Wild Animals - Amazing Dolphins

Dolphins are 

amazing!

So let's learn about dolphins!

What do you already know about dolphins?

What color are they?

Most dolphins are grey. 

Light grey.

Dark grey.

Are dolphins fish or mammals? 

Dolphins are mammals.

They give birth to babies like humans do. 

Dolphins breath air like humans do. 

Where do dolphins live?

Dolphins live in the ocean.

But they also live in rivers.

The Amazon River Dolphin is pink!

Isn't he cute?

Dolphins live all over the world.

Do dolphins like people?

Yes!

They like to approach people.

Dolphins have had a relationship with people for a long time.

There are frescoes of dolphins from Minoan civilization. 
That was earlier than Ancient Greece - 
more than 4,000 years ago!

Dolphins in ancient times liked to follow fishermen.
Maybe they gave the dolphins fish?
Some people think they helped the fishermen find fish!

Today, some people work with dolphins.
They train dolphins and study them. 

Look at some pictures of dolphins with trainers.
What do you see?

What have scientists discovered about dolphins?

Scientists have discovered many things about dolphins.

Yes, they are even smarter than you thought!

How smart are they?

Look at some of the things that dolphins can do:

Dolphins can learn to follow hand signals.

Dolphins use shells to catch fish.

Dolphins protect their noses with sponges.
(They don't want to cut their noses on rocks when they look for fish on the bottom of the sea.)

Dolphins even teach each other tricks!

Like how to do a tail walk!

Dolphins can even see themselves in a mirror.

They know that they are looking at themselves.
Most animals cannot do this.

Dolphins have even rescued people from drowning.
They have protected people from shark attack.

More fun facts about dolphins...

Dolphins not only like people.
They also are friendly with dogs and cats.
Don't believe it?

In Ireland there is a dog who is friends with a dolphin.
Look at these pictures:

Watch this video:

The dog and the dolphin are friends.

The dolphin will even carry the dog to shore when he is tired.

Dolphins even like cats!
Watch this video:

Wild Animals - Jimmy Fallon show

Here is a funny and easy-to-understand episode of The Tonight Show. This particular video has been watched over 100 million times!

On the show are:

Robert Irwin - a 14-year old Australian boy who runs the Australia Zoo with his mother and sister. He speaks quite slowly so he is easy to understand, despite his Australian accent.

Kevin Hart - an American comedian and actor who is really afraid of animals.

Jimmy Fallon - an American comedian and talk show host (The Tonight Show).

Watch the show and try to understand what they are saying.
We will stop the video and discuss during our lesson.

Watch the video and then try to answer these questions:

QUESTIONS

How old was the baby ostrich?
What dangerous animal can an adult ostrich kill just using its legs?
Which animals were named LeBron and Elvis?
Which animal does not like to be breathed on?
What special clothing do you need if you want a falcon to fly to you?

Note:

Kevin Hart uses some informal and vulgar* expressions such as:

Come on, brother!
Come on, man!
You can kiss my ass!*
That's cool!
Let me tell you something...
It ain't gonna happen.
Oh my mother!
You can stay your ass over there.*

Can you translate these expressions into French?

cute and cuddly
It's amazing!
They have to be good at fending for themselves.
It's all good.
You just have to get over your fears.
How awesome is that?
Just trust me!
Jimmy, I'm nervous for you!
I'm going to kill you!

Animal stories - Famous dog Greyfriars Bobby

The Story of Greyfriars Bobby

In 1850, a gardener named John Gray moved to Edinburgh with his wife and young son. The family was poor. John Gray tried hard to find work, but failed. So he decided to give up his gardening trade and instead took a job as a night watchman with the Edinburgh police. 

Edinburgh, Scotland

Skye Terrier

Cobbled streets in the old town of Edinburgh

It was lonely walking through the cobbled streets of Edinburgh all night, so John Gray got a small Skye Terrier to accompany him on his nightly rounds.  John named the dog "Bobby". They soon became a familiar sight on the streets of Edinburgh.




It was difficult being a watchman during the cold winter nights in Edinburgh. John Gray became sick with tuberculosis. The police doctor treated him, but unfortunately he died on the 15th of February, 1858.

John Gray was buried in the graveyard of Greyfriars* Kirk. 

An early drawing of Bobby at the grave

In Scotland, churches are called kirks

Bobby lay down on the grave and refused to move. He stayed there in good weather and bad. People tried to evict him from the graveyard, but he refused to leave. So the keeper at the graveyard built him a small stone shelter near the grave. People were sad to see the poor dog, so they would bring him food.


Eventually, a local carpenter took Bobby to a nearby café. It was the coffee house where Bobby had gone with his master, John Gray.

Traill's Coffee House

After that, every day when the 1 o'clock bell sounded, Bobby would leave the gravesite and go to the coffee house for his lunch. 

The Traill family ran the Coffee House . 

For the next 14 years, Bobby kept watch over the grave of his master until he too passed away.

A photograph from 1865, thought to be Greyfriars Bobby

One year after his death, a rich woman from Edinburgh decided to build a fountain near the graveyard to commemorate the famous dog. People still come to Edinburgh to see the statue of Greyfriars Bobby.

Statue of Greyfriars Bobby

The café and statue today

Further information...

Many books and films have been made about Greyfriars Bobby. 

* What does Greyfriars mean?

Grey Friars