Jessica Lobsinger READ 3302 Text Sets

My literature circle discussed the book How to Clean a Hippopotamus, a nonfiction text about animal symbiosis. I used this book to help me determine what grade in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study I wanted to base my text set after. I chose fourth grade science, 4.L.1.2: Explain how animals meet their needs by using behaviors in response to information received from the environment. This means that students should know that animals collect information about their environment using their senses. Animals have instinctive behaviors and that the brain processes information that signals the performance of certain behaviors that help them to survive. I have chosen six different genres of text as part of my set. I have two nonfiction books, one fiction book, one video, one song, one poem, and one picture to create my collection. All the pieces talk about how animal use things like their five senses, camouflage, and natural instincts to survive in their environments.

How to Clean a Hippopotamus (nonfiction text)

(a.) Jenkins, S., & Page, R. (2010). How to clean a hippopotamus: A look at unusual animal partnerships. Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

(b.) This nonfiction book talks about animals partnerships in the wild. It discusses symbiosis (relationships formed with other animals) in the form of a graphic novel, covering more than 20 different partnerships. (c.) I think that the book How to Clean a Hippopotamus: A Look at Unusual Animal Partnerships could be used in grades 3-5. It uses advanced language and is set up like a graphic novel. (d.)

Octavia and Her Purple Ink Cloud (fiction text) (a.) Rathmell, D., & Rathmell, D. (2006). Octavia and her purple ink cloud. Mt. Pleasant, SC: Sylvan Dell Publishing. (b.) Octavia and Her Purple Ink Cloud is a story about an octopus who sees how all her friends can perform camouflage in order to stay safe in the ocean. The whole story Octavia is trying to produce a purple ink cloud, but continues to squirt other colors. In the end, she finally protects herself from a shark by squirting a large, dark cloud of purple ink that blocks out all vision for the shark. (c.)

This book could be used k-5 for many different reasons. Colors are covered in the book, but so are things like camouflage, animal interactions, animal behaviors, and animals in their environments. (d.)

How Animals Use Their Senses (nonfiction text)

(a.) Hickman, P. (2006). How animals use their senses. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press Ltd. (b.) Pamela Hickmans How Animals Use Their Senses is a nonfiction book that details how animals use the five senses of sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. It uses all kinds of animal examples to explain that animals have senses just like humans, and how they may differ from how we use the five senses. (c.) Because this book is considered a level three reader, meaning that kids can read it alone, I would say it is meant for grades 3-5. However, it could be used in grades 1-5 depending on the purpose. (d.)

Mites to Mastodons: Squirrel (Poem)

(a.) Kumin, M. (2006). Mites to mastodons. (p. 6). Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. (b.) The poem Squirrel is about the animals acrobatics and how many uses it has for its bushy tail. It also tells of animals related to the squirrel and some other interesting facts such as what they eat in each season of the year. (c.) I would say this book of poems could be used for grades 2-5. The poems in this book are kid friendly and allow for a lot of in class options. (d.)

Colorblind Chameleon (Web Image)

(a.) Parisi, M. (Artist). (2007). Colorblind chameleon. [Web Drawing]. Retrieved from http://www.offthemark.com/cartoons/chameleon (b.) This is a picture that represents a comical display of how chameleons use their camouflage defensively. It demonstrates that they use their camouflage, based off of their environmental surroundings, to hide from predators. (c.) The humor in this picture make me believe this to be something only upper grades would understand. I think this form of text should be in grades 4 and/or 5. (d.)

New York Times: Cuttlefish Camouflage (Online Video)

(a.) New York Times (2008). NYTimes.com Cuttlefish Camouflage. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mW4PbW893ik (b.) This online video shows how the cuttlefish uses its surrounding to determine which type of camouflage to use. It is an amazing, scientific video that allows one to see how some animals have skin that helps them to stay safe in their environments. (c.) This video is filled with scientific information, but is based off of a very cool animal. If students understand the purpose of watching the clip they should be able to comprehend what it is teaching them. I would say this could be used in grades 3-5. (d.)

Jumpstart Symbiotic Harmony Song (Online Audio)

(a.) Jumpstart3D (2009). Jumpstart symbiotic harmony song. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=GNfv_7 M-R8c (b.) The Jumpstart Symbiotic Harmony Song is a fun music video that allows students to see how the relationship between a bird and a rhinoceros can benefit both animals. This catchy and educational song goes into detail about how the bird gets to eat bugs while the rhino gets to be cleaned of parasites. Students will enjoy learning and singing the song along with the video. (c.) This song seems childish, but it has some valuable information in it. I think that grades 3-4 would enjoy this clip because of the catchy tune and the interesting facts that are shared through its lyrics. (d.)