Sail Away: A Boat Tale Adventure!

Kindergarten, Pre-k Grades

Project
4 weeks

Sail Away: A Boat Tale Adventure!

faranak.bavardeh@yahoo.com

Purpose

This project invites young learners to collaboratively create a storybook about a boat adventure, emphasizing water safety and environmental stewardship. Through hands-on activities, children will explore the concepts of buoyancy and the natural environment, fostering curiosity and creativity. By engaging in storytelling, art, and simple science experiments, students will develop foundational skills in literacy, teamwork, and problem-solving, culminating in a shared storybook that reflects their learning journey.

Learning goals

Students will develop storytelling skills by collaboratively creating a storybook about a boat adventure. They will explore concepts of water safety and environmental awareness through hands-on activities, such as crafting simple boats and discussing their impact on water ecosystems. The project will enhance early literacy, teamwork, and communication skills, while fostering an appreciation for nature and safety practices.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3: With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2: Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
NGSS - K-ESS3-3: Communicate solutions that will reduce the impact of humans on the land, water, air, and/or other living things in the local environment.

Products

Throughout the project, students will create a collaborative storybook featuring their boat adventure, complete with illustrations and simple text. They will also design and craft small model boats using recycled materials, focusing on buoyancy and environmental themes. By the end of the four weeks, each student will contribute to a class presentation where they share their storybook and demonstrate their understanding of water safety through role-play activities.

Launch

Begin the project with a storytelling session where students listen to a captivating tale about a boat journey. Follow this by a hands-on activity where students create their own paper boats and float them in a water-filled sensory bin. Encourage students to explore how their boats move and interact with water, sparking curiosity and excitement for the upcoming adventure storybook project.

Exhibition

Invite families and community members to a "Boat Adventure Storytime" event where students present their storybooks. Set up interactive stations where children can demonstrate water safety techniques and share environmental tips they learned. Create a small gallery displaying students' illustrations and models of boats made from recycled materials. Encourage students to narrate their stories aloud, fostering confidence and communication skills. Celebrate the completion of the project with a group sing-along of a water-themed song.

Week 1	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Storytelling Adventure (Discover) - Listen to a captivating tale about a boat journey to introduce the project and inspire curiosity about water adventures (15 min) Paper Boat Creation (Discover) - Create simple paper boats and float them in a water-filled sensory bin to explore buoyancy and movement (20 min) Reflection Circle (Discover) - Share thoughts and feelings about the boat story and activity, emphasizing personal connections and excitement for the project (10 min)	Water Safety Discussion (Discover) - Discuss the importance of water safety and brainstorm ideas about how to stay safe around water (15 min) Environmental Awareness Exploration (Discover) - Introduce the concept of environmental stewardship by observing and discussing how boats interact with water and ecosystems (20 min) Reflection Circle (Discover) - Reflect on new learnings about water safety and environmental awareness, sharing ideas with classmates (10 min)	Question Generation (Examine) - Generate questions as a class about boat adventures, water safety, and environmental impacts to guide further exploration (15 min) Reading and Research (Examine) - Engage with age-appropriate books and videos to build background knowledge on water safety and environmental themes (20 min) Seminar Discussion (Examine) - Participate in a guided discussion to share insights and diverse perspectives from the reading and research (10 min)	Success Criteria Development (Examine) - Collaborate to identify criteria for a successful storybook, focusing on themes of safety and environmental awareness (15 min) Brainstorming Solutions (Examine) - Brainstorm story ideas and possible solutions for illustrating water safety and environmental themes in the storybook (20 min) Evaluation and Selection (Examine) - Evaluate brainstormed ideas against criteria and select the most promising story concepts (10 min)	Hypothesis Development (Engineer) - Develop a simple hypothesis for the storybook project: 'If our storybook includes water safety tips, then readers will learn how to stay safe around water' (15 min) Story Planning (Engineer) - Begin outlining the storybook structure, deciding on main characters, settings, and key events related to the boat adventure (20 min) T.A.G. Feedback (Engineer) - Share story plans with peers and receive T.A.G. Feedback to refine the storyline and ensure it meets project goals (10 min)
Deliverables	1. Create a collaborative list of characters and settings for the boat adventure story.
Preparation	1. Gather storytelling materials, such as a book or video about a boat journey. 2. Prepare a water safety video or picture book. 3. Collect materials for paper boat crafting, including paper, crayons, and stickers. 4. Set up a sensory bin filled with water for the buoyancy activity. 5. Prepare a flip chart or whiteboard to record students' ideas for the story.

