Grade 2 Theme: A House for Hermit Crab

A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle tells a tale about a crab that keeps growing out of his shells. Not having a house for protection is scary and Hermit Crab quickly finds a larger shell to replace his first home. It is too plain for his taste but he soon finds new undersea friends that agree to decorate it. When Hermit Crab is at last satisfied with his shell, he discovers that it too has grown too small. He says goodbye to his friends and looks to find a new shell. This time he isn't afraid of change but looks forward to meeting all the new creatures that will help him decorate his new home.
Picture from Eric Carle's Book Illustration by Eric Carle.

This unit will integrate Language Arts , Computer Technologies , Science and Visual Arts .

Language Arts

Objectives

This lesson is to promote active reading (students should be able to predict patterns and understand the passage of time. The Teacher can ask the students if they know what any of the new words mean). Another objective is to increase vocabulary and knowledge of life under the sea. Every time a new creature is mentioned, note it down. They can be studied in detail in the science section.

Materials

Book: Carle, Eric (1987) A House for Hermit Crab. Picture Book Studio, Ltd. Saxonville, Massachusetts.
Dictionaries for looking up definitions.

Steps


  1. Read A House for Hermit Crab.
  2. Ask students questions, "Do any of you know what a sea anemone is? What they look like? What they eat?" Ask questions about the passage of time: "If it is November on this page, what month do you think it will be next page? How long do you think Hermit Crab can stay in this new shell?"
  3. Write down new words on the board and stop to have a brief questioning. Don't pause for too long or you'll lose the flow of the story. After the story is done, discuss the new creatures mentioned.

Assessment

Assessment will be based on the children's ability to predict what will happen on Hermit Crab's journey, and their understanding of the 12 months (passage of time in the story).

Computer Technologies

 This section will integrate with the previous language arts activity. After children have discussed sea anemones, starfish, corals, snails, sea urchins and lanternfish in their language arts section, have them look up the creatures on the Internet. Also look up sponges, barnacles, clown fish, and sand dollars. What do the children think these mean? Do they think sponges will clean Hermit Crab's shell? Or that the clown fish will entertain him? Get children to search for information and challenge their first opinions of these creatures.

Objectives

This lesson is to teach children that search engines on the computer offer access to information and can be used for research just like text books, encyclopedias, and almanacs. This lesson will also incorporate some primary level technology outcomes.
(See http://calvin.stemnet.nf.ca/DeptEd/computerintegration/outcomes/ks01-f1.htm for a list of computer outcomes).
ci01f1-1p03 understand that a computer performs functions based on instructions.
ci01f1-1p06 understand that files may be saved to and retrieved from a disk.

Materials

A computer is needed for every three children. Computers must be able to run Windows 95 (or higher). A sound card isn't crucial but is preferred. The class will also need 3.5 inch floppy disks (one for every three students). Notepad and pens will be needed to write down URLs.

Steps

  1. Put children into groups of three and give each group a floppy disk.
  2. Explain to the groups that they are to research the creatures mentioned in A House for Hermit Crab. If there are enough groups, you can give them each a specific creature, or two creatures to research.
  3. Direct children to child-geared search engines or subject directories like http://www.yahooligans.com. Let them know that the computer can only use the information that they give in the search. Ex: if you type "sea animals" the computer can only look for those words. It wouldn't look for "sea creatures" because unlike you and I, the computer doesn't know these words are related. (ci01f1-1p03)
  4. The teacher should demonstrate on an LCD panel or digital projector (that project the teacher's computer desktop on a pull-down screen) how one goes about saving pictures from the Internet. Make sure to mention that it is important that they save to their floppy disk drive, and demonstrate how this is done. Also, teach them not to use spaces in their filenames and to use names that are somehow related to the image.
  5. After they have done some preliminary searches, give them some recommended sites showing what projects other people or schools have done concerning sea life.
    Some recommended sites are:

    http://www.schools.ash.org.au/elanorah/sealife.htm
    This site showcases the webpage debuts of grade three children at Elanora Heights Primary School in Sydney, Australia. Their project is "Sea and River Life".

    http://www.nt-tech.com.au/casps/HermitCrabHome.htm
    This site is Casuarina Street Primary School's student's research on Hermit Crabs.

    http://library.thinkquest.org/J002747/kl.html
    On this page, grade five students from John F. Pattie Elementary School make use of .MIDI music files and animated .gif files. Even though this deals with outcomes of a higher level, children can briefly discuss how music and pictures make webpages more interesting and more fun to view.

    ci02f2-2e01 recognize that graphics, video and sound enhance communication.
    ci02f2-2e03 discuss how computer technology can be used to create special effects
    (Note: For a list of computer outcomes including the ones just listed, please go to: http://www.stemnet.nf.ca/DeptEd/computerintegration/04-ci-gco.htm ).

  6. After groups are done their search, collect disks and display chosen images on the LCD panel or digital projector. Get each group to explain their images (what they are and why they chose them). Talk about other facts they may have learned in their searches.
    (Note: Make sure the children understand how to retrieve images from disk. Ask them to tell you the steps).

Assessment

Assessment will be based on how the students adapt to the use of the computer and if they reach the outcomes mentioned. Presentation can also be assessed. Clarity, interest, new vocabulary, and and understanding of the material presented can be judged.

Science

 Science can be easily integrated into this theme. Children can write reports (in groups) concerning sea creatures. They can talk about habitat, food and interesting facts. They can also make diagrams.
Some good books on sea creatures are:
  1. Wild, Wild, World of Animals: Life in the Coral Reef. Time-Life Films, Inc. (1977). This book has excellent pictures.
  2. Hemsley, William. Jellyfish to Insects. Gloucester Press, New York. (1990). This book has easy to read biology facts.
  3. Eyewitness Books: SHELL. Dorling Kindersley Press, London. (1989). This book has excellent pictures and simple facts.

Visual Arts

Children can use Eric Carle's work as inspiration for making their own collages of sea life. They can color their own pattern and explore the elements of design (line, color, shape, space, texture). They can cut out shapes from old magazines, construction paper or wrapping paper to give their collages interesting effects.


This page was created by Jana Seshadri. Last updated October 20,2000. Email me!

1