The whale shark is the largest fish in the ocean, growing up to 40 feet long or more, but it’s completely harmless to humans. Unlike most sharks, it’s a filter feeder, meaning it eats tiny plankton, fish eggs, and small sea creatures by swimming with its mouth wide open. Whale sharks are gentle giants and are often seen swimming slowly near the surface in warm tropical waters.

About the Whale Shark

Myth: Big sharks are the most dangerous.

Truth:

Big doesn’t mean scary! Whale sharks are gentle giants that can’t even bite something big.

The Whale Shark is the biggest shark—and the biggest fish—in the whole ocean, but it only eats tiny food like plankton!

FUN FACT

Extension Activities for various ages

  • Read a fun shark story!

    • Search online for a fun shark story. There are plenty of PDF or video stories online!

    • Head to the library and let your little learner pick out a shark book to read together!

  • If you were a marine biologist, what would you want to study about sharks, and why?

  • Make a dramatic, silly, or realistic shark warning sign like you’d see at a beach.


    (Can be funny, serious, or educational.)

Share with us!

Share with us!

We’d love to hear what you thought about this lesson! If you tried one of the extension activities or created a shark drawing, feel free to share it with us in our Facebook group. Thanks for joining us for this bite-sized shark adventure—we hope you had fun! 🦈