Life in the Ocean: The Story of Oceanographer Sylvia Earle

Written and Illustrated by Claire A. Nivola

Book Review

Teaching Invitations

• Early Inspirations / What will I be? In the words of the author, Sylvia Earle “was a biologist and a botanist long before she even knew what those words meant.” Reread Life in the Ocean to identify Sylvia’s path from childhood interest in nature to internationally known oceanographer and conservationist. Invite your students to think, write, and draw about an interest that they currently have and to speculate about where that interest might lead them. You could expand this activity by having students research careers in and key figures in fields related to their current interests. For more, see the Mentors and Research activity in our Bird Talk entry.
• Illustrating the Underwater World. Read Life in the Oceanalongside two titles featured in a previous Classroom Bookshelf entry, Coral Reef written and illustrated by Jason Chin and Wow! Ocean! by Robert Neubecker. Gather together a collection of picture books with undersea settings that feature the use of different artistic media and styles, such as Fish Wish by Bob Barner, Life in a Coral Reef by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Steve Jenkins, Sea Horse: The Shyest Fish in the Sea by Chris Butterworth and illustrated by John Lawrence, and I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean by Kevin Sherry. Discuss the aesthetic responses inspired by different styles and media and compare the works to actual photos and/or web cams of undersea scenes. Collaborate with your art teacher to offer your students the opportunity to make their own undersea scenes. Students can sketch their work with pencil and then reproduce their sketch multiple times, using different media. Matte and/or frame their works of art and hang them in hallways for all to enjoy.
• Ocean Poetry. In the introductory segment of Life in the Ocean, Nivola quotes Sylvia Earle referring to the ocean as “the blue heart of the planet.” Invite children to explore their own aesthetic responses to the ocean, drawing on either first hand experiences, or multimedia experiences. Use the poetry books In the Sea by David Elliot, Hotel Deep: Light Verse From Dark Water by Kurt Cyrus, and In the Swim: Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian as mentor texts for student composed poems.

• Picture Book Biographies of  Women Conservationists. Pair Life in the Ocean with other picture book  biographies of women conservationists, such as Jane Goodall (see our Classroom Bookshelf entry on Me, Jane and The Watcher), Wangari Matthai, whose work is explored in several excellent picture book biographies, including one by Claire Nivola. Compare the life stories, commitments, and accomplishments of these amazing women.
• History and Technology of Ocean Exploration. Engage your students in research on the history of ocean exploration. Using the online resources below, divide students up into small groups responsible for learning about ocean exploration history and technology during certain time periods. Ask each group to contribute to a timeline that will illustrate key discoveries. ‘firsts,’ and innovations. Use Voice Thread, PowerPoint, or posterboard to display your co-constructed timeline.
• Sylvia Earle, Pioneer. Invite your students to learn more about Sylvia Earle and her achievements by reading additional biographies and her autobiographical writings (see the listing of titles below). Begin the process by reading aloud Life in the Ocean and generating a list of questions that your students have about Sylvia and her life.  Then, explore multimedia resources to find answers to their questions. Be sure to include the many informative online videos linked below in your investigation.

• 2010 Oil Spill in the Gulf. In the author’s note of Life in the Ocean, Nivola describes Sylvia Earle’s responses to the clean up efforts in the gulf.  Read a transcript of Sylvia Earle’s testimony before congress on the issue accessible at http://www.oceanleadership.org/2010/sylvia-earle-to-u-s-congress-cheap-oil-is-costing-us-the-earth/Invite your students to learn more about the explosion on Deepwater Horizon and the consequences of this massive oil spill. Discuss the many contentious issues related to oil drilling and oil spill clean up methods, considering the perspectives and positioning of the various stakeholders, including BP, Gulf fishermen, the tourism industry, ocean conservationists, and all of us who rely on oil indirectly or directly in our daily lives.
• Coral Reef Endangerment. Please see the critical literacy activity and bibliography about coral reef bleaching in our previous two-book entry on Coral Reef and Wow! Ocean!

Further Explorations

• This biography for older readers presents the accomplishments of Robert Ballard, the Woods Hole Oceanographic scientist who found the wreck of the Titanic and pioneered undersea exploration equipment.

• Part of the Just the Facts series, this biography of oceanographer Sylvia Earle is written for intermediate grade readers.

• Following a trip to an aquarium a boy imagines himself a fish swimming in a coral reef; this picture book, which also blends fantasy and nonfiction incorporates is illustrated in mixed media collage.

• This picture book biography presents the life and passion of the famous oceanographer who invented the aqualung.

• Spectacular and detailed vinyl engravings depict the life cycle of the sea horse in this informative picture book.

• A collection of twenty-one rhyming poems that celebrate the diversity of life in the sea.

• Written by marine biologist Sylvia Earle, this title in the Jump into Science series introduces readers to the life cycles of the coral reef.

• The marine biologist and conservationist describes her adventures, motivations, and research in this autobiographical title.

• With oversized photographs and brief text, the famous marine biologist, introduces readers to twelve fish who inhabit the coral reefs.

• Holly Meade’s woodcut illustrations accompany rhyming poems about the creatures of the ocean.

• In his signature style, Florian presents an illustrated collection of nonfiction poems about marine life.

• With his distinctive paper collage illustrations, the author explores the regions that comprise the depths of the ocean.

• The complexity of the clean up efforts associated with the explosion on board Deepwater Horizon are detailed in this text for intermediate grade readers.

• An exploration of ocean life at three different depths off the coast of California.

• See our Classroom Bookshelf entry on this picture book biography at http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/05/me-jane-watcher.html

• A picture book biography of Kenyan activist Wangari Maathai, founder of the Green Belt Movement.

• A giant squid compares his size to various other ocean creatures, but has to curtail his bragging when he is swallowed by a giant whale; this picture book incorporates cartoon style illustrations.

• Part of the wonderful Scientists in the Field series, this title features scientists’ and community members’ multifaceted efforts to save endangered seahorses in a coral reef off of the Philippines.

• See our Classroom Bookshelf entry on this picture book biography at http://classroombookshelf.blogspot.com/2011/05/me-jane-watcher.html

Filed under: Nonfiction