It is finally here! Shark Week! This week we hope you journey with us to get a 360 degree view of sharks starting with their rich history, and then going further into the wide range of species and present conservation efforts. Each day we will discuss ways these topics can be utilized well to educate in the science classroom or family home, and how artwork strengthens the whole process.
We want each day of shark week to provide visibility for biodiversity and enviornmental mindfulness by combining science with art. By Wednesday, if you are still feeling a lack of action, we invite you to take a closer look at these magnificent creatures with a guide on researching and writing poetry about sharks. In other words, check our website daily for good content!
We look forward to a daily practice of learning about sharks, and hope you can join us, whether it is for your own learning, to build ideas for your classroom, or share with friends and family.
Here is the schedule of the pieces we will feature each day:
Shark Week At-a-Glance
Monday: Prehistoric Sharks
Sharks: A Mighty Bite-y History (Abrams Books for Young Readers) by Miriam Foster,
illustrated by Gordy Wright: A book review to get your shark week started off right. Roaming gigantic predators, sharp teeth and events set in a time before the dawn of humans, this non-fiction picture book is a look into the past based on unearthed shark teeth and fossils. It is a good read for all of the budding paleontologists out there who might normally be thinking strictly about dinosaurs and also a good survey of present day sharks.
Tuesday: Great Whites
Great White Shark (Candlewick Press) by Claire Saxby, illustrated by Cindy Lane: Join us for an interview with Claire Saxby, award-winning author of such books like Emu, Dingo, and Big Red Kangaroo, as she shows us the joy of applying one’s own voice to the world of research. Great White Shark describes the beauty and grace of one of the ocean's most misunderstood creatures. Claire explains how she used her gift of poetic writing to make the truth relatable to her audience.
Wednesday: Shark Research and Art
Wandering Whale Sharks (Owlkids Books) written and illustrated by Japanese artist Susumu Shingu, is a poetic ode to whale sharks. Feeling unsure about writing shark haiku? Join us Wednesday and tap into your
skills of observation and creativity with a writing and illustrating prompt.
Thursday: Shark Research and Conservation
Shark Lady (Sourcebooks) by Jess Keating, illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns: the story of marine biologist Eugenie Clark, who followed her passion for sharks throughout her life. Scenic illustrations by Álvarez Miguéns frame each page, especially those of lush coral reefs that emphasize the biodiversity of a shark’s habitat. A versatile book that could be used to encourage young girls in the STEM fields and show the importance of thorough research. We also include a coral reef craft to emphasize these points.
Friday: Shark Conservation and Advocacy
Mother of Sharks (Penguin Workshop): A young girl from Puerto Rico, Meli, meets a hermit crab, Jaiba, who takes her on a magical journey into the deep ocean. While with Jaiba, Meli observes sharks in history, a wide array of species, and how sharks contribute to a diverse ocean system. Meli’s experience with Jaiba leads her to being a vocal Latinx scientist who is “paying attention” and encouraging others to do the same. In response to this book, we created a lesson to tie together the many threads this book contains.
To come next week: Poems created by you!
Let's Get this Shark Party Started....
To start off Shark Week, we thought that a fun and easy craft might be in order. How about a shark tooth necklace?
Materials needed:
Modeling clay (we used air day)
scissors
string
a fork
pictures of shark teeth
Process
1. Shape a shark tooth using modeling clay.
2. Use a fork to make a serrated edge.
3. Make a hole at the top of the tooth to thread a sting through.
4. Allow clay to dry
5. Thread teeth.
Discussion
Using a tooth chart and molding designs after real shark teeth allows you to contemplate form and function and may lead to good discussion. You could have readers finish these tried and true sentences and see where your conversation goes from there:
I notice....
I wonder....
It reminds me of.....
Share Your Shark Spirit
If you make a shark tooth necklace, be sure to tag us on Instagram or Facebook. We'd love to see your creations!
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