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Humpback Whale Adaptations: Fun Learning Activities for Schools

Humpback Whales for Schools

 

Humpback whales are one of Australia’s most iconic ocean visitors – and perfect for helping students explore how animals adapt to survive in their environments. With their incredible annual migration along Australia’s coasts, unique feeding behaviours and specialised physical features, humpbacks offer rich, hands-on learning opportunities that support the Australian Curriculum’s focus on biological sciences and understanding how living things adapt, grow and survive.

Below is a guide to humpback whale adaptations, plus simple, engaging activities that you can run in the classroom to bring ocean science to life.

Check out our educational programs that support this curriculum learning.

Link to whale resources here.

Humpback Whale Fast FactsHumpback Whale Anatomy

  • Species of baleen whale
  • Gets its name from the hump on its’ back
  • Distinctive shape – long pectoral fins and a knobbly head
  • Black on the upper (dorsal) side and black and white on the under (ventral) side
  • Ventral pleats run from the tip of the lower jaw to the belly
  • Dorsal fin on the back for stability
  • The shape and colour on the dorsal (upper) fin and tail is unique to each whale, like human fingerprints

 

Why Humpback Whales Are a Powerful Adaptation Example

Each year, humpback whales travel up to 10,000 km along Australia’s east coast – one of the longest migrations on the planet. Their journey from Antarctica to Queensland and back again highlights how animals rely on physical and behavioural adaptations to thrive in different environments.

Studying humpback whales helps learners develop:

🐋An understanding of how animals adapt to survive

🐋Observation and comparison skills

🐋Curiosity about marine ecosystems

🐋Awareness of ocean conservation and human impact

Key Humpback Whale Adaptations

  1. Blubber – A Built-In Heater

Humpbacks have a thick layer of blubber that keeps them warm in freezing Antarctic waters. It also provides energy when they stop feeding in warmer waters during migration.

Try it:
Blubber Glove Experiment – Students place a hand inside a bag surrounded by fat to feel how insulation works.

 

  1. Baleen Plates – The Ultimate Filter-Feeder Humpback Whale Baleen

Humpbacks are baleen whales, meaning they feed by filtering tiny shrimp-like creatures through fringed plates of long, fingernail-like material called baleen, attached to their upper jaws.

 

Try it:
Baleen Sieve Activity – Use a comb or colander with water and small floating items (e.g., lentils or bits of paper) to mimic how baleen traps food.

 

  1. Flippers and Flukes – Built for Swimming

Humpbacks have long pectoral fins – the largest of any whale – which help with turning, gliding and acrobatic manoeuvres.

The tail has two lobes known as flukes . Whales tails are horizontal and move up and down, unlike a fish’s tail (shown) which is vertical and moves from side to side.

Try it:
Flipper Paper Plane Challenge – Make paper “whales” with long and short fins and compare which glides further.

 

  1. Migration Behaviour – A Survival Strategy Humpback Whale Migration Map

Travelling thousands of kilometres ensures humpbacks can feed in Antarctica and breed in warm northern waters.

Try it:
Migration Map Tracking – Plot their journey on a large classroom map, noting resting spots, danger zones and feeding grounds. Bring it to life with a local focus.

Humpback Whale Migration Calendar

Where to see the Humpback Whales Migration on East Coast Australia

 

  1. Songs and Communication – Finding Each Other in the Deep

Male humpbacks sing complex songs that travel long distances underwater, helping them communicate during migration.

Try it:
Sound Wave Demo – Use tuning forks, water bowls or elastic bands to explore how sound travels differently through solids, liquids and air.

Wrap-Up: Bringing Science and the Ocean Together

Adaptation activities centred on humpback whales not only support learning in biological sciences but also build curiosity, empathy and environmental awareness. By exploring how these amazing animals survive and thrive, students gain a deeper appreciation of Australia’s ocean ecosystems – and the role humans play in protecting them.

If you’d like more hands-on ocean learning experiences, Ocean Life Education offers curriculum-aligned programs designed to inspire and engage.

More Humpback Whale Resources

Learn More About Humpback Whales with our online course

🧭 Local Learning Experiences

Take advantage of the humpback whale migration along the East Coast of Australia. From May to November, students may be able to see whales from shore or on a local eco-tour.

Consider planning:

🐳 A virtual whale-watching tour

🐳 An incursion with Ocean Life Education

🐳 A field trip/ excursion to a local coastal lookout

About Ocean Life Education Ocean Life Education

At Ocean Life Education, we’re all about helping Australians connect with the ocean and understand why it matters. Through engaging, hands-on learning experiences, we explore Australia’s diverse marine environments, the incredible creatures that live there, and the real-world challenges our oceans are facing.

