I Live in the Sea
I began developing the Books Alive blog in 2010. Since that time the National Science Teachers Associationhas honored eight general marine animal books in their lists of Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students suitable for Grades K-8. It is these general marine animal books, whether mammals or fish or crustaceans that this specific Books Alive post covers. Additional posts cover specific marine animals or groups of animals from the NSTA yearly lists. Any one of the titles appropriate for your grade level and for reading aloudcould serve as the inspiration book, while the more challenging books could be a reference or browsing source. The Related Books List provide additional titles for collection development purposes. While they are no from the NSTA lists, each has at least three positive reviews.
Rationale: I love to do basic guided research with students of all ages, yes even in kindergarten. Never do I ask a group of students to do research about a topic without giving them specific guidance, ideas, and methods. In this blog post, I’m going to suggest five different types of research for five different levels of students. As students progress through the grades, more challenging research is required. I start with whole group research, small group research then paired research, and finally individual research. We always include a bibliography beginning simply with book title, adding author, publisher, copyright year, and last pages. In another strand we learn basic format of a bibliographic entry first for books, then online sources, and learn quoting and paraphrasing. We also take notes in many different ways. The key is not doing all research steps at once, but increasing the difficulty as the students get older. By doing a lot of quick research and not just one project, students find the process fun and satisfying and not overwhelming. They and their parents are proud of the final product which also varies.
One of the biggest thank yous I’ve ever received was from a senior at her graduation party. She insisted I be invited because she knew exactly what to do when one of her high school teachers said, “This quarter we’re doing research papers about…” Many of her classmates, who had not gone to her elementary/middle school, had no idea where or how to begin.
My five year old grandson has had a love affair with dolphins since he was two. His parents took him to an aquarium; he stood in front of the tanks and stared. Then they took him to a dolphin show; he told his parents everything the dolphins did. His parents bought him simple dolphin factual books; he had them read them again and again. When Grandma and Grandpa came to visit he told us many facts about dolphins. He had done research and his final project was telling Grandma and Grandpa everything he remembered.
When a topic is that captivating and motivating, it’s time to do research. And many students find marine animals just that. The ideas sketched below are only one method of research as you build students’ skills. Other blog posts will feature other research methods. I like these ideas because they’re quick--completed in one or two classes--and uncomplicated.
Ideas for Grade by Grade Research About Marine Animals (and many other topics):
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Grade K-1--Whole Group Research: On chart paper or a white board, list a few topics (about 5 such as appearance, size, food, enemies, babies or young) that you know are discussed in the Inspiration Book you chose to read aloud. Write the title of the book at the top of the chart paper--that’s your bibliography. Ask the students to listen for those topic facts because they are doing research. After reading, ask for information about one of the topics from each student. No two facts can be exactly the same meaning the students need to be attentive to the others giving answers. I always begin with the shyest oracademically challenged so they are successful. Back in the classroom or at the library tables, students draw a picture representing one of the facts. If they’re capable of adding a label they do. My first grade teacher often takes the chart paper back to the classroom, places it in a center and encourages students to draw another picture and write one fact sentence. When the first graders did a research topic about penguins, the teacher had so many “research papers” that she made a class book.
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Grades 2-3--Small Group Research: The above procedure works well for these grades, too. Small Group Research works best if the teacher pre-selects the groups based on a variety of skills.Instead of the teacher or librarian writing the notes (based on pre-selected topics) after reading the selected book, the students add their own notes to their group’s chart, then each student writes three to five sentences based on the notes the group listed for the topics chosen. Students add both the title and author to the top of their personal research report. Later in the year, I like to do small group research of three or four students at this level when I have multiple copies of books, have an e-book, or several beginning to read books about the topic. Students then read the book to each other round robin fashion, talk about the answers to the topics, make a group chart and write their personal short report including title and author.
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Grades 3-4-5: Paired Research: By the end of third grade, third graders can do paired research if they have had other research practice. Adult selected pairing continues to be effective, but by fifth grade, allow self choice of partners. Any of the above techniques work, but I really like to have the pairs become “experts” about a topic prior to class. Not every student needs to become the expert. If students are experienced with research, choose the most motivated and academically better students first. Prepare topics in advance based on coverage in the read aloud book and select some resources in advance so the whole research can be done quickly prior to the book lesson. Then, while reading aloud about a marine animal or one of the topics relating to the animal, stop and have the researchers tell more details because they have become the “experts.” For their bibliography they can show the source and even the pages.
