MODULE TEXTS

Texts include any that students and teachers read and analyze in the classroom, whether accessed in
print or electronically. Lessons may include additional materials specific to the lesson.

Books
Amos and Boris by William Steig
Shark Attack! by Cathy East Dubowski
Titanic: The Disaster that Shocked the World by Mark Dubowski
Giant Squid by Mary M. Cerullo and Clyde F. E. Roper

Article
Great Whites Are Closer Than You Think on Scholastic.com

Videos
Titanic Survivors: What They Saw (Youtube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez_iSh5JqVo
Finding the Titanic (National Geographic Channel):
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/explorer/videos/finding-the-titanic/
Clyde Roper on the Over-Sized Anatomy of the Giant Squid (SI Ocean Portal):
http://ocean.si.edu/ocean-videos/clyde-roper-over-sized-anatomy-giant-squid
Crittercam: Sperm Whale (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_PuO7gzfqI

Websites
Titanic Interactive on History.com

Text Complexity
AMOS AND BORIS BY WILLIAM STEIG LESSONS 1-5
The story of Amos and Boris is easy to grasp and remember. However, the rich, nuanced language
Rationale benefits from support, and there are numerous opportunities to infer. The combination of a
simple plot with playful, elaborate language makes this an ideal text for repeated reading.
Quantitative Complexity Lexile: 810L
This award winning text (NYTimes Best Book; ALA Outstanding Book) Meaning: tells the story of
Qualitative Complexity a friendship between a mouse and a whale. The text has a straightforward narrative structure,
which is carried by Steigs typical complex, poetic language and implicit themes.

SHARK ATTACK! BY CATHY EAST DUBOWSKI LESSONS 6-7,9-10

Dense information and domain-specific vocabulary make this text ideal for close reading. The
Rationale
graphics, illustrations and subheadings willl support students in comprehension.
Quantitative Complexity Lexile: 820L
Qualitative Complexity This text includes both information about sharks with narrative accounts of actual shark attacks

TITANIC: THE DISASTER THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD! BY MARK

LESSONS 11-16
DUBOWSKI
Rationale The sentence structure of this text is fairly simple, but there is a good deal of domain-specific
TITANIC: THE DISASTER THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD! BY MARK
LESSONS 11-16
DUBOWSKI
vocabulary that will require support. Text features and visuals provide interest as well as
supporting comprehension. The chronological structure of most of the text is also supportive of
comprehension. The vast amount of new information makes this text a good candidate for close
reading.
Quantitative Complexity Lexile: 740L
This Eyewitness Reader provides a straightforward and engaging account of the disaster of the
Qualitative Complexity Titanic. Students will benefit from some background knowledge support in the idea of different
classes of people.

GIANT SQUID: SEARCHING FOR SEA MONSTER BY MARY M. CERULLO AND CLYDE F. E. ROPER LESSONS 19-26
Although this text is at an above-grade lexile, students read only short excerpts of text and are
Rationale supported with TDQs, visuals and oral read alouds. There is complex vocabulary and sentence
structure; however, graphics, headings and photos support understanding.
Quantitative Complexity Lexile: NC1090
This complex text is the story of one mans life work studying giant squid; students will need
Qualitative Complexity support as they consider whether Dr. Roper met his goal, explicit and implicit information about
the scientific process.