The Deep Blue Sea
Inspiration Books:
Otis and Will discover the deep : the record-setting dive of the Bathysphere by Rosenstock, Barb — Little, Brown and Company, 2018. 551.46; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. A biographical account of engineer Otis Barton and naturalist Will Beebe's record-setting descent into the deep ocean in their Bathysphere craft, making the men the first humans to witness deep sea creatures in their natural habitat. CCBC, NFD, NSTA 2019, Titlewave.
AND
Flying deep : climb inside deep-sea submersible Alvin by Cusolito, Michelle — Charlesbridge, 2018. 627; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.6. Climb aboard Alvin, the famous deep-sea submersible credited with helping to find the Titanic, and take a trip two miles down to the bottom of the ocean. Experience a day in the life of an Alvin pilot and join scientists at the seafloor to collect samples and conduct research. Along the way, discover what one wears, eats, and talks about during a typical eight-hour trip in a underwater craft and find out more about the animals that live deep in our oceans. Extensive back matter explains how Alvin works, describes the author's research, and includes a glossary and further reading. Titlewave, NSTA
Rationale: The famous naturalist Charles Darwin influenced William Beebe who observed and explored similar animals. However, Beebe is best known for his studies of the ocean itself. Here we’ll look at the ocean and oceanographers like Beebe and Cousteau and Earle who studied the ocean depths. Grades K-3 do a simple story hour about the oceans; Grades 3-6 compare Cousteau and Beebe and Earle and begin to develop an outline; and the lesson for Grades 5-8 is an ADJUNCT LESSON about oceanography as a career. Coming soon will be a lesson based on coral reefs. Watch for that blog posting during March.
You will note the longer you follow My Books alive that the books and library and associated skills are front and center. I attach the lesson to a curricular subject, thus enriching a classroom subject, introducing new materials to teachers and students, and connecting supplementary information and research/library skills to the classroom. The result is a circular model: classroom to subject to library to curricular materials to classroom to teacher and librarian planning together to library skills/research to classroom to share and around again with another topic or expanded work.
Grades K-3--What is an Ocean?
Background: Throughout MY Books Alive there are several entries for ocean animals. This story hour could serve as a generic introduction to a whole unit about animals of the seas or the ocean biome (My third graders study an assortment of biomes.) Here we learn about the oceans, their location and exploring the deep ocean.
Preparation: Make copies of a simple outline world map showing the major land and water masses.
Access to a large display map of the world.
Colored pencils, crayons or markers.
Draw a question mark in the center of the chalkboard/whiteboard.
Introduction: Gather students at work tables where you have placed maps and coloring tools.
(Point to big question mark on board.)We’re beginning today with some essential questions (Write them on the board as you ask them) What is an ocean? (Allow time for answers)
How many oceans are there? What are the names of the oceans? Where could we get our answers? Maps.
(Point to the big map.) What does this map show us? Land and water bodies. Most people agree that there are four major oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean. Point out that others say there is a fifth ocean, the Southern or Antarctic, which lies south of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans, linking them together. While we think of these bodies of water as separate oceans, they are all connected and make up one global ocean.
How are the oceans separated from one another. (While students might suggest that land divides the oceans, guide them to realize that the oceans of the world are really one big ocean with pieces of land dividing it into different parts.)
At the tables are copies of a world map just like the big map we looked at. I have a challenge for you. Color in all of the watery parts of the map without lifting your blue crayons from the page. Could you travel to every continent without ever crossing any land? Who could demonstrate that on the big wall map?
Leave your map at the table and let’s gather in the story area to learn more about the oceans and exploring the oceans.
Read aloud:
First big book of the ocean (Little Kids First Big Book) by Hughes, Catherine D — National Geographic Kids, 2013 591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. Introduces ocean animals from the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Oceans. NSTA 2014.
Some animals lived in the Pacific Ocean? Who can tell us one of those animals and show where the Pacific Ocean is on our wall map. (Repeat with each ocean.)
A person that studies oceans is called an oceanography. Since the ocean is very very deep in some places, special equipment needs to be used to see the deep deep ocean. Our next book takes us down down down to the bottom of the ocean.
Read aloud:
Flying deep : climb inside deep-sea submersible Alvin by Cusolito, Michelle — Charlesbridge, 2018. 627; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.6. Climb aboard Alvin, the famous deep-sea submersible credited with helping to find the Titanic, and take a trip two miles down to the bottom of the ocean.
