A guide for using our resources

Children will discover how hermit crabs grow and find new shells to live in.

Science Focus: animal adaptations, seashore science

CCSS (and states that have similar standards): RI.1.1, RI.1.8, RI.1.9, W.1.2, RF.1.3.A, RL.1.1, L.1.1

Simple, spectacular ideas to boost your lessons.

• This classic is the perfect storybook to read with the article. You can use it for a mini lesson on fi ction vs. nonfi ction. As you read, point out ways you can tell that the book is fi ction (the story is made-up; the animals talk) and that the article is nonfi ction (it has facts; the animals do not talk).

• Work together to find and circle every sh digraph in the issue.

Skill: art, writing

Materials: construction paper, paper plates, pipe cleaners or small craft sticks, watercolors or markers, glue, googly eyes (optional)

• This colorful craft lets children show what they know about hermit crabs.
• Have each child decorate the paper plate with either markers or watercolors. This will be the crab’s shell.
• With the fingers of the handprint pointing down, have kids glue the paper plate to the thumb at the left side of the handprint.
• Have students attach pipe cleaners or small craft sticks to the heel of their handprint for eye stalks. For fun, they can glue googly eyes to the ends.
• Finally, give each child a sentence strip. Have children write a fact they learned about hermit crabs and glue it to the bottom of the hermit crab. You can also have them write the fact on the back of the shell.