Reading Adventure Pack: Oceans

Go on an "ocean" reading adventure! Teachers can support reading together at home with our reading adventure packs — designed to encourage hands-on fun and learning centered around paired fiction and nonfiction books. (Level: First Grade)

Explore the ocean!

The featured books are Flotsam by David Wiesner and The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole, illustrated by Bruce Degen. Flotsam, the beautifully illustrated wordless picture book that won the 2007 Caldecott Medal, reveals the secrets held in a wave-battered underwater camera found on the beach by a young boy. After the boy has the camera's film developed, the reader views photographs of a curious world under the sea. In The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor, readers also get an unusual look at what's beneath the ocean's waves as Ms. Frizzle and her students take an exciting field trip to explore the animal and plant life of the ocean, tides, waves, and ocean topography.

Get the books

The featured books were chosen for their quality and availability in most school and public libraries. However, if you would like to purchase the books, here are the links:

Flotsam by David Wiesner

The Magic School Bus on the Ocean Floor by Joanna Cole

What's in the reading adventure pack?

Parent information sheet with an introductory note that teachers can personalize, instructions about how to use the packet, and tips for sharing fiction and nonfiction books with children
Two books: one fiction and one nonfiction, selected by Reading Rockets for high quality and wide availability in school libraries
Creativity Activity: a hands-on craft project
Imagination Activity: encourages imaginative play, writing, or drawing
Get Real Activity: focuses on real-world experiences for parent and child
Bookmark: lists the featured titles and alternative titles
Parent survey

While designed as a school-to-home project, reading adventure packs are also great for summer programs, after-school programs, and home-schoolers.

Interested in more reading adventures?

Browse our full library of reading adventure packs. And for additional information about reading adventure packs, you might want to read this article.

Reading Rockets, Rachael Walker (2011)

Reprints

You are welcome to print copies or republish materials for non-commercial use as long as credit is given to Reading Rockets and the author(s). For commercial use, please contact [email protected]