Our interactive programs are curriculum-aligned and designed to make learning meaningful and memorable – whether it’s in the classroom, during an event, or through immersive field-based experiences. Every session is customised to suit your school or group, with an emphasis on local marine ecosystems, human impact, and conservation.

From up-close marine displays featuring real ocean animals to dynamic learning activities, our programs encourage curiosity, deepen understanding, and inspire students to take action. Above all, we aim to empower young people to value our oceans and feel confident about playing a role in protecting them for the future.

📚 Recommended Resources & Useful Links

Primary Incursions & Excursions

Primary Resources & Activities

Ocean Life Education’s Whale Resources

For more information about what we do, check out Ocean Life Education.

We hoped you enjoyed reading our blog: Humpback Whale Adaptations: Fun Learning Activities for Schools

Where to See the Annual Humpback Migration on East Coast Australia

australian humpback whale migration map

It’s that exciting time of year when humpback whales migrate up and down the Queensland coastline from the Antarctic to mate and give birth in warmer waters. The arrival of the whales is celebrated throughout East Coast Australia and we reckon it’s the greatest show on earth! Why not head down to the coast and join in the celebration? Read on to find out when and where to see the annual humpback migration on East Coast Australia and to learn a whole lot more about it…

Get your Humpback Whale Migration Calendar below

Book a Humpback Whale themed incursion or Check out our Humpback Whale Teaching Resource Pack

 

The Best Time to see the Humpback Whale Migration on the East Coast

whale watchingThe exact timing varies depending on the temperature of the water, among other factors, but generally the best time to see humpback whales on the East Coast is between May and November each year.

The whales firstly migrate north up the East Coast, then can be seen migrating back south from September to November. This is the best time to see the humpback whale migration as they often have calves and swim close to the shore in order to protect the calves from predators.

 

Remember!

Calm morning waters make humpback whales easier to spot but sunsets make for spectacular photos!

 

The Best Places to See Humpback Whales in Queensland

great barreir reefThe best places to see humpback whales in Queensland are considered to be the Sunshine Coast, The Great Barrer Reef, and Hervey Bay.

The humpback whale’s spectacular acrobatic displays can be easily seen from the shore or from a viewpoint, but if you want to get closer, take a whale watching tour.

Don’t forget to ensure you book with a company that operates in a respectful manner as whales need to be protected from human impact.

The Best Places to See Humpback Whales on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast

You can easily see whales on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast from the shore. Sometimes you’ll see several pods at once as the view points tend to offer 180 degree viewing. Not many people can say they can watch whales from close to their own doorstep!

The best places on the Sunshine Coast include:

Coolum: Point Perry or Point Arkwright, Coolum

Kawana: Point Cartwright

Moffat Beach Headland

Noosa: Hells Gate, Noosa National Park

Alexandra Headland

The Best Places to See Humpback Whales near Brisbane

If you live in or are visiting Queensland’s biggest city, Brisbane, then North Stradbroke is the best place to see humpback whales from the shoreline. It’s an easy and very beautiful 50 minute boat ride from the outskirts of Brisbane. North Stradbroke is home to a large Aboriginal population which celebrates the arrival of the whales each year.

Whale Watching Tours in Queensland

whale watching toursIf you wish to do a whale watching tour in Queensland, you could find the whales swimming under your boat. It’s really not uncommon as whales can be very inquisitive!

Boats are not permitted to go within three hundred meters of whales but if they come to you, that’s another matter. Our recommended spots for whale watching boat tours are Mooloolaba, Hervey Bay (about a quarter of humpbacks pass through here), Whitsundays and the Great Barrier Reef.

 

Humpback Whale Migration Events & Celebratons

Humpback whale events and celebrations take place annually along Queensland’s coast. The Quandamooka Aboriginal people of North Stradbroke Island host a “Welcome the whales” traditional celebration and no wonder, the island has some great vantage points for watching the show!

Further north, Hervey Bay is famous for the Hervey Bay Whale Festival. Hervey Bay is unlike anywhere else along the ‘humpback highway’, as many whales stop here to spend around ten days resting, socialising and playing before continuing their trip back south to the Antarctic for the summer months.

 

Want to know more humpback whale facts?

Check out our online humpback whale course to learn a whole lot more humpback whale facts. The course includes awesome videos, infographics, a whale-watching guide, migration calendar, maps, quizzes and more! 

humpback whale teaching resources

Click here for teaching resources

 

 

How Can I Protect Whales? 

You can make a difference and protect whales while watching them by following the following guidelines:

Educate yourself and tell friends

Whale watch with a thoughtful and responsible company

Report sick or injured animals

Reduce plastic usage

Support a whale charity such as:

Whale & Dolphin Conservation
Marine Conservation
Sea Shepherd
Humpbacks & Highrises

Get your FREE Humpback Whale Migration Calendar