humpback whale migration map

Whale Resources for Teachers & Students (Free + Curriculum-Aligned)

online Marine Science Courses

Activities, lesson ideas and whale facts based on Australia’s migration season

Online Marine Science Courses: Humpback Whale Learning for Australian Students

Discover engaging online marine science courses focused on Australia’s incredible humpback whales. Perfect for schools, homeschoolers, educators, and whale enthusiasts, our interactive programs are designed for students aged 7+ and combine videos, hands-on activities, and real-world ocean science to inspire learning.

Aligned with the Australian Curriculum, these courses support key learning areas including Biological Sciences, Geography, and Sustainability. Students explore humpback whale habitats, migration, adaptations, classification, life cycles, and the impact humans have on marine ecosystems.

Flexible and easy to use, our online whale courses are ideal for classroom learning or home education. They can also be combined with our live marine incursions and coastal excursions for an unforgettable hands-on learning experience.

Australia’s Annual East Coast Humpback Whale Migration

Each year, more than 20,000 humpback whales travel along Australia’s east coast in one of the longest mammal migrations on Earth. After feeding during summer on up to four tonnes of krill in the cold Antarctic waters, they migrate north to the warmer tropical waters of the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef to mate and give birth.

This remarkable round trip can reach 10,000 kilometres, and lucky Australians can witness the migration from beaches and headlands along the east coast.

Amazing Humpback Whale Facts

Humpback Whale Pods

Humpback whales often travel alone or in small groups called pods, although they may gather in larger groups while feeding.

Migration Order

During migration, whales often travel in this order:

  • Young males in groups at the front
  • Adult breeding whales in the middle
  • Pregnant females and mothers with calves behind

Scientists believe mothers remain longer in Antarctic feeding grounds to build energy reserves and produce milk for their calves.

Breaching and Tail Slapping

Humpback whales are famous for their spectacular acrobatics. They leap from the water in a behaviour called breaching, or slap the surface with their fins and tails.

These behaviours may help whales:

  • Communicate over long and short distances
  • Warn predators such as sharks
  • Remove parasites
  • Play and socialise

Humpback Whale Songs

Male humpback whales produce complex songs by moving air through chambers in their heads. These sounds are amplified through fatty tissue in the jaw and may help with communication, mating, or locating food.

A humpback whale song can travel up to 30 kilometres underwater.

HUMPBACK WHALE RESOURCES & COURSES
Humpback taxonomic chain
Teaching Humpback Whale Classification: Resources for Primary Schools

In this blog, we look at how to use humpback whales to support curriculum-aligned learning for primary students, with a focus on humpback whale classification, adaptations, and marine ecosystems and habitats.

Humpback Classification
Teaching Life Cycles of Humpback Whales

This blog offers educators valuable information about humpback whale life cycles, habitats, and threats, along with engaging discussion points and activities that can be brought to life with a trip to the coast to view the spectacle that is the annual humpback migration.

humpback whale migration map
Where to See the Humpback Whale Migration on East Coast Australia

Find out when and where to see the annual humpback migration on East Coast Australia

queensland humpback whale migration guide
Queensland Humpback Whale Migration Guide

When and where to watch the humpbacks in Queensland.

Humpback Whale Migration Calendar
East Coast Humpback Whale Migration Calendar

Free calendar so that you don’t miss out on the greatest show on earth!!

humpback whale online kids course
Humpback Whale Online Course

🐋 Humpback Whale Online Course

Get the lowdown on Australia’s iconic humpback whales with this engaging, curriculum-aligned online course designed for learners aged 7+. Packed with awesome videos, infographics, migration maps, a whale-watching guide, quizzes, and interactive activities, this course brings marine science to life in a fun and accessible way.

Students will explore key concepts including migration, habitats, adaptations, and conservation, while building their understanding of real-world ocean ecosystems.

  • Age: 7+
  • Duration: 1–2 hours
  • Includes: Videos, maps, quizzes, activities, and whale-watching guide
  • Certificate: Receive a personalised certificate awarded by Head of Education and Marine Biologist, Richard Coward

Perfect for classrooms, homeschooling, or independent learners, this course can be used on its own or alongside Ocean Life Education’s incursions and excursions for a richer, hands-on experience.

Cost: $20

humpback teaching resources
Humpback Whale - Teaching Resources

Our Humpback Whale resources support the teaching of key curriculum themes – Human Impact, Habitats, Adaptation, and Classification – through the engaging context of this iconic species.

The resource pack includes a wide range of materials to support classroom learning:

  • Downloadable videos
  • Activities and lesson ideas
  • Infographics and fact sheets
  • Maps and a migration calendar
  • Ready-to-use presentation

Cost: $20