Book Detail

Whale Port

Publication Information
Author:  Foster, Mark Illustrator:  Foster, Gerald
Title:  Whale Port Date:  2007
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-618-54722-3 ISBN, hardback:  

Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes ESOL:  
Family:   Young Adult:  
Picture:   Yes

General Information:
Book Type(s):    historical fiction, reference

HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies

Summary:
In this book about a fictitious combination of real places, the text and colored-pencil drawings present the chronological development of a New England whaling town and its related businesses. The use of cut away art provides a glimpse inside the buildings, homes and ships mentioned in the books. The book provides a multitude of facts about the hunting and use of whales before the advent of electricity.

Teaching Ideas:
The drawings and text provide information about several historical occupations such as extracting whale oil, candle making, and making rope which make discussion available to a wide range of readers. Individual readers or small groups could do research before writing a paragraph or essay about some aspect of the occupations or businesses mentioned in the book. The revival of the town after the demise of whaling offers an opportunity to discuss what cities can do when a major industry becomes obsolete. Readers could use the format of the book to create a chronology of their own community.

Teaching Strategies:
bullet Copy Change
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/copy_change.pdf
bullet Helping Students in the Writing Process
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/help_writing_process.pdf
bullet Sketch to Stretch
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/sketch_stretch.pdf
bullet Semantic Mapping
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/semantic_mapping.pdf
bullet Strategies to Support Collaboration
   http://literacy.kent.edu/eureka/strategies/strategies_collab.pdf

Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
bullet Social Studies > anthropology > daily life
bullet Geography > locations > U.S. states/regions > New England
bullet Geography > economics
bullet History > time period > 19th Century
bullet Communities > rural > small town life
bullet Transportation > ships
bullet Work > careers
bullet Work > historical


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