Pistes d'exploration

Discuss whether, after the hurricane, it was more important to rescue the dolphins or to help the people.

Write the story of survival from the point of view of one of the dolphins.

Create an informative media presentation about an aspect of dolphins.

Discuss whether, after the hurricane, it was more important to rescue the dolphins or to help the people.

Discuss how life is different for dolphins in the Oceanarium and those in the wild. Organize the information in a graphic organizer.

Research the different types of rescue workers who worked in the aftermath of Hurricane Katerina and explain their roles in a rescue process.

In teams, create a word web about hurricanes. Similarly, make a web for emergency preparedness. Add animals to both webs and discuss why they fit together.

After reading the second page, use a graphic organizer to show where each dolphin was located just prior to the hurricane. Why did the trainers choose to separate the dolphins?

Write a podcast script about the dolphins’ incredible story of survival.

Research dolphins and create your own information scrapbook by following the model at the end.

National Geographic Kids Everything Dolphins, How to Heal a Broken Wing

Mots-clés

Non-fiction , dolphins , Hurricane Katrina , illustrations (photographs) , natural disasters , survival

Commentaire descriptif

This creative non-fiction begins with tense moments: staff at the Marine Life Oceanarium in Gulfport, MS, are preparing for Hurricane Katrina’s onslaught. Most dolphins have been placed in pools inland. “‘What about the rest of the dolphins?’ Tim asked. He wanted to say, You can’t leave Jackie behind! She was … his favourite, but everyone had favourites.” After Katrina, the Oceanarium pool contains only a puddle of blue water. Concrete blocks, tree trunks and other detritus litter the space, but the dolphins are gone. Pen and watercolour effects create fine illustrations that balance detail and blank space. The story explains the amazing retrieval of every dolphin, and finishes with their safe transport to a tank at the nearby US Navy base, where the exhausted trainers find cots and stay with their charges that first night. A lovely afterword discusses the evolution of the dolphin and relates examples of dolphins saving human lives at sea. Extensive back material—the “Eight Dolphins Scrapbook”—includes photos of the dolphins, their trainers, the destruction wrought by the hurricane and the rescue mission.