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Grades 5 & 6: Individual Research: After reading aloud the book chosen from the list of Inspiration Books, students brainstorm topics that need more detail. The topics could be specific animals mentioned in the book or one of the five beginning research topics used throughout this spiraling sequential plan. Now, librarians can add another skill at this point if they choose: locating print resources in the online catalog and locating those resources within the facility or locating information from print or non-print encyclopedias or doing an Internet search. For this quick research, one location source skill is sufficient. A short paragraph is sufficient, too. Source bibliography is also needed and by sixth grade students should be able to do a full book bibliographic entry.
Grade K-1--Whole Group Research: On chart paper or a white board, list a few topics (about 5 such as appearance, size, food, enemies, babies or young) that you know are discussed in the Inspiration Book you chose to read aloud. Write the title of the book at the top of the chart paper--that’s your bibliography. Ask the students to listen for those topic facts because they are doing research. After reading, ask for information about one of the topics from each student. No two facts can be exactly the same meaning the students need to be attentive to the others giving answers. I always begin with the shyest oracademically challenged so they are successful. Back in the classroom or at the library tables, students draw a picture representing one of the facts. If they’re capable of adding a label they do. My first grade teacher often takes the chart paper back to the classroom, places it in a center and encourages students to draw another picture and write one fact sentence. When the first graders did a research topic about penguins, the teacher had so many “research papers” that she made a class book.
Grades 2-3--Small Group Research: The above procedure works well for these grades, too. Small Group Research works best if the teacher pre-selects the groups based on a variety of skills.Instead of the teacher or librarian writing the notes (based on pre-selected topics) after reading the selected book, the students add their own notes to their group’s chart, then each student writes three to five sentences based on the notes the group listed for the topics chosen. Students add both the title and author to the top of their personal research report. Later in the year, I like to do small group research of three or four students at this level when I have multiple copies of books, have an e-book, or several beginning to read books about the topic. Students then read the book to each other round robin fashion, talk about the answers to the topics, make a group chart and write their personal short report including title and author.
Grades 3-4-5: Paired Research: By the end of third grade, third graders can do paired research if they have had other research practice. Adult selected pairing continues to be effective, but by fifth grade, allow self choice of partners. Any of the above techniques work, but I really like to have the pairs become “experts” about a topic prior to class. Not every student needs to become the expert. If students are experienced with research, choose the most motivated and academically better students first. Prepare topics in advance based on coverage in the read aloud book and select some resources in advance so the whole research can be done quickly prior to the book lesson. Then, while reading aloud about a marine animal or one of the topics relating to the animal, stop and have the researchers tell more details because they have become the “experts.” For their bibliography they can show the source and even the pages.
Grades 5 & 6: Individual Research: After reading aloud the book chosen from the list of Inspiration Books, students brainstorm topics that need more detail. The topics could be specific animals mentioned in the book or one of the five beginning research topics used throughout this spiraling sequential plan. Now, librarians can add another skill at this point if they choose: locating print resources in the online catalog and locating those resources within the facility or locating information from print or non-print encyclopedias or doing an Internet search. For this quick research, one location source skill is sufficient. A short paragraph is sufficient, too. Source bibliography is also needed and by sixth grade students should be able to do a full book bibliographic entry.
Inspiration Books:
Ocean counting by Lawler, Janet — National Geographic, 2013. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. Describes different ocean animals and introduces the numbers one through ten and the concept of counting. Animals included: green sea turtle, harp seals, star-eye parrotfish, reef squid, pink sea stars, Adelie penguins, glass eye fish, sea otters, hammerhead sharks, Bermuda sea chub.
About marine mammals : a guide for children (About...Animals) by Sill, Cathryn P — Peachtree, 2016. 599.5; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. Simple text and illustrations introduce marine mammals, including what they are, how and where they live, and what they do.
First big book of the ocean by Hughes, Catherine D — National Geographic Kids, 2013. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. Introduces ocean animals from the Pacific (sea otter, blue whale, marine iguana, California sea lion, deeps anglerfish, leafy sea dragon, yellow-bellied sea snake, stony coral, orange clownfish, magnificent sea anemone, orca, wandering albatross), Atlantic (Caribbean reef octopus, West Indian manatee, great white shark, Atlantic puffin, Atlantic spotted dolphin, Atlantic horseshoe crab, Antarctic krill, chinstrap penguin, gray seal, yellow tube sponge), Arctic (beluga, walrus, narwhal, Arctic cod, lion's mane jellyfish), and Indian (giant oceanic manta ray, long-spine porcupine fish, whale shark, blue star, common lion fish, hawksbill sea turtle) Oceans.
