Additional Book Information:

• Copyright: 2021 by Lauren Tarshis

• Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

• Publishing Date: November 2, 2021

• Reading Level (Lexile): 840L

5 key words to describe this book:

• Inspiring

• Lively

• Suspenseful

• Fascinating

• Factual

ELA CT Common Core Standard that might be met by reading this book:

RI.3.1 Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

Suggested Delivery:

• Independent Read or Small Group

Electronic Resources: 

• https://www.laurentarshis.com/ 

  • Show students this website prior to reading to teach them about the author, Lauren Tarshis, and to further explore her historical fiction books and resources. 

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7xcYanM9TI 

  • Play this video for students after reading text to introduce discussion of the book's main ideas and to get them motivated to read. 

Video to Build Schema:

• https://players.brightcove.net/1543299976/default_default/index.html?videoId=6002255125001 

ELA Teaching Suggestions:

Key vocabulary that may have to be taught for students to better understand the text:

• Rescue: to free or save from danger

• Habitat: the place where living things naturally live and grow

• Sanctuary: a place where animals are brought to live and be protected for the rest of their lives

• Environment: natural surroundings on the Earth

• Wild: living in a state of nature and not under human control and care

• Marine: having to do with the sea; living in or caused by the sea

Reading strategy suggestions to increase literal and/or inferential comprehension:

• Before Reading

  • Engage students in a whole group discussion by posing the question "What does it mean to be courageous?".

• During Reading

  • After reading each short story, ask students to summarize what they read (focusing on the main events, main ideas, and who, what, when, where, why, and how questions). A graphic organizer can be utilized. 

• After Reading

  • Students can make up a set of questions about the book and then test each other. 

Writing activity that requires students to demonstrate inferential comprehension:

• Rewrite one of the short stories so that younger children can understand it.