Shark Baby

🎓 Audience

Education: Grade(s) K, 1, 2, 3, 4, Homeschool/Family, Learning Pod, Library Patrons

 🐾 Topics

Language Arts/English, Literacy, Reading, Science, STEM

🗂️ Format

• Introduction and Prior Knowledge: Learners are invited to share what they know, what they’ve observed in nature, and what they’re curious to learn about sharks and other marine life.

• Segment 1 - Story Time: We read Shark Baby together. As the story unfolds, learners follow Shark Baby on a journey through different ocean habitats, meeting a variety of marine animals along the way. Through interactive discussion, learners practice reading comprehension, make predictions, and explore story elements tied to identity, belonging, and animal traits.

• Segment 2 - Egg or Alive?: We explore shark life cycles, focusing on the difference between egg-laying sharks and those that give live birth. Learners revisit key moments from the story and connect them to real shark features and behaviors. We also introduce shark adaptations and highlight the diversity of shark species.

• Segment 3 - Q&A Session: We wrap up with a live, educator-led Q&A. Learners are encouraged to ask questions about sharks, ocean habitats, and how we study and care for marine animals at Mote.

🎯 Objectives

1. Describe the physical features, behaviors, and life cycle of sharks.

2. Compare different types of sharks, including those that lay eggs and those that give birth to live young.

3. Engage in a discussion about the diversity of ocean animals and the habitats they live in.

4. Explore how animals are adapted to survive in different parts of the ocean.

5. Develop curiosity and confidence in asking questions about sharks, habitats, and marine life.

✏️ Standards this program supports

Common Core

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.1.RI.1 – Ask and answer questions about key details in a text. Application: Learners respond to comprehension questions about Shark Baby’s journey and use text-based evidence to understand how he meets and compares himself to other ocean animals.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.1.RL.5 – Explain major differences between books that tell stories and books that give information. Application: Learners compare the fictional story of Shark Baby to nonfiction facts about real shark traits and life cycles.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.2.RI.3 – Describe the connection between scientific ideas or concepts in a text. Application: Learners connect story events to real shark behaviors and habitats, identifying how different species survive in various marine environments.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.2.RI.4 – Determine the meaning of words and phrases in a text relevant to a grade 2 topic or subject area. Application: Learners explore vocabulary such as “egg case,” “embryo,” “gill,” and “adaptation” through story context and guided discussion.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.3.RL.1 – Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. Application: Learners cite examples from the story to explain Shark Baby’s observations and emotional responses during his journey.

• CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.6 – Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate domain-specific words and phrases. Application: Learners apply vocabulary such as “life cycle,” “camouflage,” and “species” in discussion and review segments.

Next Generation Science Standards

• K-LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms. Application: Learners recognize that all animals, including sharks, need food to live and grow. They explore how different sharks find food in the ocean environment.

• 1-LS1.A: Structure and Function. Application: Learners describe how sharks and other marine animals use body parts such as fins, tails, and gills to move, breathe, and survive in the ocean.

• 1-LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms. Application: Learners explore the idea that sharks can lay eggs or give birth to live young, and that baby sharks have behaviors that help them survive on their own.

• 2-ESS2.C: The Roles of Water in Earth’s Surface Processes. Application: Learners identify the ocean as Shark Baby’s habitat and understand that water covers most of Earth’s surface and supports marine life.

• 2-LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans. Application: Learners observe the variety of ocean animals Shark Baby encounters and discuss how different species live in different habitats across the ocean.

• 3-LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms. Application: Learners explore shark life cycles, including how they begin as eggs or live young, and understand that different species grow and develop in different ways.

• 4-LS1.A: Structure and Function. Application: Learners explain how sharks’ internal and external body structures—such as cartilage skeletons, teeth, and lateral lines—help them survive in their habitats.

• 5-ESS2.A: Earth Materials and Systems. Application: Learners understand that the ocean is a vast system that supports shark diversity and provides a range of ecosystems that shape where and how different species live.

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• • 14 - Life Below Water

  • 15 - Life On Land

• Additional list of national alignments is available from Arbordale Publishing.

Florida Next Generation Sunshine State Standards (NGSSS)

• SC.K.L.14.2 – Recognize that some books and other media portray animals and plants with characteristics and behaviors they do not have in real life. Application: Learners discuss which parts of Shark Baby are fictional and compare them to factual information about real sharks provided during the learning segment.

• SC.K.L.14.3 – Observe plants and animals, describe how they are alike and how they are different in the way they look and in the things they do. Application: Learners observe Shark Baby and other ocean animals and compare traits such as shape, movement, and where they live.

• SC.1.L.14.1 – Make observations of living things and their environment using the five senses. Application: Learners use sight and sound to explore shark features and behaviors, including fins, gills, senses, and movement through different habitats.

• SC.2.L.16.1 – Observe and describe major stages in the life cycles of plants and animals, including beans and butterflies. Application: Learners identify and describe the life cycle of sharks, including egg-laying and live birth, and compare these stages to other animals they know.