(For dismissal, ask students to pick up their maps from the tables, then either locate one of the oceans on the wall map or tell one fact from either book. No duplicates, please.)
Related Titles
Pool by Yi, Chi-hyon — Chronicle Books, 2015 -E-; Int Lvl: K-3. Two shy children meet at a noisy pool and dive beneath the crowd into a magical undersea land, where they explore a fantastical landscape and meet various creatures.
In the sea (David Elliott Habitats) by Elliott, David — Candlewick Press, 2014 811; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.2. A collection of poems for children featuring woodcut illustrations and rhyming text from David Elliot on the characteristics and behaviors of sea horses, sharks, urchins, whales, and other sea creatures. FREE Teaching Resources available for download at www.titlewave.com
First big book of the ocean (Little Kids First Big Book) by Hughes, Catherine D — National Geographic Kids, 2013 591.77; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 3.0. Introduces ocean animals from the Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, and Indian Oceans. NSTA 2014.
How deep is the ocean? by Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner; illustrated by Puybaret, Eric 551.46; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.1. Color illustrations and text show five different ocean environments based on ocean depth and the animals that live in each.
Solving the puzzle under the sea : Marie Tharp maps the ocean floor by Burleigh, Robert — Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016. 526; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.4. Tells the story of oceanographic cartographer Marie Tharp and her work charting the ocean floor. Freeman, NFD, NSSTB 2017, NSTA 2017
Manfish : a story of Jacques Cousteau by Berne, Jennifer — Chronicle Books, 2015 (Paperback). 551.46; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.3. An illustrated biography of Jacques Cousteau, discussing how his youthful fascinations with filming and underwater exploration translated into his life's work, and telling of his later devotion to saving the ocean environment.
The fantastic undersea life of Jacques Cousteau by Yaccarino, Dan — Knopf, 2009--551.46; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 4.6 A pictorial biography of Jacques Cousteau, covering his adventures aboard "Calypso" with his team of scientists, diving equipment, and waterproof cameras, and work to protect the oceans from pollution.
Down, down, down : a journey to the bottom of the sea by Jenkins, Steve, 1952- - Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, p2009, c2009--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.
TEACHER RESOURCE:
Grades 3-6--Beebe, Cousteau, and Earle
Background: My teachers often look for new or different ways to have students gather information and take notes. Three oceanographers have had National Science Teacher Outstanding Science Trade Books written about them. Only one is, William Beebe’s book, an award winner this year, but it serves as the inspiration book. The skill to spin-off from the Inspiration Book is note taking via outlining. Third graders have little or no experience and we do the work together as a class project using just the inspiration book; for fourth graders, I still develop the basic outline, but the students add the information with a partner; for fifth graders, I read the Inspiration Book but have no basic outline, and, working with a small group of three the students create their own outline (I’m assuming they have had the third and fourth grade experiences, if not, then use the third or fourth grade approach); and for sixth graders, I simply introduce the award winning books and the oceanographers and hope that they can take the outlining from there (Again, if they can’t because they have not had previous instruction or experience backtrack to a lower level lesson).
Preparation: Gather picture book biographies of the oceanographers being studied. If possible, include the titles under the Related Titles section.
For grades 3 and 4 prepare a basic outline: I. Early life, A. Training, B. Experiences II. Oceanography Work, A. Discoveries, B. Awards or Honors, III. Other A. B.
For Grade 3, put basic outline on chart paper or white board; for grade 4 make copies of the basic outline for the student groups.
Introduction (Grades 3, 4, 5): When an author writes a book, the author first needs an idea, then supporting information. Today we’re going to read a book about a famous oceanographer, well two, William Beebe and Otis Barton, perhaps people who you learned about in your lessons about the ocean. After we read the book, we’re going to think about the main ideas and supporting facts.
Read aloud:
Otis and Will discover the deep : the record-setting dive of the Bathysphere by Rosenstock, Barb — Little, Brown and Company, 2018. 551.46; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. A biographical account of engineer Otis Barton and naturalist Will Beebe's record-setting descent into the deep ocean in their Bathysphere craft, making the men the first humans to witness deep sea creatures in their natural habitat. CCBC, NFD, NSTA 2019, Titlewave.
