Blue Skin of the Sea
Grade Level: Grades 6 - 8
Content Areas: Literature
Creative Writing
History
Basic Concepts: Reading and comprehension skills
Writing skills
History
General Objectives:
1. Students will acquire a basic introduction to the novel.
2. Students will acquire a basic introduction to the author.
3. Students will learn the background of the setting.
Materials: Blue Skin of the Sea
Procedure:
Activity #1: Introduction
Objective: Students will acquire a basic introduction to the author.
Time Frame: 30 minutes
1. Ask students what they know about Hawaii.
2. Introduce Graham Salisbury http://www.norfolk.ne.us/salisbry.htm
3. Give a brief introduction to the book and hand out character list (see attached).
4. Have students journal about their thoughts on the ocean and any fears they may have regarding the ocean.
EXTENSION: Have the students write a brief autobiography. This serves as a two- part activity. First, it will assist the students later when they are reading the novel and doing character comparisons to themselves. Second, it helps them understand the importance of introducing the author and his or her background in relation to the story.
ASSESSMENT: Attention and Participation Rubric
Students will be seen as successful if they have at least a three in lecture and discussion rubric.
Activity #2: Journal
Objective: Students will reflect on short sections of the reading, keeping them on track.
Time Frame: 5 -7 minutes daily
1. Students will be given a topic each day from the previous nights reading to journal on for Blue Skin of the Sea.
EXTENSION: Have the students create poems from their journal entries about the novel or about growing up and adolescence.
ASSESSMENT: 1. Journal Rubric
Students must have at least all threes on the journal rubric.
Resources for this Lesson
Graham Salisbury. (1998). [Online]. Available World Wide Web: http://www.norfolk.ne.us/salisbury.htm
Salisbury, G. (1992). Blue skin of the sea. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. [ISBN 0-440-21905-1].