Amazing giant sea creatures : swim with the whales, dolphins, and sharks by Greenwood, Marie — DK Publishing, 2014--591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.0 Looks at facts and figures of several large marine animals. Animals included: sperm whale, bottlenose dolphin, great white shark,walruses, jellyfish, and more
The pier at the end of the world (Tilbury House Nature Books) by Erickson, Paul — Tilbury House Publishers, 2014. 591.77; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.1. Presents a collection of photographs of life near a remote pier on the edge of the Northern Sea. FREE Teaching Resources available for download.
Oceans : dolphins, sharks, penguins, and more! : meet 60 cool sea creatures and explore their amazing watery world by Rizzo, Johnna — National Geographic, 2010. Dewey: 551.46; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.7. Photographs and fun facts explore the lives and homes of a variety of sea creatures, including whales, jellyfish, sea otters, rays, sea horses, octopuses, coral reefs, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, penquins, crustaceans, manatees, and marine iguanas.
Alien deep : revealing the mysterious living world at the bottom of the ocean by Hague, Bradley — National Geographic, 2012. Dewey: 551.2; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.5. Text and illustrations of a deepwater exploration look at the bottom of the ocean.
Secrets of the sea by Baker, Kate — Big Picture Press, an imprint of Candlewick Press, 2017. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 8.7.Text and illustrations look at a variety of animals that can be found in the ocean.
Related Books:
I spy under the sea by Gibbs, Edward — Templar Books, c2011 p2012. Dewey: 590; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 1.6. Prompts children to look through spy holes and use clues to guess the underwater creatures, and encourages readers to count the animals.
Whoosh! : a watery world of wonderful creatures by Baillie, Marilyn — Owlkids Books Inc., 2014. Dewey: 591.76; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.8. Introduces various aquatic animals, including alligators, hermit crabs, and clownfish, and describes how children often mimic their behaviors.
Sea bones by Barner, Bob r — Chronicle Books, 2015. Dewey: 578.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.5. Filled with incredible fishy facts about vertebrates, invertebrates, endoskeletons, and exoskeletons, and an underwater informational chart.
Ocean animals from head to tail by Roderick, Stacey — Kids Can Press, 2016. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.8. Introduces physical characteristics of marine animals.
Sea slime : it's eeuwy, gooey and under the sea by Prager, Ellen J — Sylvan Dell Publishing, 2014. Dewey: 591.47; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Takes us deep into the sea to introduce us to fascinating and bizarre animals that use slime to capture their food, protect themselves from harm, or even move from place to place in their underwater environment. FREE Teaching Resources available for download from Follett.
The most amazing creature in the sea by Guiberson, Brenda Z — Henry Holt and Company, 2015. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 5.1. Text and illustrations provide information to inspire young readers to choose their own favorite sea creature.
Down, down, down : a journey to the bottom of the sea by Jenkins, Steve — Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2009. Dewey: 591.779; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 6.0. Illustrations explore the ocean from the birds and waves down to the deepest, darkest bottom; and feature jellyfish, squid, whales, and more.
Journey into the deep : discovering new ocean creatures by Johnson, Rebecca L — Millbrook Press, 2011. 591.77; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 6.5. Shallow edges -- Open water -- Deep slopes -- The dark zone -- Abyssal plains -- Mountains in the sea -- Ridges and vents -- The unfathomable deep. Examines some of the unique life-forms that have been found by scientists exploring the deep oceans, and looks at the innovative technologies used to make the discoveries.
Simon & Schuster children's guide to sea creatures by Johnson, Jinny — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1998. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.6. Describes the major groups of marine animals, including fish, birds, mammals, and crustaceans.
Ocean animals : who's who in the deep blue by Rizzo, Johnna — National Geographic, 2016. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.8. From life in coral reefs, to sharks and rays, to sea birds, kids will meet incredible sea-based animals in action, including the blue tang fish and clownfish. It's all captured with beautiful underwater photography and features cool info about our oceans -- including fascinating facts, maps, and marine conservation tips and efforts.
Ocean animals : who's who in the deep blue by Rizzo, Johnna — National Geographic, 2016. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.8. From life in coral reefs, to sharks and rays, to sea birds, kids will meet incredible sea-based animals in action, including the blue tang fish and clownfish.
Shimmer & splash : the sparkling world of sea life by Arnosky, Jim — Sterling Children's Books, 2013. Dewey: 591.77; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.8. Profiles different kinds of sea life, including jellyfish, sharks, coral reefs, and more.
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