The Singing Mermaid

Did you ever go to Silversands on a sunny summer’s day? Then perhaps you saw the mermaid who sang in the deep blue bay.

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

The story starts with a question for the reader to think about. Can you make a set of questions that could be used as interesting story starters?
Carry out a role-play activity at the point when Sam Sly asks the mermaid to join his circus. Should she go? What are the pros / cons of joining?
Have a class debate about the use of animals in circuses / zoos.
Write your own story about a mermaid.
Make a list of adjectives to describe the singing mermaid. Can you find any in the story?
Make a list of adjectives to describe Sam Sly.
Write a letter from the singing mermaid to her friends in the ocean while she was in the circus.

The story mentions a number of different types of fish. Can you find out the names of any more? How are they similar / different?

Design a new luxury tank for the singing mermaid to live in while she worked in the circus.
Build a model of the circus tent. What materials will you need to use?

The pages all have glitter on them. Can you make a piece of artwork that uses glitter to make things shine?
A mermaid is half-human with a fish’s tail. Can you create a creature that is a mixture of two or more animals?
Can you create a large picture of the singing mermaid using collage?
How many different patterns can you see in the illustrations. Can you try to recreate some of these… or use them in your own artwork?

Compose a song that the singing mermaid might sing. You could use a song from The Little Mermaid as inspiration.

Look on a map and find a place that is similar to Silversands.
Plan a class trip to the nearest beach. Can you see any cockles / mussels / seagulls and other animals mentioned in the story?