Adventure Beneath the Sea: Living in an Underwater Science Station
on Goodreads (12)
What’s inside...
Author Ken Mallory and photographer Brian Skerry spent a week in the Aquarius underwater laboratory, located sixty feet below the ocean surface on a coral reef off the Florida Keys. They experienced life in cramped quarters, scuba diving daily to study reef fish and using an underwater outhouse. They slept to the sounds of snapping shrimp in their underwater home. Skerry's photographs, featured in National Geographic Magazine, capture the striking sights of this unique undersea habitat. The book won the John Burroughs Nature Books for Young Readers Award.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
9-12
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you do if you could live under the sea for a week?
How do you think scientists help protect ocean life?
What was the most surprising thing you learned about the underwater world?
Can you imagine how daily life differs in an underwater station compared to our home?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use descriptive imagery from the book to make the underwater experience more vivid and relatable.
Link the discussion to science topics or current events related to ocean conservation to deepen the child’s understanding.
Encourage the child to express feelings and thoughts about the adventure and what they find intriguing about the marine life.
Ask the child to draw or describe an invention that could help people live underwater, fostering creativity and application of the book's themes.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: The characters in the book work together to solve problems and conduct research under the sea, demonstrating the importance of teamwork in achieving common goals.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in sports, learning how to cooperate and value each other’s contributions.
Example Lesson: Environmental Awareness
Explanation: The story educates about the underwater ecosystem and the importance of conservation, highlighting the impact of human activities on marine life.
Real-World Application: Kids can become more conscious of their environmental impact, practice recycling, and learn about local wildlife and habitats.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Learning
Explanation: The book’s setting in an underwater science station sparks curiosity about marine science and technology, showing how learning can be an exciting adventure.
Real-World Application: This can encourage children to explore science subjects, participate in STEM activities, and maintain a curious and inquisitive mindset in their everyday learning.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving Skills
Explanation: Throughout the book, characters encounter various challenges that require critical thinking and creativity to resolve.
Real-World Application: Children can use these examples to approach problems in their own lives more creatively, whether it's resolving conflicts with friends or tackling difficult school assignments.
Example Lesson: Resilience and Adaptability
Explanation: Living and working in an unusual and challenging underwater environment teaches the characters to adapt to different situations and to be resilient in the face of obstacles.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children learn to adapt to new situations, such as moving to a new school or dealing with changes in their family life.