Orcas and Their Pods: teacher key

Orcas, grade 4 edition, written for 4th grade. Orcas are the largest dolphins, and they live and hunt in family pods. Find out how they herd fish, share food habits and raise their calves.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What is the orca the largest member of?
   • The shark family
   • The seal family
   • The dolphin family (answer)
2. What do orcas that hunt herring in Norway do after they herd the fish?
   • Slap their tails (answer)
   • Swim to the poles
   • Make a wave
3. How do orcas find things in the water?
   • They click and listen for echoes (answer)
   • They follow the moon
   • They watch the sky
4. Orcas in different places eat different foods. Why might young orcas learn from older ones?
   • They are told to stay home
   • The older ones know the hunting skills of their place (answer)
   • They never eat fish
5. What does herd mean?
   • Gather together (answer)
   • Swim away
   • Make a sound

Words

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