Do You Really Want To Meet An Orca? - Non-fiction

     Do You Really Want To Meet an Orca? by Bridget Heos is about a young girl who goes to the coast of Norway to view killer whales in their natural habitat and observe their behavior in their family units, or pods. This books falls under the informational text or non-fiction genre in that it is written for the purpose of informing and it is based on facts and information told in a narrative form. Their are no illustrations in the book but rather photographs of killer whales and their pods. These are full paged, colorful photographs. The style is at a very basic level, easy for young readers to grasp but still engaging.

     This book could be used prior to a Seaworld field trip. Students could read it prior to attending and for the sake of educational purposes, note anything they learned at Seaworld that was or wasn't in the book. Reminding students of this prior to reading will keep them focused and engage both during reading and at the theme park. The following day students can then use a worksheet to note the similarities and differences between the book and what they learned.

     An additional activity for this book could be used when students are learning about mammals. At a young age children learn about the difference between mammals, reptiles, etc and this book could help to aid in that learning. Students are generally familiar with orcas so this book could help to spark their curiosity and keep their attention. This could be used as a center activity in which students learn about different sea mammals at each station. Students could read this book, and then draw their own orca and identify five facts about it on their drawing. Kinesthetic and artistic students will be very engaged in this activity and all students will have the opportunity to learn.

Response Questions:

1. Why are orcas known as "killer whales?"

2. What classifies orcas as mammals?

3. Do you believe orcas should be in captivity, in places like Seaworld?

     This book is a great informational and exciting read for students. It remains factual and accurate while still being engaging and interesting as it follows the story of the young girl. I feel students could benefit greatly from this book.

References:

Heos, Bridget. Do You Really Want to Meet an Orca? Place of Publication Not Identified:           Amicus Ink, 2017. Print.