Reading over and under the waves: A study of ocean picture books for children

Francis, Prue; Venzo, Paul; Bellgrove, Alecia

doi:10.1017/aee.2021.4

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…( examples of picture books that can be used to teach the scientific in the curriculum (Francis et al, 2021). We suggest that the scientific concepts in the Australian Curriculum are applicable to science curricula worldwide and children's literature can be applied interchangeably.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The teachers surveyed in this study are from the 5 Australian states where the GSR is their closest marine environment (with the exception of schools located north of Kalbarri, Australia's western limit for the GSR), and thus, teaching marine science concepts that relates to their local ocean will encourage ocean connection and stewardship (Lai, 2021). Unfortunately, due to the low level of public awareness of this reef, educational resources about the GSR for primary school education are in limited supply (e.g., Australian published picture books about the ocean, largely focus on tropical environments; Francis et al, 2021). Based on our findings, it could be argued that the lack of ocean education in Australian schools, may be a contributor to the overall low public perception of the GSR.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Towards a 2025 National Ocean Literacy Strategy: Current Status and Future Needs in Primary Education

et al. 2022

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Globally, ocean health has become critically compromised due to compounding negative human impacts. Marine science education can play a key role in raising collective understanding of the vulnerability of marine environments and the importance of their protection, and this may best begin with integration of ocean literacy in schools. Previous research shows that K-12 students worldwide have a limited understanding of the ocean. This lack of familiarity with the ocean has been linked to the absence of topics related to marine science in most national school curricula. Teachers are the ultimate arbiters deciding whether and how to include these topics in their classes. However, the extent to which marine science may be currently being taught in formal education is still unknown. We used the Australian public school system as a case study to investigate the marine science teaching practices of primary school teachers (Foundation – Grade 6), through an online survey. Our results indicate that while teachers value the importance of ocean education from a young age, most of them rarely or only occasionally cover marine science topics in their lessons. Teachers cited increased levels of marine science knowledge and a greater availability of ocean-related educational resources linked to the school curriculum as key areas for improvement in ocean education practices. This study highlights the importance of formal marine science education in primary education, along with the need for professional development opportunities for teachers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Towards a 2025 National Ocean Literacy Strategy: Current Status and Future Needs in Primary Education

et al. 2022

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“…For example, I found several links with the Foundation to Grade 6 levels of the Australian Curriculum (version 9.0, Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority, 2022) in learning areas such as Science, HASS and the cross-curriculum priority, Sustainability. Ocean themed picture books have been shown to be a useful tool to learn marine science concepts linked to the Australian Curriculum (Francis, Venzo, & Bellgrove, 2021), and this book has the potential to achieve this. Biological concepts such as biodiversity, classification, adaptation, feeding behaviours and life cycles can be further explored in the classroom.…”

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confidence: 99%

Keepers of the reef - Written by Dr Sharon Wismer, Illustrated by Alice Wong, Tilbury House Publishers, Thomaston, Maine, 2022. - Reviewed by Prue Francis, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff Marine Science Centre, Queenscliff.

Francis

2022

Aust. J. environ. educ.

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Keepers of the Reef is an informative nonfictional picture book focussed on the ecological interactions of animals and algae that call the Great Barrier Reef home. The text and illustrations take the reader on a journey to explain the importance of a coral reef ecosystem and the roles that herbivorous fishes play in keeping the system healthy. Despite there being many coral reef picture books currently available, Keepers of the Reef stands out from others by focusing on the herbivory feeding behaviour of the fish-an ecologically important interaction that to my knowledge, has not been explored in a picture book before.In the first part of the book, we are introduced to the Great Barrier Reef, its diversity and significance. This bigger picture then homes in on the corals themselves, taking us through the different shapes and a diagrammatic illustration of the life cycle of a coral. Next, the reader is introduced to the importance and different types of algae. We learn about how a coral garden can shift to an algal garden if the algae are left to grow undisturbed. This sets the scene for the focus of the story-the keepers of the reef. The reader learns how herbivorous fish play different roles on the reef but ultimately work together to limit the growth of turfing algae. The various "keeper" roles are described by Sharon using catchy descriptions such as the brusher, the cropper, the scraper, the excavator, and the browser. Towards the end of the book, the main threats facing the Great Barrier Reef are presented together with innovative solutions scientists are developing and adopting for coral restoration. The balance of creating both environmental empathy and scientific understanding is delivered in a well-balanced and clever way to ensure minimal impact of creating ecophobia to the young reader (ecophobia defined in: McKnight, 2010). The book finishes with an invitation to do our part to help protect the reef through activities that can be conducted at home and within your community. The ideas provided are achievable to a young reader and are coupled with bonus coral points allocated to each activity. The book concludes with a glossary, further reading and websites, providing a useful resource to extend knowledge on the topic.Throughout the book, the illustrations are saturated with pastel watercolours drawing on the array of colour often seen in a coral reef. To add a touch of interest and connection with the reader, two young children are seen throughout the pages. We see the children on the beach with a turtle

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Adopting Ocean-Themed Picture Books to Promote Ocean Literacy in Primary Education

et al. 2023

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Children’s literature about the ocean is a valuable learning tool for increasing ocean literacy in formal education. This instruction is, nonetheless, reliant on teachers’ capacity to explore, appreciate and understand the different ways in which elements of picture books convey ocean concepts. As researchers who work collaboratively in marine science education and children’s literature, we analysed a targeted sample of picture books about a largely unknown temperate reef system on the southern coastline of Australia, the Great Southern Reef. Our exploration of these picture books' verbal and visual strategies showed how they can be used as model examples of scientifically accurate educational resources to deliver ocean concepts, increase awareness of a local marine environment, and promote positive attitudes towards science. The portrayal of scientists, particularly female scientists in these texts can also expand children’s perceptions and beliefs about who scientists are and how they work, and ultimately impact young people’s career choices. We argue that the analysis modelled in this article can be adapted to different selections of ocean-themed picture books. Therefore, we provide recommendations for educators in other regions of the world choosing picture books to improve ocean education in the context of other local marine environments.

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Reading over and under the waves: A study of ocean picture books for children

Cited by 5 publications

References 22 publications

Towards a 2025 National Ocean Literacy Strategy: Current Status and Future Needs in Primary Education

Towards a 2025 National Ocean Literacy Strategy: Current Status and Future Needs in Primary Education

Keepers of the reef - Written by Dr Sharon Wismer, Illustrated by Alice Wong, Tilbury House Publishers, Thomaston, Maine, 2022. - Reviewed by Prue Francis, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Queenscliff Marine Science Centre, Queenscliff.

Adopting Ocean-Themed Picture Books to Promote Ocean Literacy in Primary Education

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