On the chart paper/white board I’ve made a book skeleton or outline. Thinking about the book we just read, let’s see if we can fill out the categories. What did the book tell us about Beebe’s early life? … All: The format of an outline always comes in at least twos. You need two or more major points represented by the roman numerals; you need two or more points under each roman numeral represented by capital letters; you need two or more 1s and 2s under each capital letter and so on. Let’s look at the outlines we just made. Do you find two Roman numerals? Two capital letters? Two numerals? Under each.
Sylvia Earle was another oceanographer who studied the deep ocean. This is her picture biography.
Read aloud:
For Grade 3 (or Grade 4 if they have not made an outline): On the chart paper/white board I’ve made another book skeleton or outline. Thinking about the book we just read, let’s see if we can fill out the categories. What did the book tell us about Earle’s early life?(Work way through the basic outline.)
For Grade 4 (and or Grade 5 if they have not made an outline): I’ve made a book skeleton or outline copies for a biography book which is Life in the Ocean. Working with your partner, complete the outline with facts from the Inspiration Book.
For Grade 5: We’ve made some basic book outlines previously. Go back in your memory. Working with your group, and thinking about the outlines we’ve made before and the book about Sylvia Earle, make an outline that could help you remember the main points of the book. (Allow no more than 10 minutes for group work.)
For Grade 6: Barton and Beebe aren’t the only famous underwater explorers. I’ve collected a number of books about the explorers. In your group, quickly read together the one I give your group and then try to make an outline similar to the one we did as a group. (Allow about fifteen minutes for reading and group work.)
Conclusion: Look at your outline(s), and look at the first one we did together. Do you see any similarities in the lives of the explorers? In the work they did? In their honors? In the challenges they faced? Any big differences?
You outline could help you remember what you have learned because you have really taken some notes.
Outlines also help you organize thoughts. How?
Could you write a paragraph about an underwater explorer based on the outline?
Could you use the outline to help you remember what you want to say in a speech?
Outlines are just one way to help you remember and organize your research. We’ll learn other ways to do research and to organize our research during the year.
RELATED TITLES:
Manfish : a story of Jacques Cousteau by Berne, Jennifer - Chronicle Books, p2008, c2008--551.46--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 3.9
An illustrated biography of Jacques Cousteau, discussing how his youthful fascinations with filming and underwater exploration translated into his life's work, and telling of his later devotion to saving the ocean environment.
The fantastic undersea life of Jacques Cousteau by Yaccarino, Dan - Knopf, p2009, c2009--551.46--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 4.6. A pictorial biography of Jacques Cousteau, covering his adventures aboard "Calypso" with his team of scientists, diving equipment, and waterproof cameras, and work to protect the oceans from pollution. NSTA 2010
Into the deep : the life of naturalist and explorer William Beebe by Sheldon, David — Charlesbridge, 2009 508; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 6.2. A picture-book biography that follows the life and adventures of American naturalist, explorer, and author William Beebe, the father of deep-sea exploration. NSTA 2010.
Otis and Will discover the deep : the record-setting dive of the Bathysphere by Rosenstock, Barb — Little, Brown and Company, 2018. 551.46; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 2.9. A biographical account of engineer Otis Barton and naturalist Will Beebe's record-setting descent into the deep ocean in their Bathysphere craft, making the men the first humans to witness deep sea creatures in their natural habitat. CCBC, NFD, NSTA 2019, Titlewave.
Champions of the ocean by Hodgkins, Fran — Dawn Publications, 2009. 551.46; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 7.5. Examines the lives and careers of eight scientists and explorers from around the world who championed the world's oceans, including Jacques Cousteau, inventor of scuba equipment, William Beebe, the bathysphere deep-sea diver, and American oceanographer Sylvia Earle.
OTHER RESOURCES:
Other NSTA Award Books about Underwater Exploration:
Astronaut, aquanaut : how space science and sea science interact by Swanson, Jennifer — National Geographic, 2018. 627; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.3. Journey from the deepest trenches in the oceans to the farthest humans have ventured into space and learn what it takes to explore the extremes. You might just be surprised by how similar the domains of ASTRONAUTS and AQUANAUTS really are. NFD, NSTA 2019
“Putting the ‘Her” in Science.” Science and Children, April 2014, pp.41-45.
