May-June 2022

Baby Shark in a Tree

Download this lesson

Academic Standards

 

 

Reading Objective:

Students will recognize that a mangrove swamp habitat nurtures baby sharks.

 

Reading Level:

Lexile: 460L; GRL: L

 

Next Generation Science Standards:

2-LS4--1: The diversity of life in a habitat

2-ESS2: Shapes and kinds of bodies of water and land

 

Vocabulary:

mangrove, roots, swamp

Use these questions to check students’ understanding and stimulate discussion:

 

1. What kind of trees do baby lemon sharks live in?
(mangrove trees)

2. Where do mangrove trees grow?
(in water)

3. What is a swamp?
(a forest covered with water)

4. Name some ways that mangrove trees give baby sharks what they need. (The trees’ roots provide safety as well as a place to find friends and food, like fish and crabs.)

Go online to print or project the Reading Checkpoint.

 

  • Baby lemon sharks are only 2 feet long. They can grow to be 10 feet long.
  • A group of sharks is called a shiver.
  • Mangrove trees are being cut down to build hotels by the sea. People are working to protect mangroves, which will help baby sharks.

Materials: 12˝ rulers, pencils, copies of the skill sheet

Overview: Students measure classroom objects to discover which are longer and shorter than a 2-foot baby lemon shark.

Directions:

  1. Gather students. Remind them that baby lemon sharks need to hide from big sharks because they’re small—just 2 feet long.
  2. Tell students that scientists measure objects, and sort them according to size. Show kids a 12˝ ruler. Could they measure the length of a baby shark with this? Ask someone to demonstrate how it could be done.
  3. Hand out rulers, pencils and skill sheets. It’s time to measure classroom objects and record! What can students find that’s longer than a baby shark? What is shorter? What is about the same length? (This is more a bout sorting than precise measurement.)
  4. Record findings on the skill sheets.
  5. If there’s time, students can share results.