that help feed the tiny plants in the water. These little plants are amazing because they make the air that we all breathe. I am so happy to help keep our ocean healthy, because we all share this wonderful, watery world.