Paper Bag Sperm Whale - Friends of the Dunes

Paper Bag Sperm Whale
Materials:
Paper Bag
Construction paper
Googly eyes
Glue
Twisty tie
Crayons, markers, or paint
Shredded newspaper (optional)
Figure 1 – Completed Paper Bag Sperm Whale (This one was made with a long paper bag,
regular sized bags will work but the whales body will be shorter)
Procedure:
• While the bag is flat, color or paint the whale (optional) and glue on your googly eyes (Use a
picture of a real whale for reference; sperm whales eyes are close to the bottom of their head)
• Make two pectoral fins out of construction paper
• Make the spray out of blue construction paper by cutting1 inch strips and stopping an inch or
two from the edge of the paper (see figure 2)
• Roll the construction paper into a tube
• To make the strips curl, wrap them around a marker and hold for a few seconds (see figure 3)
• Optional: Stuff the bag with shredded newspaper, stop when it’s 2/3 full
• Use a twisty tie to fasten off the bag, leaving enough to make a tail
• Glue the pectoral fins to the whale’s belly
• Poke a hole in the top of the whales head, and insert the construction paper
• Enjoy your finished Sperm Whale
Figure 2 – Cut the construction paper into 1-
inch incomplete strips.
Figure 3 – To make the strips curl, roll them
around a marker and hold for a few seconds
Check out the Sperm Whale facts on the next page

Did you know?
The sperm whale is named after the spermaceti organ in its head. The organ is a big cavity filled
with a waxy substance known as spermaceti, which in whaling days was originally mistaken for
sperm. Scientists believe the spermaceti helps to focus sound during echolocation, and might
also be used to control buoyancy while the whale is diving.
The sperm whale is one of the deepest diving mammals (along with bottlenose whales and
elephant seals) and can reach depths of almost 2 miles! Their diet consists of deep sea squid such
as the giant and colossal squid, as well as octopuses and rays. Most of what is known about deepsea
squid was learned from specimens that were found in the stomachs of sperm whales. Hunting
squid can be quite a challenge and squid often fight back, leaving circular scars on the whales
skin from their suckers, which are lined with serrated teeth made of chitin. Some whales have
been found with sucker scars the size of dinner plates!