Into the deep : the life of naturalist and explorer William Beebeby Sheldon, David — Charlesbridge, 2009 508; Int Lvl: K-3; Rd Lvl: 6.2. A picture-book biography that follows the life and adventures of American naturalist, explorer, and author William Beebe, the father of deep-sea exploration. NSTA 2010.
Under water ; Under earth by Mizielinska, Aleksandra — BPP, c2016 p2015 551; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 5.5. Hundreds of fascinating facts are waiting to be unearthed in this book from Aleksandra and Daniel Mizielinski, the creative duo behind 'Maps'. Dive below the surface, and find out what happens under the earth and under the water. From early submarines and deep-sea life, to burrowing animals and man-made tunnels - you will never look at the world in the same way again! NSTA 2017
Into the deep : an exploration of our oceans by Siems, Annika — Prestel, 2019 : 577.7; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.1. The secret of the deep sea -- Tiny creatures -- Krill: the food of the whales -- Diving -- The language of the deep sea -- Chamber of horrors -- Illuminated hide-and-seek -- Camouflage code red -- Amazing, invisible -- Hunters in the gloom -- Life under pressure -- Mammals of the deep sea -- Mysterious giants -- At the ocean floor -- Underwater garden -- The oceans are in danger. An exploration of the marine world, discussing deep-sea animals, bioluminescence, Radiolaria, coral reefs, and more. NSTA 2020
Into the deep : the life of naturalist and explorer William Beebe by Sheldon, David - Charlesbridge, p2009, c2009--508--Int Lvl: K-3--Rd Lvl: 6.2 A picture-book biography that follows the life and adventures of American naturalist, explorer, and author William Beebe, the father of deep-sea exploration. William Beebe’s achievements are vividly described and supported by full-page illustrations. A pioneer in ecology, his lifelong quest to study animals inspired him to design a deep-sea diving vessel. The Bathysphere allowed him to observe underwater species in their natural setting and changed the way scientists explored ocean life. Quotes NSTA 2010
Diving to a deep-sea volcano by Mallory, Kenneth - Houghton Mifflin, p2006, c2006--551.2--Int Lvl: 5-8--Rd Lvl: 6.7 First dive to the abyss -- Understanding the deep sea -- Discovering life where life doesn't belong -- Mollusks on a fast track to survival -- Explorer of the deep -- Inside a volcanic eruption -- Yellow brick road --The rise of life in the deep sea -- Evolution of a full-blown community -- The year of the mussels -- New eyes on the deep ocean -- Unanswered questions. Shows how scientists investigate the unusual forms of life living around hydrothermal vents in extremely deep areas of the oceans. NSTA 2007.
ADJUNCT LESSON--Grades 5-8--What Does an Oceanographer Do?
Background: I like to include career lessons scattered throughout the year for middle school grades. In the 8th grade we culminate the year with a major research project about one of three careers each student studies based on interest surveys they complete. By studying careers prior to 8th grade, students already have an idea about career resources and what is important to discover about a career. Here we take a look at the many strands of oceanography. Include this lesson when students are studying oceanography in their science classes. I also like to do what I call quick research to promote student questioning and learning to look for information. This is a quick research project, in which students spend a short amount of time gathering information and then sharing it. I set aside a bulletin board or wall inside or outside the library titled “Did You Know?” Students add their quick research notes to the bulletin board. It amazes me how many students and adults stop to read that board. The trick is to change it often. On this board add, “about Oceans.”
Preparation: Chart or white/chalkboard and appropriate markers.
Write the following words on chart or white/chalkboard: oceanography, oceanographer
Establish links using whatever method your school uses for students to access the following:
Sentence strips and markers for writing.
Introduction: What is oceanography? (Allow response time.) Oceanography is the study of the ocean. What is an oceanographer? (Allow response time.) Oceanographers are people who study the ocean's landforms and life from the shallow coastal areas to the deepest trenches.
Let’s brainstorm the reasons why oceanography might be an important topic for us to study. (Write comments on chart/board for each of the questions.) What aspects of the ocean are important to know about? How can knowing about the ocean help us take care of it?
You're with a group of friends, and one of you exclaims, "I want to be an oceanographer." Everyone else in the group says "Huh? Why? What's that, anyway?" Today we’re going to learn a little about the many different categories of oceanography and what an oceanographer does in each of those areas of study. Who knows, maybe one day YOU WILL be an oceanographer.
