By Seymour Simon

1. "Oceans" By Seymour Simon Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

2. Summary Slide • Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • Adjust Reading Rate • Purpose • Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • Graphic Aids • Text Structure: Sequence • Multiple-Meaning Words • About the Author • Websites Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

3. Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • Authors use different types of text structures to organize nonfiction information. • One way to organize information is by main idea and supporting details. • The main idea is what a paragraph or selection is mostly about. • The main idea may be stated or implied. • Supporting details give more information about the main idea. • Supporting details can come in the form of facts, examples, quotations, anecdotes, or expert opinions. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

4. Text Structure: Main Idea and Details What is the main idea of the following paragraph? Supporting details? The swollen Sweetwater River halted a westbound wagon train yesterday. Weeks of extra heavy spring rains had already caused the river to rise before the wagons arrived. Then, sudden warm temperatures caused snow to melt in the mountains, and more water poured into the river. Soon the river flowed so swiftly that neither human nor beast could safely swim across. Scouts discovered that all the usual shallow crossing places were completely flooded, and the wagons were forced to wait until conditions improved. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

5. Text Structure: Main Idea and Details What is the main idea of the following paragraph? Supporting details? During their journey west, the emigrants were baked by the terrific heat of the desert. The bitter cold of the mountains froze them. They could hardly breathe because of the dust clouds they raised. The emigrants faced many hardships on their journey west. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

6. Adjust Reading Rate Good readers use strategies, such as adjusting reading rate, to better understand what they read. Active readers know when they must slow their reading rate to understand the information in the text. When they encounter new or more difficult material, adjusting their reading rate helps to identify and better understand the main idea and supporting details. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

7. Purpose • Read to find out facts about oceans and ocean waves. • Read pp. 298 – 311, “Oceans”. • Read pp. 312 – 315, “Climate and Seasons” Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

8. Text Structure: Main Idea and Details moon smaller than sun; closer to earth; pull stronger; earth rotates; waves closer to moon/sun are pulled outward; same on opposite side of earth caused by undersea earthquake or volcanic explosion; shock forms waves; can move 500 mph; only 2-3’ in open water; builds-up as approaches land speed of wind; how long it blows; fetch—distance over which wave travels Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

9. Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • What is the topic of this selection? • Oceans • What are three main subtopics covered in this selection? • tides, waves, and effect of ocean waves • What is the main idea of this selection? • Elements such as wind, the sun, and the moon act on the oceans, which cover most of the earth and act in turn on the land. • Is the main idea stated directly or implied? • Implied Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

10. Graphic Aids Remember that some information, especially in nonfiction books and article, can be understood faster and more easily when graphic aids are used. Graphic aids include photographs and drawings, diagrams, maps, schedules, graphs, charts, and tables. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

11. Graphic Aids Note: Use questions in Slide Notes. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

12. Text Structure: Sequence Reading nonfiction selections and articles provide a different type of information than reading fiction provides. Sequence is one type of text structure authors use to organize information. In particular, authors often organize events or processes in sequence to make this type of information easier to understand. Authors provide clues to the sequence to help readers understand what they read. Clue words such as: after, as before, finally, first, next, now, then, last, second, and until signal an order of events or a process. Times of day, days of the week, or seasons can also show time order. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

13. Text Structure: Sequence Read the first two paragraphs on p. 308. • What time-order words signal a sequence? • when, as, until, finally • What happens, in sequence, from the time ocean waves reach the shallow water of a shore? • First, the waves slow, change shape, and pile up. • Next the waves in back come faster than those in front. • Then the crest overtakes the base of the wave. • Finally, it becomes a breaker. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

14. Multiple-Meaning Words Remember to use context clues to help you figure out the meaning of multiple-meaning words. Context clues are words and phrases that are found in the sentence or surrounding sentences. Types of clues may include definitions, descriptions, examples, explanations, synonyms, and antonyms. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

15. Multiple-Meaning Words Give at least two meanings of the following words: • fetch • feet • blows • spring • stick • wave • swell • break Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

16. About the Author: Seymour Simon • Written over 200 science books • Lives in Long Island, raised in Bronx • Wrote for Scholastic Magazine • Fiction books: “Einstein Anderson, Science Detective” • Seymour Simon Official Website Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

17. Websites • About the Author: Seymour Simon • Skills Rocket: Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • Test Tutor: Text Structure: Main Idea and Details • Test Tutor: Text Structure: Sequence • Grammar Park: Mixed-up Pronouns Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”

18. Credits • Harcourt Trophies – Distant Voyages, Chicago: Harcourt, 2003. • MacMillan Connections – Landscapes, New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987. Theme 3: A Changing Planet “Oceans”