Far From Shore

Far From Shore: Chronicles of an Open Ocean Voyage

By: Sophie Webb

Published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011

Intriguing, Beautifully Illustrated, Educational, Nonfiction through Storytelling, Marine Biology

Awards:

• 2012 Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
• Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12, 2012
• 2012 CCBS Choices

Summary: Written in diary-like entries, Sophie Webb, a field biologist and naturalist specializing in seabirds, documents her fourth month long trip in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. In this part of the Pacific the ocean waters are very deep, making it difficult for scientists to learn about the creatures who inhabit this part of the ocean. But together with her fellow shipmates they do their very best to gather as much data as possible by counting and collecting samples. Long term field work is the only way to gain more knowledge about marine wildlife in the ETP so we can better protect them.

Reading Level: Lexile Framework, 1030L, Grades 5-8

Suggested Delivery: Read Aloud

Key Vocabulary: biologist, naturalist, mammal, ecosystem, ecology, oceanography, latitude, longitude, habitat, purse-seining, overfishing, pollution, climate, transect, dorsal fin, odontocetes, species, equator, flying fish, beaked whale, sampling, invertebrates, cirrus, stratus, and cumulus clouds, biopsy, DNA, bioluminescence, echolocate, chlorophyll, keratin, fluke, plankton, salinity, scrimshaw

3 Teaching Suggestions:

1. Use this text in a science unit about ocean wildlife. Teach students about the many different types of marine species there are. (Specifically in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean).
2. Use this text to teach students the high importance of maintaining a safe and clean ecosystem. Teach them ways in which they can help to improve our ecosystem and protect our oceans.
3. Use this text to help students to understand the jobs of scientists and how important they are to society. Through this text students can learn how lengthy and in depth research projects can be and how it is critical that we have people in our world who dedicate their lives to collecting scientific data.

A spinner dolphin

Before Reading: Prior to reading this text, it is extremely important to review and introduce some vocabulary used in the novel. There is a high likelihood that students do not know a significant amount of the vocabulary in this text. Don't feel the need to review the names of the marine animals, only vocabulary that is crucial to their understanding and comprehension of the text.

During Reading: While reading this text, either on large chart paper or the white board, keep a running tab of all of the animals that Sophie describes and illustrates in the text. Try your best to

A beaked whale

organize them into groups such as "Sea Birds," "Whales," "Dolphins," "Other fish," etc.  

After Reading: Student's will go back to that long list of animals compiled in their "During" activity and choose one marine bird or animal. Have them perform research on that particular bird or animal, along with any information they learned from the text. Along with a drawn illustration, ask students to share all that they have learned about their animal with their fellow classmates.

Writing Activity: In this nonfiction text, Sophie describes three major problems that are affecting our oceans and marine wildlife. Have students identify what these three issues are (Overfishing, Pollution and Climate Change). Once students have identified the three issues, allow them to read up on them. After the students have learned more about these issues, have them write a letter to Sophie telling her the different ways in which these problems can be solved and what they will do to contribute to the cause. 

2 Electronic Resources:

1. National Geographic: This is a link to the "Animal" section of the National Geographic website. Students can use this website as a source to further investigate the animal of their choosing in the "After Reading" Activity. There is a substantial amount of animals listed on this website along with information regarding each one. It's a simple website to navigate and a trusted website for accurate information.
   
2. WWF: The World Wildlife Fund is an organization dedicated to improve our planet's ecosystems and the wildlife living in those ecosystems. This link will take you directly to an article all about pollution in our oceans and how it is harmful to marine life. There are other tabs on the left handed side that explain several other problems that are occurring in our oceans whether they are natural or caused by humans. This will educate students further on the problems affecting our oceans and what they can do to help prevent it from getting any worse. Listed below is another source that discusses the same issues:
• Ocean Awareness

Webb, S. (2011). Far from shore: chronicles of an open ocean voyage. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt