Engaging Literacy and
Science
PRESENTED BY
SUZIE CAFFERY & DIAHN ESCUE
INSTRUCTIONAL SPECIALISTS AT
THE UCF CREATIVE SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN
*Established in 1976
*Serving the UCF
community.
*Ages 2-5 yrs.
*NAEYC Accredited
*Developmentally
Appropriate Practices
*Environmentally
Focused
*Degreed Teachers
*Located on UCF main
campus
*Partner with colleges
on campus
UCF Creative School for Children
Introducing Sophisticated
Environmental Issues
To Children
STORYBOOKS PROVIDE AN ENGAGING
PATHWAY INTO SCIENCE EXPLORATION AND
DISCOVERY.
STORYBOOKS BRING A POSITIVE
UNDERSTANDING OF SCIENCE TO CHILDREN
OF ALL AGES.
STORYBOOKS ALLOW CHILDREN TO
EXPERIENCE SCIENCE IN A COMFORTING,
NON THREATENING FORMAT.
Oyster reef
restoration is a
relevant and
current
environmental
issue for Florida
residents .
Aquarium
stewardship and
invasive species
have become global
issues.
Scientifically accurate storybooks
for children
“ Oysters
in
Mosquito Lagoon
serve many
important functions.
They filter the water,
are consumed by a
variety of predators,
and create habitat
for over 100 species.
Sadly, Mosquito
Lagoon Oysters are
in trouble. This
story describes some
of the amazing
animals that live in
or around Mosquito
Lagoon’s Oyster
Reefs.”
Dr.L.Walters
An Afternoon In Mosquito Lagoon
“Save the Oysters!
Save the Lagoon”!
Map courtesy of the Nature Conservancy
Oyster Reef Restoration Workshop
Writing and
Illustrating at
UCF Feller’s
House
Drilling and Mat
Making
Raking Dead
Margins and Laying
Oyster Mats in
Mosquito Lagoon
Photos courtesy of A. Birch
Broad appeal
of storybooks
Story books are
ageless.
Our books have
been used with
pre-school,
elementary, middle
and high school
age students.
Information is
shared by the adult
who reads with the
child.
Incorporating Literacy in My
Science Lesson
•USE OF RHYME AND RHYTHM
•PREDICTION
•DESCRIPTIVE WORDS
•USE OF ACTION WORDS
•USE OF SYNONYMS
•STIMULATES HIGHER LEVEL
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
Incorporating Science in My
Literacy Lesson
•SCIENCE “LITERACY”
•IDENTIFICATION OF ORGANISMS
•CREATION OF ECOSYSTEM
•PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTAL
STEWARDSHIP
•AUTHENTIC INFORMATION
An Afternoon in
Mosquito
Lagoon
Oyster Reef
Restoration
*The Nature
Conservancy
*View book online
* Video Quilting An
Oyster Reef
*Volunteer Information
http://www.nature.org/wherewewo
rk/northamerica/states/florida/vol
unteer/art24742.html
•“This book was born out
of a need to explain to
our youngest home
aquarium owners the
importance of not
releasing pets and plants
from their fish tanks. As
many of the home
aquariums in the U.S. are
“owned” by children 12
yrs. old or younger, we
consider it imperative to
provide scientifically
accurate, age appropriate
information that
promotes environmental
stewardship in the best
way possible-by creating
storybooks that are fun
for families to read
together.”
Dr.L.Walters
A New Home For An Old Friend
Responsible Aquarium Stewardship
Aquarium Stewardship and Invasive Species
Teacher Workshop
Aquarium Dumping
Invaders
 Caulerpa taxifolia
 Pterois volitans
(Feather Algae)
(Red Lionfish)
Photos Courtesy of Dr. L. Walters
Building on the Book - Using Multiliteracies
Teaching Literacy Across the Curriculum
“ As an upper-grade teacher, I have to teach facts.
reading Instruction during science.”
I don’t have time for
“Choose interesting activities that promote literacy skills and content
knowledge. Having students create their own information books, is a
collaborative activity that can be used in any content area. Not only
does it build reading and writing skills, but it requires students to learn
facts well enough to convey them to others. Remember, everything we
do to facilitate process helps students gain access to content.”
Strickland, Dorothy. “Balanced Literacy: Teaching the Skills and
Thrills of Reading”. Scholastic. 25 Mar.2010.
http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=4315
Fish Invaders At Gypsy Point
Responsible Aquarium Stewardship
[email protected]
Video
YouTube – Don’t Release A Pest
• http://www.usc.edu/org/seagr
ant/caulerpa/index.html
Lesson Plans
 http://www.usc.edu/org/seag
rant/caulerpa/publications/te
acher_curricu_for_invasives.
pdf
Mangrove Restoration Workshop
Mangrove seeds
Mosquito Lagoon
Funding
Thank You
G.Nimnualrat, J. Verdesca,
G. Zaleski, S. Zaleski, Dr. L.
Walters, Dr. P. Sacks,
K. Grablow, A. Wotkyns, Dr.
F. Fish, A. Birch
Contact Information
[email protected]
[email protected]