Week 2	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Build and Test Paper Boats (Engineer) - Guide students in constructing paper boats and testing them in water to observe buoyancy and stability (20 min) Data Collection Plan (Engineer) - Develop a simple plan for observing and documenting which boat designs float best and why (25 min)	Boat Design Improvement (Engineer) - Use feedback from the tests to redesign and improve paper boats, focusing on buoyancy (25 min) Re-test Improved Boats (Engineer) - Test the redesigned boats in water, collecting data to compare with original designs (20 min)	Storybook Character Development (Do) - Create characters for the storybook, focusing on their roles in the boat adventure and safety (25 min) Illustration Creation (Do) - Begin drawing illustrations for the storybook, integrating characters and settings (20 min)	Story Sequence Planning (Do) - Organize the storybook events, ensuring a clear sequence of the boat adventure and safety messages (25 min) Draft Story Text (Do) - Compose simple text for each illustration, describing the boat adventure and highlighting water safety (20 min)	Peer Review Story Drafts (Do) - Share story drafts with classmates and provide feedback using T.A.G. Feedback (Tell, Ask, Give) (25 min) Revise Story Texts (Do) - Refine story texts based on peer feedback to enhance clarity and engagement (20 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed water safety posters with illustrated safety rules 2. Initial storyboards for the boat adventure storybook 3. Crafted model boats tested for buoyancy 4. Illustrations for the storybook scenes
Preparation	1. Gather water safety storybooks for read-aloud 2. Prepare drawing and coloring supplies for poster creation 3. Collect recycled materials for boat crafting 4. Set up a water bin for testing model boats 5. Organize paper and art supplies for storybook illustrations

Week 3	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Final Storybook Draft (Do) - Collaborate as a class to polish the final version of the storybook text, ensuring clarity and alignment with water safety and environmental awareness themes (25 min) Illustration Revisions (Do) - Refine illustrations to enhance storytelling and visual appeal, focusing on accurately depicting characters and settings (20 min)	Assembly of Storybook (Do) - Assemble the final storybook by integrating text and illustrations, ensuring coherence and flow (20 min) Practice Storytelling (Share) - Rehearse narrating the storybook, focusing on expression and engagement with an audience (25 min)	Create Presentation Plan (Share) - Develop a plan for presenting the storybook and sharing water safety tips, identifying key points and visual supports (20 min) Rehearse Presentation (Share) - Practice the presentation as a class, refining delivery and teamwork (25 min)	Peer Feedback on Presentation (Share) - Present the storybook and receive T.A.G. Feedback from peers to enhance presentation quality (25 min) Final Presentation Adjustments (Share) - Implement feedback to make final improvements to the presentation and storybook (20 min)	Presentation Day Preparation (Share) - Prepare materials and rehearse for the "Boat Adventure Storytime" event, ensuring readiness and confidence (20 min) Celebrate and Reflect (Share) - Reflect on the learning journey and celebrate achievements, sharing insights and experiences with classmates (25 min)
Deliverables	1. A drawing of a safe day on the water created by each student. 2. A collaborative class poster about ways to keep waterways clean. 3. A simple model boat made from recycled materials by each student. 4. A draft page for the class storybook, including text and illustration, completed by each student.
Preparation	1. Gather picture books about water safety suitable for young children. 2. Provide large sheets of paper and coloring materials for the safety and environmental posters. 3. Collect recycled materials such as milk cartons, corks, and bottle caps for boat building. 4. Prepare a water trough or large basin for boat testing and ensure it is safely accessible for all students. 5. Ensure there are ample drawing and writing materials for storybook creation, including child-safe scissors, glue, and markers.

Week 4	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
Activities	Prepare Storybook Presentation (Share) - Organize and arrange storybooks and visual aids for a clear and engaging presentation (20 min) Rehearse Storybook Presentation (Share) - Practice presenting the storybook to peers, focusing on clear storytelling and expression (25 min)	Final Presentation Practice (Share) - Conduct a full rehearsal of the storybook presentation, receiving feedback from classmates (20 min) Refine Presentation Skills (Share) - Implement feedback to polish presentation delivery and enhance confidence (25 min)	Presentation Day (Share) - Deliver the storybook presentation to an audience, demonstrating understanding of water safety and environmental themes (30 min) Feedback and Reflection (Share) - Engage in a feedback session with the audience to gather insights and reflect on the presentation experience (15 min)	Boat Adventure Storytime Event (Share) - Host a special event for families and community members to share storybooks and engage in interactive activities (30 min) Celebrate and Reflect (Share) - Celebrate project completion and reflect on learning achievements and personal growth (15 min)	Experience Survey and Feedback (Share) - Complete a survey to share insights and suggestions for future projects (20 min) Closing Circle Celebration (Share) - Participate in a closing circle to acknowledge accomplishments and express gratitude for the shared learning journey (25 min)
Deliverables	1. Completed and Illustrated Storybook 2. Class Presentation of the Storybook 3. Demonstration of Water Safety Techniques
Preparation	1. Gather drawing materials such as crayons, colored pencils, and paper for illustrations. 2. Prepare a large book or binding materials for assembling the storybook. 3. Set up a presentation space with seating for families and community members. 4. Organize display tables for showcasing students' model boats and illustrations. 5. Prepare simple props or materials for water safety role-play activities. 6. Select and prepare a water-themed song for the sing-along celebration.