Image of a seahorse made out of pieces of trash

WASHED ASHORE: ART TO SAVE THE SEA

Trash Art

Trash sculptures could help save animals from a dangerous problem.

By Laine Falk

From the March/April 2024 Issue

Students understand how to get information from text and images.

Lexile: 380L

Featured Skill: Key Details, Use Visuals,

Vocabulary: sculptures

Topic: Social Studies,

Washed Ashore: Art to Save the Sea

Brooms. Flip-flops. Bottle caps. How are these things alike? They are all kinds of trash that have been found in our oceans. And they can all be made into art!

A lot of the trash in oceans is made of plastic. This plastic can be deadly for ocean animals. The animals may think the plastic is food and eat it. They can also get tangled in it.

A group called Washed Ashore wants to help. Volunteers pick up trash from beaches. Then they work with artists to make animal sculptures!

Slideshows (1)

Activities (3)

Answer Key (1)

Slideshows (1)

Activities (3)

Download All Quizzes and Activities

Answer Key (1)

Science Focus

Earth Day

Implementation

Small group; whole group; independent reading

Pairings and Text Connections

From the Storyworks 2 archive:

“World’s Tallest Sand Castle” (May/June 2021) Students can read about another amazing sculpture built on the beach: the world’s tallest sand castle.

Before-Reading Resources

Text Preview Bookmarks

(10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.

Play the Vocabulary Slideshow

(5 minutes) Help students become familiar with vocabulary word they will see in the article.

Nonfiction text features (30 minutes)

Take a close look at the photos. Ask students to share what they notice about them. Help them understand that we get information from pictures.

After-Reading Skills Practice

(15 minutes for each activity)

Quiz: Comprehension check

Nosey’s Fact File: Students can write key details from the text on this page. Send photos of their pages or emails of their facts to [email protected]. She will write back!

Text-to-Speech

Trash Art

More About the Article

Science Focus

Earth Day

Implementation

Small group; whole group; independent reading

Pairings and Text Connections

From the Storyworks 2 archive:

“World’s Tallest Sand Castle” (May/June 2021) Students can read about another amazing sculpture built on the beach: the world’s tallest sand castle.

Before-Reading Resources

Text Preview Bookmarks

(10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.

Play the Vocabulary Slideshow

(5 minutes) Help students become familiar with vocabulary word they will see in the article.

Suggested Reading Focus

Nonfiction text features (30 minutes)

Take a close look at the photos. Ask students to share what they notice about them. Help them understand that we get information from pictures.

After-Reading Skills Practice

(15 minutes for each activity)

Quiz: Comprehension check

Nosey’s Fact File: Students can write key details from the text on this page. Send photos of their pages or emails of their facts to [email protected]. She will write back!

Help/Support

Help/Support

Subscriber Information

Trash Art

More About the Article

Science Focus

Earth Day

Implementation

Small group; whole group; independent reading

Pairings and Text Connections

From the Storyworks 2 archive: “World’s Tallest Sand Castle” (May/June 2021) Students can read about another amazing sculpture built on the beach: the world’s tallest sand castle.

Before-Reading Resources

Text Preview Bookmarks (10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text. Play the Vocabulary Slideshow (5 minutes) Help students become familiar with vocabulary word they will see in the article.

Suggested Reading Focus

Nonfiction text features (30 minutes) Take a close look at the photos. Ask students to share what they notice about them. Help them understand that we get information from pictures.

After-Reading Skills Practice

(15 minutes for each activity) Quiz: Comprehension check Nosey’s Fact File: Students can write key details from the text on this page. Send photos of their pages or emails of their facts to [email protected]. She will write back!

Help/Support

Help/Support

Subscriber Information

Connect with Us

From the Storyworks 2 archive:

“World’s Tallest Sand Castle” (May/June 2021) Students can read about another amazing sculpture built on the beach: the world’s tallest sand castle.

Text Preview Bookmarks

(10 minutes) Kids can cut out the nonfiction bookmark and use it to preview the text.

Play the Vocabulary Slideshow

(5 minutes) Help students become familiar with vocabulary word they will see in the article.

Nonfiction text features (30 minutes)

Take a close look at the photos. Ask students to share what they notice about them. Help them understand that we get information from pictures.

(15 minutes for each activity)

Quiz: Comprehension check

Nosey’s Fact File: Students can write key details from the text on this page. Send photos of their pages or emails of their facts to [email protected]. She will write back!