• SC.2.L.17.2 – Recognize and explain that living things are found all over Earth, but each is only able to live in habitats that meet its basic needs. Application: Learners explore how different shark species are adapted to live in different ocean habitats and why each needs specific conditions to survive.

• SC.3.L.15.1 – Classify animals into major groups according to their physical characteristics and behaviors. Application: Learners classify sharks as fish and compare them to other animal groups by examining features such as skeleton type, skin covering, and how they reproduce.

• SC.4.L.17.4 – Recognize ways plants and animals, including humans, can impact the environment. Application: Learners reflect on how human actions affect sharks and their ocean habitats and consider ways people can protect marine animals and ecosystems.

• Additional list of Florida standards alignments is available from Arbordale Publishing.

☑️ Evaluation Link

When answering these questions, please focus on the quality of the content and not the technology. You can answer anonymously. After clicking Did the program take place?, choose if you are you an Educator or Parent.

• cilc.org/ContentProvider/Evaluation

Nouns

Words that name animals, body parts, places, or things.

• adaptation: A body part or behavior that helps an animal live in its environment.

• animal: A living creature that moves, breathes, and eats.

• apex predator: An animal at the top of the food chain that hunts but is not hunted.

• aquarium: A place where an aquatic animal is cared for and where people can learn about it.

• baby: A very young animal. In the story, Shark Baby is newly hatched from an egg case.

• backbone: The spine or main bone that runs down an animal’s back.

• birth: The time when a baby animal comes into the world.

• bone: A hard part that makes up the skeleton of an animal.

• carnivore: An animal that eats only other animals.

• cartilage: A bendy material that gives shape and support. Sharks have skeletons made of cartilage.

• case: A special pouch or covering. Shark Baby hatches from a case called a mermaid’s purse.

• cave: A dark space in rock where sea animals might hide or rest.

• current: A flow of water in the ocean that moves animals or objects from place to place.

• egg: A round or oval object that some animals lay and a baby hatches from.

• fish: An animal that lives in water, has gills, and usually has scales.

• gill: A body part that helps a fish breathe underwater.

• habitat: The place where an animal lives and finds everything it needs to survive.

• invertebrate: An animal without a backbone.

• kelp forest: An underwater area where tall seaweed grows and many animals live.

• manatee: A large, gentle plant-eating marine mammal that lives in warm water.

• mammal: An animal with fur or hair that is warm inside and feeds its baby milk. A dolphin is a mammal.

• ocean: The large, salty body of water that covers most of Earth.

• octopus: A soft-bodied sea animal with eight arms. Octopus have no bones.

• plant: A living thing that grows in soil or water and makes its own food.

• reef: A rocky or coral habitat under the sea where many sea creatures live.

• scale: A small, hard plate that covers the skin of a fish or reptile.

• sea lion: A marine mammal with flippers that barks like a dog.

• seahorse: A fish with a curled tail that lives in kelp forests.

• shark: A large fish with sharp teeth that lives in the ocean.

• skeleton: All the bones in a body that give it shape and support.

• skull: The bone that protects the brain.

• snout: The nose or jaw area of an animal’s face.

• storm: Strong weather with wind and waves. A storm carries Shark Baby through the ocean.

• urchin: A round sea animal with spines. Shark Baby sees one while exploring the ocean.

• vertebrate: An animal with a backbone.

• water: The liquid all living things need to survive.

Verbs

Words that describe actions.

• bounce: To move up and down quickly. Shark Baby bounces in the waves.

• carry: To move something from one place to another. The current carries Shark Baby.

• chase: To swim or run after something. Some animals chase others in the sea.

• find: To discover something. Shark Baby tries to find out what kind of shark he is.

• laugh: To make a happy or silly sound.

• lay: To produce an egg.

• munch: To eat something with small bites. The manatee munched on seagrass.

• roar: To make a loud, deep sound. Big waves roared in the story.

• swim: To move through water.

• tumble: To roll or spin.

Adjectives

Words that describe or give more information about a noun.

• aquatic: Living in or near water.

• deep: Far below the surface.

• lonely: Feeling alone. Shark Baby feels lonely when he doesn’t know who he is.

• marine: Related to the ocean. (Can also be used as a noun.)

• pearly: Shiny like a pearl. 

• rocky: Covered with rocks. Shark Baby visits a rocky reef.

• sharp: Having a point or edge that can cut. Sharks have sharp teeth.

• spotted: Marked with dots or spots. Shark Baby meets a shark with spotted skin.

• striped: Having lines of color. A shark in the story had stripes.

• underwater: Happening below the surface of water.

Play Shark Bingo

Play virtual bingo using a computer, smartphone or tablet during your program to focus on key concepts and vocabulary.

• Online

• On paper/PDF

🌐 Websites

• Swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum)

Books & Publications

• Shark Baby written by Ann Downer and illustrated by Shennen Bersani

  • 📑 Activity Guide

• Sharks and Dolphins: A Compare and Contrast Book by Kevin Kurtz

• Fishes: A Compare and Contrast Book by Marie Fargo

🖥️ Videos

• Shark Emoji Guessing Game https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbXNiccjxuw