LITERATURE-BASED UNIT
Title: "Ocean Animals"
Age Level: First grade
Teacher Background Information: Teachers must have a general knowledge of ocean life. They should have knowledge of general oceanic vocabulary, such as "currents," "tides," and "coral." Additionally, teachers should have a broad understanding of ocean animals. This understanding should include the names, characteristics, behaviors, food sources, and environments of ocean animals. Finally, teachers should understand scientific properties of the ocean, such as how waves are made, the different oceanic levels, and the ebb and flow of tides.
Brief Description: This unit is about ocean animals. Students who complete the unit will have a basic understanding of the animals' appearances, habits, and environments.
I. Major Concept: Learning about ocean animals
II. Objectives:
A. The students will be able to identify several kinds of ocean animals.
B. The students will be able to describe basic characteristics of various ocean animals.
C. The students will be able to distinguish whether or not assorted ocean animals always live in the ocean.
III. Materials:
IV. List of References:
A. For the teacher:
1.) Schultz, D. Terrific Topics Ocean. Carson-Dellosa Publishing Company, Inc., North Carolina. 1996.
2.) Cole, J. & Degen, B. The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor. Scholastic Press, New York. 1997.
B. For the student:
1.) Terrific Topics Ocean provides many activities that connect the study of the ocean to other content areas.
2.) The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor finds the students on the Magic School Bus investigating the ocean. They drive into the ocean to observe ocean life from the ocean floor and observe the different animals and their lives. The items they see include plant and animal life, a hot-water vent, and a coral reef.
3.) www.4adventure.com is Sea World's official web site.
V. Content Related Words: none
VI. Projects and Activities for Students:
A. Math:
1.) Sorting Starfish: This activity allows the students practice with sorting. After the teacher has enlarged and reduced the starfish patterns, the teacher cuts out two small starfish, two medium starfish, and two large starfish. Each starfish should be a different color. The children then sort the starfish into categories, such as size and color.
2.) Buying Ocean Animals: Ocean animal cards are copied and displayed. Twenty pennies are given to each student. The teacher explains that the price at the bottom of each card is the amount that the student must pay to buy the animal. Children are then given time to choose an animal, figure out how many pennies are needed to buy it, and pay the teacher for the animal.
B. Science:
1.) Ocean Animal Homes: In this activity, students practice classification. The teacher first makes copies of ocean animal patterns. With a marker, the teacher labels one box "Water" and one box "Land." The teacher holds up each animal card and the class discusses whether or not the animal lives in the water or on land. Then, volunteers go to the front of the room and sort the animals into the boxes.
2.) Waves in a Bottle: This activity allows students to observe and explore different scientific properties. A clear plastic bottle is filled 3 parts water, 1 part vegetable oil, and a few drops of blue food coloring. The bottle is given to the children and they are allowed to explore the properties inside by shaking and swirling the bottles. After the liquid has settled and the oil and water have separated, the teacher leads a discussion on why oil and water will not mix together permanently.
C. Music
1.) Baby Beluga: Students will sing the song "Baby Beluga" and talk about what it means.
2.) Ocean: The students will sing the song "Ocean" and discuss its meaning.
D. Language Arts:
1.) Describing Shells: This activity gives students practice using adjectives. The students are given a collection of sea shells. The students are then challenged to find adjectives to describe the size, color, shape, texture, hardness, and weight of each shell.
2.) Ocean: Students will read the poem "Ocean" and discuss its vocabulary and meaning.
VII. Culminating Activities:
A. Distance allowing, students will take a day-long field trip to Sea World.
VIII. Evaluation:
A. Students will use the information gained in class and at Sea World to give oral reports to the class.
"OCEAN" (sung to the tune of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"
Take me out to the ocean,
Take me out to the sea.
Show me the foamy waves rolling there,
As I breathe in the salty sea air!
Let me look, look, look at the ocean,
See the sea and explore,
For it's fun to dive from the top
To the ocean floor!
Take me out to the ocean,
Take me out to the sea.
Show me the currents and ocean tides,
Let me see where the seaweed resides!
When you look, look, look at the ocean,
Look at all it is worth!
For the ocean covers three-fourths
Of the entire earth!
"BABY BELUGA" by Raffi and Wolff
Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little while whale on the go.
Baby Beluga, Baby Beluga,
Is the water warm?
Is your mama home,
With you so happy?
Way down yonder where the dolphins play,
Where you dive and splash all day,
Waves roll in and the waves roll out.
See the water squirtin' out of your spout.
Baby Beluga, oh, Baby Beluga,
Sing your little song,
Sing for all your friends.
We like to hear you.
When it's dark, you're home and fed.
Curl up snug in your water bed.
Moon is shining and the stars are out.
Good night, little whale, good night.
Baby Beluga, oh, baby Beluga,
With tomorrow's sun,
Another day's begun,
You'll soon be waking.
Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.
You're just a little white whale on the go.
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