This is a great story about two kids from the Florida Keys embarking on a wild journey to help their father expose a shady casino boat believed to be dumping toxic waste into the water. There are a variety of ways this book could be used for teaching. For a pre-reading activity, students could research the purpose of the National Marine Sanctuary in the Florida Keys and how they think it might relate to the book. This would give students background knowledge and therefore better understanding of what they are reading. Another option for using this book in the classroom would be to study different themes that are found throughout the book. Sacrifice, bullying, values in conflict, and family are just a few that could be discussed. For cross-curriculum study, students could participate in activities such as staging a mock trial to mimic the one in the book, research what scientifically happens when too much bacteria is found in water, or present a brief essay about the First Amendment and support the character's (Paine) belief that "even a jailbird has a constitutional right to go on television."
by Carl Hiaasen
This is a great story about two kids from the Florida Keys embarking on a wild journey to help their father expose a shady casino boat believed to be dumping toxic waste into the water.
There are a variety of ways this book could be used for teaching. For a pre-reading activity, students could research the purpose of the National Marine Sanctuary in the Florida Keys and how they think it might relate to the book. This would give students background knowledge and therefore better understanding of what they are reading.
Another option for using this book in the classroom would be to study different themes that are found throughout the book. Sacrifice, bullying, values in conflict, and family are just a few that could be discussed.
For cross-curriculum study, students could participate in activities such as staging a mock trial to mimic the one in the book, research what scientifically happens when too much bacteria is found in water, or present a brief essay about the First Amendment and support the character's (Paine) belief that "even a jailbird has a constitutional right to go on television."