Dive Deep with 4 Weeks of Differentiated Learning
July means sunshine, ocean waves… and Shark Week! If you’re looking to keep your students engaged during summer learning or Extended School Year (ESY), the Made For Me Literacy Sharks and Friends unit brings all the underwater excitement straight to your classroom.
Created for early learners and special education students, this month-long curriculum makes it easy to plan with meaningful, themed instruction—both structured and fun!
What’s Swimming Through Each Week
Week 1: All About Sharks
We begin with real shark facts using the nonfiction book Sharks by Kate Riggs.
Build background knowledge with the “Sharks can/have/are” anchor chart and explore shark parts with the “Parts of a Shark” diagram. Students will love the Shark Flipbook writing activity and hands-on visuals like the Shark in a Bottle recipe. Use file folders like Counting School of Sharks and vocabulary worksheets to strengthen key concepts.
Week 2: Silly Sharks
This week’s focus is on imagination and humor with the heartwarming book Gilbert the Great by Jane Clark.
Students can express creativity with crafts like Sharks in the Water and the Shark Easy Art Diagram, then reflect with the Are You Afraid of Sharks? class graph. Support learning with rhyming file folders, Comparing Numbers task boxes, and fine motor worksheets like Trace and Cut Shark Teeth.
Week 3: Poetry Week
Dive into language play with the original Hungry Shark poem (included in the unit!).
Use the “Hungry Shark” anchor chart and poem visuals to support shared reading. Reinforce learning with the Newspaper Shark craft, Rhyming Words file folders, and vocabulary activities. This week is perfect for repetition, rhythm, and creative expression
Week 4: Sharks and Ocean Friends
Wrap up with a broader ocean theme using the adapted book Ocean Animals (Made For Me Literacy).
Engage students with the “In the Ocean” predictable chart and I see __ in the ocean pocket chart. Create a class book with the Under the Sea writing page and explore crafts like Paper Jellyfish, Colorful Seashells, and Cereal Starfish. Wrap it all up with class graphs like Favorite Ocean Animals and math centers like Fishy Ten Frames.
What Teachers Love About This Unit
- ADAPTED BOOKS for every week, with interactive comprehension support
- VOCABULARY ANCHOR CHARTS with real photos and core vocabulary
- READING & MATH CENTERS like Count the Shark Teeth, How Many Fins?, and Beginning Sounds: Ocean Style
- FILE FOLDER GAMES like Shark Emotions, Where Does It Belong?, and Match the Ocean Friend
- SKILL PRACTICE WORKSHEETS including trace-and-cut lines, number tracing, and sorting objects by category
- CRAFTS & VISUAL RECIPES like Ocean Blue Yogurt Parfaits, Paper Plate Sharks, and Shark Fin Headbands
It’s more than just themed fun—it’s a whole month of ready-to-go instruction. Teachers tell us they love how easy it is to grab a center or worksheet and know it will meet their students’ needs. Here’s what’s inside:
Keep the Ocean Fun Going
Want to expand your ocean theme? Try pairing Sharks and Friends with Under the Sea – Made For Me Literacy Level A This makes a great companion for additional centers, books, and visuals to stretch your ocean theme a little longer—or offer even more variety during ESY.
Ready to Make a Splash This July?
If you’re celebrating Shark Week or just need a summer unit to keep kids sharp that feels fresh, fun, and functional, Sharks and Friends has you covered. With hands-on learning, differentiated tools, and predictable routines, this unit helps students stay engaged while building important literacy and life skills.
Check out Made For Me Literacy on TpT and see how easy it is to bring engaging curriculum into your special education classroom in a way your students will love!
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