Clicks for mapping
Short, bright bursts help dolphins find fish and avoid obstacles. Ask learners to count the beats between echoes.
Communication lesson
Decode whistles, clicks, and splashes
Discover how dolphins swap messages, try a sonar visual, and practice identifying pod chatter with a printable worksheet.
- Compare the sounds dolphins use to name friends vs. locate dinner.
- Preview the Sonar Visualizer game before launching the full activity.
- Download a ready-to-print worksheet with listening prompts.
Interactive preview
Sonar Visualizer sneak peek
Watch a pulse ripple across the ocean grid, then launch the full game to guide a dolphin toward its pod using returning echoes.
- See how sound waves reflect off reefs and fish.
- Practice timing bursts for maximum clarity.
- Earn streak bonuses for smooth navigation.
Sound lab
Contrast clicks and whistles
Play each sample to hear how dolphins shift between rapid-fire navigation clicks and melodic signature whistles.
Whistles for names
Smooth, sliding tones carry personal IDs. Challenge listeners to mimic the rising pitch to remember a podmate’s name.
Tip: When one track is playing, the other will pause so your group can focus on a single sound texture at a time.
Printable resource
Download the communication worksheet
Guided prompts help learners jot down observations after each listening activity. Use the final reflection to plan how pods coordinate hunts.
Save PDF worksheet