1. Teacher Guide This lesson is designed to teach kids to ask a critical thinking question that you can’t just put into a search box to solve. To do that, we encourage them with smaller questions that search can help them answer. Make sure that you read the notes for each slide: they not only give you teaching tips but also provide answers and hints so you can help the kids if they are having trouble. Remember, you can always send feedback to the Bing in the Classroom team at BingInTheClassroom@Microsoft.com. You can learn more about the program at bing.com/classroom and follow the daily lessons on our Partners In Learning site. BingInTheClassroom@Microsoft.combing.com/classroomPartners In Learning site Want to extend today’s lesson? Consider using Skype in the Classroom to arrange for your class to chat with another class in today’s location. And if you are using Windows 8, you can also use the Bing apps to learn more about this location and topic; the Travel and News apps in particular make great teaching tools.Skype in the Classroom Ja'Dell Davis is a Los Angeles native who currently divides her time between New York City and Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, pursing a PhD in Sociology. Ja’Dell previously taught high school in Philadelphia public schools, and implemented college access and academic enrichment programming in Chester, Pennsylvania and New York City in Manhattan’s Lower East Side neighborhood. Ja’Dell received her B.A. from Swarthmore College with a special major in History and Educational Studies, and a minor in Black Studies. She completed her M.S.Ed in Secondary School Education at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to her studies and work in the education field, Ja’Dell is a dancer, musician, avid people watcher, and Scrabble enthusiast. This lesson is designed to teach the Common Core State Standard: Reading: Informational Text CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.1Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.2Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to supporting ideas; provide an objective summary of the text. CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.3Analyze how a text makes connections among and distinctions between individuals, ideas, or events (e.g., through comparisons, analogies, or categories). CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.4CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.8.4Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts.

2. What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals? © Steven Kazlowski/SuperStock

3. Orcas, or, killer whales, continue to surprise and intrigue scientists who study them. It’s believed that there are at least three distinct types of orca – diverse enough that some marine biologists consider them different subspecies and perhaps even different species altogether. Much of the distinction between orca types comes from size, social behavior, diet, coloration, and the shape and angle of the white or cream-colored eye patch that’s so distinctive on all specimens. As far as the “killer” moniker goes, it’s rare for these highly intelligent marine mammals to attack humans. However, they are alpha predators with sophisticated and unrelenting hunting techniques that have been observed for centuries. What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

4. 1 Web Search Where does the name “killer whale” come from? What does this name refer to in terms of the behavior of this species? 2 Image/Web Search Find up-close images of the Orca. Which physical characteristics to scientists use to distinguish between this species? Can they distinguish between individual Orcas? 3 Web SearchWhat is the dietary behavior of the Orca? What animals eat Orcas? 4 Web SearchWhat is unique about the ways in which Orcas communicate? 5 Web SearchWhat are threats to Orcas and the way they live? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

5. 5 Minutes What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

6. 1 Web Search Where does the name “killer whale” come from? What does this name refer to in terms of the behavior of this species? 2 Image/Web Search Find up-close images of the Orca. Which physical characteristics to scientists use to distinguish between this species? Can they distinguish between individual Orcas? 3 Web SearchWhat is the dietary behavior of the Orca? What animals eat Orcas? 4 Web SearchWhat is unique about the ways in which Orcas communicate? 5 Web SearchWhat are threats to Orcas and the way they live? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

7. 1 Web Search Where does the name “killer whale” come from? What does this name refer to in terms of the behavior of this species? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

8. 2 Image/Web Search Find up-close images of the Orca. Which physical characteristics to scientists use to distinguish between this species? Can they distinguish between individual Orcas? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

9. 3 Web SearchWhat is the dietary behavior of the Orca? What animals eat Orcas? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

10. 4 Web SearchWhat is unique about the ways in which Orcas communicate? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?

11. 5 Web SearchWhat are threats to Orcas and the way they live? What are the specific characteristics that distinguish Orcas from other animals?