Mermaid School: The Spooky Shipwreck
#3 of 4 in Mermaid School Series
on Goodreads (11)
What’s inside...
Marnie Blue and her school friends are spending the weekend at CORAL, an activity center in Mermaid Lagoon. During their stay, they participate in various fun activities like playing with the water catapult and singing around the bubble fire. They also enjoy midnight snacks. However, Marnie harbors a secret fear due to the ghostly tales she has heard about a shipwreck nearby. Despite her fear, she musters the courage to face the spooky shipwreck and uncover its secret.
Character compass
Marnie Blue
Pearl
Orla Finnegan
Discussion points
How do you think Marnie the Mermaid felt when she first saw the spooky shipwreck? What would you have felt in that situation?
What would you do if you found a hidden treasure like Marnie and her friends? Who would you share it with?
Why is teamwork important when exploring new places, like Marnie and her friends demonstrated?
What lessons did Marnie learn during her adventure? Have you ever learned something similar?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their feelings and thoughts about the story, relating it to their own experiences.
Discuss the value of bravery and curiosity, as demonstrated by Marnie, and how these qualities can be positive in real life.
Utilize the book’s illustrations to spark imagination about the underwater world, asking your child to describe what they see and how it adds to the story.
Highlight the themes of friendship and teamwork, discussing with your child times when they had to work with others to achieve a goal.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Bravery in the face of fear
Explanation: In 'Mermaid School: The Spooky Shipwreck', the characters confront mysterious happenings and eerie encounters, learning to overcome their fears.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by managing their own fears and anxieties, whether it’s trying something new or facing uncertain situations.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and collaboration
Explanation: Throughout the book, the mermaid friends must work together to solve the mystery of the shipwreck, showcasing the importance of collaboration.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to value cooperative work during group activities at school or in sports, understanding that teamwork often leads to success.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and the joy of discovery
Explanation: The young mermaids' adventure is driven by their curiosity about the shipwreck, which leads to exciting discoveries.
Real-World Application: Children are reminded of the benefits of exploring new topics and asking questions, fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Example Lesson: Responsibility and care for the environment
Explanation: The story highlights the impact of the shipwreck on the ocean environment, teaching the mermaids—and young readers—about ecological responsibility.
Real-World Application: This lesson can translate into everyday actions like recycling, conserving water, or participating in local clean-up days to protect our environment.
Example Lesson: Dealing with and accepting the unknown
Explanation: The spooky elements of the shipwreck initially scare the mermaids, but they learn to accept and deal with the unknown rather than fear it.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to face new challenges and unknowns in life with an open mind and a calm approach, reducing anxiety about new experiences.