MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS
TED® Connection The Language of Dolphins Overview Mensa for Kids' TED Connections are short, easy to use guides that help teachers, parents and youth use TED talks in a classroom or home setting. Rather than a lesson plan format, they have a list of discussion questions, all at higher levels of thinking.
Denise Herzing, the Research Director of the Wild Dolphin project, shares the fascinating world of dolphins and the possibility that we may one day be able to “speak” with them.
Watch the TED talk at: http://www.ted.com/talks/denise_herzing_could_we_speak_the_language_of_ dolphins.html
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS
THINK ABOUT IT: 1. Dr. Herzing says dolphins interested her because of their large brains and what they might be doing with them in the wild. What animals interest you the most and why? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
2. For nearly 30 years, Dr. Herzing has spent five months a year out on a boat and in the water with the dolphins. What do you think would be the most wonderful thing about this, and what do you think would be the hardest? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
3. A brain to body ratio second only to humans, the ability to understand artificially created languages, use tools, and pass self-awareness tests are all things Dr. Herzing shares to explain dolphins’ high intelligence. Which of these is most impressive to you? What is a sign of intelligence humans have that dolphins don’t (that we know of)? __________________________________
4. Dr. Herzing muses about what we would talk about with dolphins if we could communicate with them. What would you like to ask a dolphin? What do you think a dolphin would like to ask you? Who do think is more curious about the other – dolphins or humans? __________________________________________________________________
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS 5. There was a six-year difference in the maturity ages between male and female dolphins. Why do you think dolphin males mature so much more slowly than females? What advantages could this give dolphins? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 6. Each dolphin has unique spot patterns. Do you think dolphins use those to recognize each other, or do you think they rely on the sound of their signature (or “name”) whistle? What would be the advantages and disadvantages of each of those methods? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 7. The enemies of dolphins are, in order of which kills more dolphins: man, sharks, dolphins. Dolphins are their own enemies in a sense because orcas (killer whales) sometimes eat them, and orcas are the largest of the dolphin family (Delphinidae). How are humans sometimes their own worst enemies? ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ ________________________ __________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________
8. Dolphins have a strong sense of sight, taste, sound, and touch, but not smell. Why do you think that is, and what do you think humans’ weakest sense is? __________________________________________________________________
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS 9. Dr. Herzing says the dolphins create many types of sounds, including their signature whistle, echolocation clicks, buzzes, and burst pulse sounds. Visit the Wild Dolphin project website http://www.wilddolphinproject.org/ and listen to the dolphins. Can you identify any of these kinds of sounds from what you’re hearing? Now visit this site http://bit.ly/dolphinsounds and listen to the different sounds isolated. Revisit Wild Dolphin Project and see if you can identify them more easily. 10. Although Dr. Herzing focuses her research on the Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (Stenella frontalis), she describes how they interact with another species of dolphin, the Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) – joining together to babysit each other’s calves and form temporary alliances when chasing sharks away. In her talk, she shares video of the way the dolphins synchronize their sounds and body postures to sound and appear bigger. Can you think of other animals that do similar things? How do some human behaviors simulate this dynamic as well? __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS 11. Dolphins play by dragging seaweed around, playing Keep Away with it, and teaching the game to their young. This doesn’t necessarily sound that fun to humans. What does it really mean to “play,” and what might explain why something would be fun to one species and not to another? Is play a sign of intelligence? __________________________________________________________________
12. Dr. Herzing hopes the dolphins will learn to mimic the different whistles associated with the different objects and divers, creating a common language. Based on what you’ve seen so far, do you think that is likely? Why or why not? __________________________________________________________________
13. In an interview, Dr. Herzing was asked why she liked dolphins so much. She responded:
I think intelligence recognizes intelligence. Awareness of another sentient species by simply looking into an eye and noting that something is behind that eye is incredible. Dolphins make it clear that they are aware of you, and can engage you as no other wild animal can engage a human being. I think the ultimate bonding for me comes from not only a mutual awareness, but also a respect for each other. I want them to be dolphins; they probably want us to be humans. The question is where can we meet and what can we learn. It's a relationship, you want the other to be themselves (hopefully) and that is what you enjoy about them.
Have you ever looked into an animal’s eyes and realized that “something” was behind that eye? She says that bonding is based on respect, not just awareness. What do you think it means to truly respect animals? How is what she said about “intelligence recognizing intelligence” true, and what does that mean to you? __________________________________________________________________
You can read the full interview here http://bit.ly/drherzinginterview.
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS
DO IT:
Observe an animal (a bird, a squirrel, even your own pet) for 30 days, recording everything you notice about it, taking pictures and video, and noting eating habits, sleeping cycles, or other behaviors. Record your observations in a journal, and review them at the end of the 30 days. What do you know about this animal now that you didn’t know before?
Make an origami dolphin! Find instructions (including a link to a printable set of directions) here http://bit.ly/origamidolphin
You can find dolphin activities to do (online games, coloring pages and more)at http://bit.ly/dolphinfun
Cut and color your own dolphin http://bit.ly/dolphincraft
Complete a family dolphin puzzle http://bit.ly/dolphinpuzzle
READ ABOUT IT:
Read Dr. Herzing’s book Dolphin Diaries: My 25 Years with Spotted Dolphins in the Bahamas
Read about the endangered Ganges River Dolphin here http://bit.ly/indiandolphin
Smithsonian Handbook: Whales, Dolphins and Porpoises by Mark Carwardine
National Geographic Readers: Dolphins Paperback by Melissa Stewart (ages 5 – 8)
Everything Dolphin: What Kids Really Want to Know about Dolphins by Marty Crisp (3rd – 6th grade)
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
MensaForKids.org TED CONNECTIONS
WATCH IT:
Watch videos of dolphins at the Wild Dolphin Project site http://bit.ly/wilddolphinvideo
IMAX: Dolphins (2000)
PBS video: How Smart are Dolphins http://bit.ly/pbsdolphin
http://bit.ly/dolphindinner less than three minute video about how dolphins work together to eat
http://www.thecovemovie.com/ WARNING: This is a very disturbing documentary about the hunting of dolphins in Japan. It should not be viewed by young children. Parents may wish to view first before allowing even older youth to view it.
SURF IT:
Visit The World Wildlife Fund website and search for dolphins. Read about the many different species of dolphin http://worldwildlife.org.
Visit the Wild Dolphin Project website http://www.wilddolphinproject.org/
Learn more about dolphins here http://www.dolphins-world.com/
© This lesson plan is the property of the Mensa Education & Research Foundation, www.mensafoundation.org. It is provided as a complimentary service to the public. Reproduction and distribution without modification is allowed. Images, links and linked content referenced herein are the property of the originating entities.
