There Is a Shark in the Library – How to Use Shark Books in your Lessons!

Do your students love sharks and shark books as much as mine do? My students ask for books about sharks more than almost any other nonfiction topic. And it’s all grades from kindergarten to fifth grade. I’m not sure what it is about sharks that they all love so much. Maybe it’s the huge mouth full of sharp, razor-like teeth or the fear of getting eaten by a shark. Although I will admit, I have watched shark week on the Discovery Channel since the very first year they started it, so I understand their fascination.

Because of their love of sharks, several years ago I decided to do some of my last lessons and storytimes of the year about sharks. Below I am going to share with you some of my ideas and activities. I bet your students will enjoy them as much as mine do.

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Shark Books List

The Three Little Fish and the Big, Bad Shark by Ken Geist

I’m a Shark by Bob Shea

Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale

Who Would Win? Hammerhead vs. Bull Shark by Jerry Pallotta

Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton

Nugget and Fang by Tammi Sauer

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating

Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

Amazing Sharks! by Sarah L. Thomson

Fly Guy Presents Sharks by Tedd Arnold

Sharks Lessons and Activities

Sharks Digital Activities for Google Slides

Teach your students about sharks with these interactive and noprep digital activities. Students will work directly in Google Slides™ to complete the paperless activities. Students will read different nonfiction passages about 6 different sharks and read passages about general shark facts. Did you know that you are more likely to die from falling off a ladder than from a shark attack? After reading the passages there are comprehension questions, a fact or opinion and true or false sort plus graphic organizers and writing activities. This is the perfect activity to use during distance learning.

Sharks True or False Task Cards

I use these task cards as a Scoot game or in library centers. They also come in handy during transition times or when you have a few extra minutes. And if you are teaching remotely, these work great as a fun Zoom activity.

Sharks Nonfiction Reading Activities

This is very similar to the Google Slides lesson above. Below is an overview.

• 8 half page fact cards about six different types of sharks, an overview of sharks and shark attack statistics. 
• 24 comprehension task cards with questions about sharks. All of the questions can be answered with the fact sheets. These can be used as a Scoot game, in small groups or centers. A recording sheet and answer key are game board are included. 
• 8 printables about sharks. These include writing prompts, graphic organizers, a word search, and a fact and opinion worksheet.
• 3 different KWL charts (with different kinds of writing lines)