Dolphins and freshwater
Teaching tools about freshwater dolphins and conserving freshwater resources
Use this toolkit to explore, analyze, and discuss the importance of protecting freshwater dolphins and conserving freshwater resources around the world. These resources are geared towards students in grades 3-5 and can be used in any learning environment.
Background resources for educators
This resource guide and interactive classroom presentation are designed to give you all the information you need to teach your students about dolphins and freshwater habitats. These resources provide fun freshwater dolphin facts, and information around why they matter, what threats they face, what WWF is doing to help dolphins and freshwater resources, and what kids can do to help.
Learning activities
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Lessons & activities
Nature's Sponges
Students build models of wetland ecosystems that represent the necessity and importance of these habitats.
Grade3-5SubjectsScience & STEMThemeWildlife & biodiversityEcosystems & habitats -
Lessons & activities
A drop in the bucket
Students will evaluate their current daily water use and be tasked with designing a new daily routine, imagining they were limited in the amount of water available, as many areas of the world are.
Grade3-5SubjectsScience & STEMMathThemeEcosystems & habitats -
Lessons & activities
Like the river flows
After explaining how rivers are like the arteries and veins of the Earth, students will develop their own metaphors and similes in a poem that reflects the importance of free-flowing rivers.
Grade3-5SubjectsScience & STEMEnglish language artsThemeWildlife & biodiversityEcosystems & habitats -
Lessons & activities
Dolphin geography flipbooks
Students will create flipbooks containing information on the threats and habitats of the existing seven species of freshwater dolphins and their neighboring communities who share their water resources.
Grade3-5SubjectsEnglish language artsSocial studiesThemeWildlife & biodiversityEcosystems & habitats -
Lessons & activities
The umbrella effect
To represent the important role that Amazon river dolphins have in their ecosystem, students will create hanging mobiles with dolphins as the centerpiece.
Grade3-5SubjectsScience & STEMArts & craftsThemeWildlife & biodiversityEcosystems & habitats -
Lessons & activities
Food or foe?
A dolphin-twist on the game Marco Polo, students will understand how dolphins have adapted to find food without the use of their sight.
Grade3-5SubjectsScience & STEMPhysical educationThemeWildlife & biodiversityEcosystems & habitats -
Lessons & activities
Freshwater dam debate
Students will debate the pros and cons of freshwater dams from the perspectives of various town stakeholders.
Grade6-8SubjectsEnglish language artsSocial studiesThemeEcosystems & habitats
Printables
Posters
Files contain both posters. Select paper size below.
Multimedia resources
River dolphin and freshwater video playlist
We've compiled the following playlist of freshwater dolphin and river-related videos to complement the activities within the Freshwater Dolphin Toolkit. For more educational videos and Q&A sessions with our experts, subscribe to WWF's Wild Classroom YouTube channel.
Test your knowledge
Check out Wild Classroom's All About Freshwater Dolphins, Freshwater 101, and Every Drop Counts! quizzes on Kahoot!
