I'm bringing this up because, while I have never been over-the-top excited about sharks, I'm starting to think I might be in the minority. This realization has been reinforced by almost all of my tutoring students, and I can't seem to find enough [quality] shark material.
I was super excited when one of my students (who always seems to be up to date with the newest picture books) told me he wanted to read Neighborhood Sharks by Katherine Roy. At last! A non-fiction shark picture book!
And friends, if you've read it you know, Ms. Roy exceeds all the expectations . I'm sure shark-enthusiasts have their own reasons for loving the book, but I love it because the fresh take on a favorite topic is incentive enough to dig through unfamiliar terms and complex subject matter.
Here's what I came up with:
Then.... figurative language!! ("dorsal fins and keels give its body stability... like wings on a jet plane (Roy)" ...or... "razor sharp smile (Roy)".....Ahhhhh! Simile and imagery in a non-fiction book?! Too good to be true! )
After giving a very brief sentence to describe the shark "weapon," kids write a simile. Discussion might be helpful in facilitating this for struggling readers or younger kiddos, but if you want to check for understanding, give 'em the activity and see what they do on their own!
Uses & Grade Level:
This is where is gets fun. ANYONE can use this! I gave this assignment to a second grader (a very advanced little guy) and we worked together. If your kiddo is interested in sharks, give them the book & activity at home! (I'm thinking a 5th grader could do this independently...)
RL.2.3, RI.2.1, RI.2.7
RL.3.4, RI.3.1, RI.3.7