This CDP is a 10-day lesson based around the book The Black Pearl by Scott O'Dell. The Black Pearl is about a 16-year-old boy named Ramon who has just harvested the biggest pearl ever seen from an underwater cave where a monster manta ray lurks. The pearl brings great trouble to the town of La Paz in Baja California and Ramon must decide what to do.
The book is connected to many ocean concepts like oysters, tropical storms, creatures and tides, which are all discussed in this CDP. One of the main focuses in this CDP is on Baja California, the setting for the book. This CDP examines the culture, environment, government and economy of the region.
Below is an overview of each day.
Day One- Introduction to the Ocean
Ocean webbing, Ocean A-Z bulletin board, Create an ocean folder
Day Two- Tropical Storms, Exploring Baja, Introduction to The Black Pearl
Tropical storms, Baja research, Intro to The Black Pearl
Day Three- Exploring Baja Continued, The Black Pearl continued
Tropical storms continued, Baja research continued, The Black Pearl Chapters 1-5 discussion, Writing a sea monster tale
Day Four- The Black Pearl book discussion
The Black Pearl book talk Chapters 5-11, Spanish words in The Black Pearl, Units of measurement in The Black Pearl, Ocean terminology in The Black Pearl, Baja presentations
Day Five- The Black Pearl Book wrap-up
Book Chat, Ocean terminology, Tide activity, Baja presentations
The Black Pearl Think Quick activity, The Black Pearl Crossword Puzzle, Mapping Baja, Ocean Poetry
Oyster Knowledge Builder, Dissecting an oyster, Ocean Floor in a Shoe box, Tasting an oyster
Day Eight- Oyster Anatomy Continued and Pearl Creations
Dissecting an oyster continued, How does an oyster make a pearl, Jeweler guest speaker, Exhibit preparation
Day Nine- Classroom Exhibit/Museum, Writing
Creating a classroom museum, Writing a Choose Your Own Adventure book, Writing parent invitations
Choose Your Own Adventure wrap up, Museum field trip, Ocean party with parents
Extension for the Two Week CDP