Type: Individual/whole class exercise

Title: The Sea's Stars!

Learning Objectives: The student will:

• Express knowledge learned from an informational text through creating and sharing a visual product

Description:

In this activity, students will draw a sea star, and tell about its different body parts/anatomy using content learned from the informational text. If able, students will label the different body parts of the sea star.

Materials:

• Copies of Starfish on the Beach and Starfish
• Sea star template (based on specific group's needs--see below)
• Scissors
• Crayons
• Pencils

Preparation:

• Librarian/educator will prepare a template for the sea star craft as the needs of their particular group dictate. Since skills can vary widely in preschoolers, some students may be able to freehand draw a sea star, while others would need to trace a pattern or cut out a pre-drawn shape.
• Librarian/educator will prepare and label a sample sea star of their own for demonstration purposes.
• At the beginning of this activity, the librarian/educator will discuss the names "starfish" and "sea star" with the group. This animal has historically been called a starfish, but it's not a fish! "Sea star" is what scientists call them, so we will, too.
• Librarian/educator will read Starfish on the Beach aloud to the group, and discuss the messaging inherent in the story.

Direct Instruction

1. Librarian/educator will read Starfish aloud to the group. This is an informational text that gives us some facts and information about sea stars and how they live. One thing we learn from the book is the different body parts of a sea star.
2. Librarian/educator will share their pre-made demonstration sea star with the group, and show/tell about the labeled key body parts covered in the informational text, such as rays, mouth, and tube feet.

Guided Practice

1. Librarian/educator will distribute sea star templates to the group, and will guide students through the first steps of creation (tracing, cutting out, etc.). Additionally, librarian/educator will demonstrate to students where and how to draw key body parts of sea stars, such as tube feet. This may be labeled if the group's ability allows; otherwise, students may share the information verbally.

Independent Practice

1. Students will now work on their own to complete their sea stars, including drawing, coloring, and labeling key body parts (if applicable).
2. Students may use the informational text as reference.

Sharing/Reflection/Closing

1. Once all students have completed their sea stars, they will share their work with the group. Volunteers may be invited to share their sea stars and indicate key body parts. Another strategy is to name key body parts of the sea star and have all students point to their drawings to indicate where these are.
2. The librarian/educator will lead the group in a wrap-up circle time/discussion. Questions may include:
• How are sea stars like humans? How are they different?
• What are some ways we can help sea stars?
• Imagine you are a sea star crawling around in the ocean. Tell what it's like!
3. If time permits, the librarian/educator may wish to have students play a hide-and-seek game with the sea stars they have created! Half of the group may hide sea stars outdoors (or even in the library)--the key is that at least part of the sea star must be visible without moving anything around it (leaves, rocks, etc.). Then, the other half is tasked to find the hidden stars. When this is complete, the groups can switch. This may provide a good opportunity to discuss camouflage as an adaptation for survival.

Notes about this strategy:

This activity is a great opportunity for students to express learning from an informational text, and will especially appeal to visual learners. Students will be able to use their own creativity while making their sea stars. Completed stars may be displayed in the library to showcase student work.