Dear Mr. Blueberry

Emily writes her teacher, Mr. Blueberry, about her discovery of a whale in her backyard. Mr. Blueberry writes back, gently but firmly insisting that it is impossible. But Emily is absolutely certain that her whale friend Arthur is living in her backyard pond.

Then the whale disappears, and Emily is despondent. But all ends well, as Emily sees Arthur again.

Buy this book at Amazon.com

NCTM

 "Ideas from probability serve as a foundation to the collection, description, and interpretation of data."   (NCTM Standards for K-2 probability)

Probability

  • Read this book as an introduction to certain and impossible events.
  • Discuss with the children other events that are or seem certain or impossible.
  • Use the worksheet from the resource links below to discuss likely and unlikely events.
  • Find the probability of simple events using the simple probability worksheet.Design a probability study in your classroom, such as finding the probability of being male, or wearing sandals, or having brown hair.
  • Connect this mathematics lesson to other lessons in science, writing, reading, and history. Start with the links below to explore about whales.

References

Whale Glossary
Worldwide Whales
Newfoundland Whales
Whale myths