A Dolphin by Another Name: teacher key

Orcas, grade 3 edition, written for 3rd grade. Orcas are black and white dolphins that live in pods in every ocean. Learn how they hunt as a team and raise their calves.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What family is an orca part of?
   • The shark family
   • The dolphin family (answer)
   • The seal family
2. How do orcas find things in the water?
   • They click and listen for echoes (answer)
   • They follow the sun
   • They wait for the tide
3. How long is a mother orca pregnant?
   • 15 to 18 days
   • 5 to 8 weeks
   • 15 to 18 months (answer)
4. Why are orcas called apex predators?
   • They swim very slowly
   • Few animals hunt them (answer)
   • They live in warm seas
5. A pod is made up of whales that are related. What is a pod like?
   • A single whale
   • A family (answer)
   • A school bus

Words

• pod: an orca family
• calf: a baby orca
• echoes: bounced sounds
• apex: at the top