The great artist Wyland said, "you don't have to live in the ocean to want to protect it". Most of my students may not ever see the ocean since we live in a landlocked state. Without these resources, they may never get to know about 71% of the Earth's surface.
My students have taken on my enthusiasm for the ocean, they want to know more about it.
They attend an elementary school in a landlocked state, with only a lake of salt for their only reference to what the ocean might be like. The only ocean life they get to know are the few that are "celebrities" like Shamu. When I showed them a book with pictures and other information about the oceans, they wanted to know more.
My Project
I've requested a number of books to use in researching ocean animals that will be compiled in an end of year non-fiction book about ocean animals. This will help my students get to read non-fiction books about a subject they enjoy. It will also enable my students to write down the information they learned to add to their own book. When their books are done, they will be able to read their books to other students. The writing tracker will help my students stay on track as to where they are in their writing process.
Non-fiction reading is so important in helping students to learn more vocabulary words and the ocean books will teach them vocabulary they may not otherwise be exposed to.
From there, they'll be writing their own book about the animals of the ocean. This will make them think about what information they are reading is important and most interesting for their book. By becoming better acquainted with the ocean, they will be better world citizens and will understand why it needs to be protected.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Francis and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
