Whale Tales: Storytime for Children
SUNDAY, APRIL 27 --- A WHALE RISES
FOR KIDS, PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS AND ALL WHALE LOVERS
1-3 PM – A WHALE OF AN EVENT
Come walk inside a 60’ foot inflated whale!*
The Workroom at 33 Hawley
*(For a sneak preview, Fred will be inflating the whale on Mon/Tues, 4/21 or 4/22. Contact us for a viewing)
Sliding scale: $5-15 for adults; kids free (must be accompanied by an adult)All contributions benefit the equipment needs of The Workroom.
In the mid-1970s, soon after the celebration of the nation’s first Earth Day and the discovery that humpback whales can sing, City of Northampton science teacher, Fred Morrison had an idea: build a life-size model of a whale for Northampton’s school kids to learn more about these incredible mammals. The model would be a fin whale (or finback) which, because of its sleek, muscular form is known as the "greyhound of the sea.” It also happens to be the second largest animal on earth, but unlike the much larger blue whale, a fin whale would fit, just barely, in most school gymnasiums.
After preparing a draft pattern, he laid out large sheets of heavy-duty polyethylene and spent three days and one long night in the gymnasium in D.A. Sullivan School, cutting, taping, and refining. Finishing around 3 in the morning, he turned on a large fan attached to the tail section and watched as the model slowly inflated. He recalls he couldn't stop smiling--and laughing. It worked!
Since then, the whale has traveled all over Massachusetts and Connecticut. It has been inflated hundreds of times in Northampton and the rest of the Valley. Thousands of children and teachers have had the chance to see it—inside and out.
Now it’s your turn! Bring your family to this special event to visit the whale. You’ll also have a chance to meet Fred Morrison and learn more from him about the natural history of whales and the history of his model.
Whale Tales: Storytime for children (ages 3-10)
1:30-2:00; 2:30-3:00
Read by Mary Beth Brooker, Katherine Sanderson and surprise guests!
(Including works by Mordicai Gerstein, (Jonah and the Two Great Fish; The Boy and the Whale), Katherine Sanderson (ABC’s and Water Girl), and Tamar Griggs (There’s a Sound in the Sea).
Spouting Art Projects--Drawing & Art about Whales (all ages)Art supplies will be on hand to draw and create art
