Book Summary
Ocean Poems is a collection of sixteen poems about the ocean. Students learn to listen for ending rhymes as they learn about characteristics of the ocean, such as coral reefs, tides, waves, and whales. Photographs support the poems. Approximate book level: U.

Build Background
Ask students to explain what they know about poetry. Invite them to share favorite poems and/or poets. Explain that there are many different types of poetry. Invite students to identify types of poetry they know about. 

Discuss poetry's rhymes and rhythms. Explain to students that each poem in this book follows an AABB pattern, or pairs of successive sentences contain ending words that rhyme. Read the first poem and ask students to tell you the two rhyming words at the end of the first pair of sentences (high and sky). Ask them to identify the two rhyming words at the end of the second pair of sentences (source and course). Point out how the two pairs of sentences illustrate the AABB rhyming pattern. 

Preview the Poems
Discuss information students already know about oceans (color, animals that live there, and so on). Show students the front and back covers of the book and read the title. Turn to the title page. Discuss the information on the page (title, author's name). Discuss the photographs. Invite students to explain what they see in the photographs and what they think the poems might be about. 

For detailed lessons on teaching types of poetry, click here.

During Reading
Have students listen as you read the poems. Read the poems expressively and emphasize the words that rhyme in each pair of sentences.  

Use think-aloud strategies to remind students to use what they already know to help make sense of each poem. React to parts of the poem with facial expressions and gestures. Allow students to stop to ask questions during reading, especially if they do not understand something. Invite students to identify characteristics of poetry (it uses lots of description, it expresses feelings, it allows a reader to see a topic in a different way through the concise use of vocabulary, and so on). 

After Reading
Reader Response
Ask students what they thought of the poems. Have them identify and discuss their favorite poem. 

Comprehension
Ask specific questions that allow students to demonstrate their understanding of the poems.

• What ocean topics were highlighted in the poems?
• What types of living things are found in the oceans?
• How can oceans become dangerous?