Image of a seahorse made out of trash
Washed Ashore: Art To Save The Sea (All Images)
Picture This,

These Animals Are Made From Trash!

From the March/April 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: Students will practice getting information from text about and images of sculptures made from recycled trash.

Lexiles: 380L
Featured Skill: Key Details,
Vocabulary: litter
Topic: Science,
Common Core Standards
  • RF.1.3 Decoding RI.1.3 Connecting information RI.1.4 Vocabulary RI.1.5 Text features RI.1.6 Distinguish between information from words and images RI.1.7 Use illustrations to describe key ideas SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative discussions with peers and adults
TEKS Standards
  • Science (1) Scientific investigation and reasoning. The student conducts classroom and outdoor investigations following home and school safety procedures and uses environmentally appropriate and responsible practices. The student is expected to: (B) identify and learn how to use natural resources and materials, including conservation and reuse or recycling of paper, plastic, and metals.

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Look closely at these animals. You are looking at trash! 

All this litter was in the ocean. It washed up on the beach. A group called Washed Ashore picked up the trash on the beach. Then they worked with artists to make these animals. 

They cleaned the beach, and they turned trash into treasure.

Activities (2)
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)
Activities (2) Download All Quizzes and Activities
Skills Activities
Answer Key (1)

About the Article

English Language Arts Focus 

Nonfiction text features: photographs & labels

Science Focus

Environment

Vocabulary

litter

Step-by-Step Lesson Plan
Download the Lesson Plan

Implementation

Whole Group

Pairings and Text Connections

  • In this issue: “Alike and Different: Which Are More Amazing? Rabbit Ears or Your Ears”
  • From the Storyworks archive: ”Picture This: Grandma Shark” (December 2022/January 2023); “Background Builder: Weird and Wonderful Octopuses” (May/June 2023); “Big Read-Aloud: The Great Octopus Escape” (May/June 2023)
  • Suggested books: Skyfishing: (A Grand Tale with Grandpa) by Gideon Sterer; Rocket Says Clean Up! by Nathan Bryon; Made By Maxine by Ruth Spiro

Before-Reading Resources

  • Vocabulary Slideshow (2 minutes) litter

Suggested Reading Focus

Information from text and images/nonfiction text features (20 minutes)
  • Remind children that we get information from pictures. Take a close look at the photos of the trash animals. Ask children to share what they notice.
  • Now tell children that labels point to part of the picture and tell us more about it. Have children find the labels and follow the arrows with their fingers. Read the labels together.
  • Read the mini article for more facts about recycling and how the trash animals are made.
  • Finally, discuss what children learned about trash animals from both the pictures and the words in the article. What can they recall? What was most surprising?

After-Reading Skills Practice

  • Skills: Getting information; labeling (15 minutes)

Extension Science Activity

Skills: Writing (15 minutes)

  • Have students brainstorm what ocean trash animal they would like to create. As a class, create a descriptive-writing piece about what litter would be used to create the trash animal. Draw a picture to match the writing.

Text-to-Speech