Your job today is to learn about two oceanography jobs, just two facts about the jobs that amazed you or you thought were important. Write the job title on a sentence strip and the two facts. We’ll add them to our “Did You Know?” bulletin board. I’ve made links that will take you to resources that will quickly get the information you need. (Allow about a half hour of work time.)
As students leave have them post their sentence strips and tell about one job and fact.
Other Titles for Display, Research, and Check-out:
Oceanography : the study of oceans (True Books: Earth Science)by Gray, Susan Heinrichs — Children's Press, 2012. 551.46; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 4.7. Introduces oceanography and what is studied, the history of oceanography, ocean discoveries, what oceanographers do, and other related topics.
Marine biologist by Thomas, William, 1947- — Gareth Stevens Pub., 2010--578.77; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 5.2 Sharks and satellites -- In the lab -- In the oceans -- In lakes and rivers -- From aquariums to classrooms -- Career fact file: marine biologist. Examines the career of marine biologist, discussing the skills and requirements needed to do the job, featuring facts about job outlook, education, training, and salaries, and including on-the-job profiles, sidebars, and photographs.
How deep sea divers use math by Arroyo, Sheri L - Chelsea Clubhouse, p2010, c2010--797.2--Int Lvl: 3-6--Rd Lvl: 6.4 What is deep sea diving? -- Scuba diving in the sunlit zone -- How far can I see? -- Diving in the deep -- The pressure is on! -- How deep is the ocean? -- How much air will I need? -- Underwater geologists -- Exploring shipwrecks -- Marine biology -- Diving for the navy -- Antarctic research -- If you want to be a deep sea diver. Looks at some of the many ways in which deep sea divers use math on a daily basis to determine how long they can stay in cold water, determine how much air is left in an oxygen tank, and more.
Journey into the deep : discovering new ocean creatures by Johnson, Rebecca L - Millbrook Press, p2011, c2011--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. Titlewave, NFD,
Dive in! : exploring our connection with the ocean (Orca Footprints) by Eriksson, Ann — Orca Book Publishers, 2018. 551.46; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.9. Travel the global ocean, find out why if matters to everyone, and take action to keep it healthy.
Oceans inside out (Ecosystems Inside Out) by Johnson, Robin — Crabtree Publishing Company, 2015. 577.7; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 7.1. What is an ecosystem? -- Energy in ecosystems -- Oceans of ecosystems -- In the zone -- Where the sun doesn't shine -- Icy waters -- Temperate oceans -- On the rocks -- Tropical oceans -- Coral reefs -- Sandy shores -- Ocean forests -- Sink or swim. Explores different ocean ecosystems, discussing how to protect the planet's waters, what animals live in the water and more. FREE Teaching Resources available for download FROM www.titlewave.com
Adventure beneath the sea : living in an underwater science station by Mallory, Kenneth — Boyds Mills Press, 2010. 551.46; Int Lvl: 3-6; Rd Lvl: 6.7. Kenneth Mallory describes the week he spent in the Aquarius underwater laboratory off the Florida Keys, discussing the work he did, what it was like to live underwater, the marine creatures he encountered, and more. Titlewave.
Champions of the ocean by Hodgkins, Fran, 1964- - Dawn Publications, p2009, c2009--551.46--Int Lvl: 5-8--Rd Lvl: 7.5. Examines the lives and careers of eight scientists and explorers from around the world who championed the world's oceans, including Jacques Cousteau, inventor of scuba equipment, William Beebe, the bathysphere deep-sea diver, and American oceanographer Sylvia Earle.
Weird sea creatures (Weird...(Firefly)) by Hoyt, Erich — Firefly Books, 2013. 591.77; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 8.0. An illustrated guide to sea life, particularly those organisms of the deep sea, including the carnivorous comb jelly, lantern-carrying deep-sea dragonfish, jewel squid, and dancing jellyfish.
Oceans (Research on the Edge) by Royston, Angela — Smart Apple Media, 2016. 551.46; Int Lvl: 5-8; Rd Lvl: 8.4. Explores the work of researchers in oceanography and discusses such topics as living and working underwater, scientific discoveries, and mysteries of the deep.
