Fact Finders

Age 9, Group or Independent

Three 45-minute periods, indoors or outdoors

• Identify 15 seafood species native to the waters that border California by preparing and reading stories based on information in the California's Golden Seas booklet.

• California's Golden Seas poster
• California's Golden Seas booklet (see appendix)
• paper
• scissors
• stapler (or paper hole punch and yarn or ribbon)
• color markers or crayons.

• Duplicate California's Golden Seas booklet.

• Read California's Golden Seas booklet, either independently or aloud as a group.
• Review poster.
• Discuss the information in the booklet.
  • Who has tried or seen some of the species of California seafood?
  • List seafood species that haven't been tried.
  • What species are in season now?
• Have each individual pick a seafood species and create a seafood storybook that addresses the following questions:
  • Who am I? (name of the species)
  • Where do I live? (habitat)
  • What do I eat? (what other species)
  • Why am I good to eat? (nutritional benefits/flavor)
  • How do fisher folk catch me? (fishing gear used)
  • When do fisher folk catch me? (season)
• Read the stories aloud or share with a younger group of children.
• Illustrate the storybooks.

• Have a seafood tasting party.
• Go to a supermarket to see what California seafood species are available.