Sunday, August 7, 2011

Crustaceans of the Sea

Crabs and Crawfish by William Henry Borrow, 1888
In the gorgeous New England state of Maine lobsters and crabs abound. Last Friday I was lucky enough to be part of a fun-filled evening tour of Penobscot Bay on a real lobster boat!

Of course, while I'm here, I am indulging in delicious, fresh crabmeat sandwiches on a daily
basis. As storytellers we are never far away from folktales and I began to think about stories associated with these interesting crustaceans. Surprisingly, I was able to find quite a few. I hope you enjoy them!

  


  • The crab is one of the oldest species on earth. 
  • The horseshoe crab dates back over 200 million years and is literally a living fossil.
  • The majority of edible crabs have five pairs of legs, with the front legs being larger pinchers.
  • There are 4,400 varieties of crab.
  • Crabs will regenerate their claws within 18 months.


STORIES

Frog and Crab Race - Kunigami, Okinawa Island 

The Crab and the Monkey – Japan
The Crane’s Walk – Aesop

The Grateful Crab – Bali
The Heron and the Crab – India
The Quarrel of the Tee Monkey and the Crab – Japan
 
The Rabbit and the Crab – Mayan * This site also offer curriculum connections to correspond with the Mayan culture.
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/maya/mayasg1.html
How Crab Got His Shell - Africa 

How the Hermit Crab Won a Race – Micronesia


CRAFTS
 
First School – Easy crab craft preschool and up.
Herman the Crab – Coloring page
Make Your Own Pop Up Crab


CURRICULUM

The Barnegat Bay Watershed 

Horseshoe Crabs and Ancient Art
National Park Service – Glacier Bay Crabs Lesson Plans
http://www.nps.gov/glba/forteachers/glacier-bay-crabs-lesson-plans.htm
 

READER’S THEATER

A House for Hermit Crab


SONGS AND FINGERPLAYS

Cranky Crabs
Five cranky crabs were digging on the shore.
One swam into a net and then there were four.
Four cranky crabs were floating in the sea.
One got tangled up in seaweed then there were three.
Three cranky crabs were wondering what to do.
One dug a deep, deep hole. Then there were two.
Two cranky crabs were warming in the sun.
One got scooped up in a cup. Then there was one.
One cranky crab was smarter than his friends.
He hid between the jagged rocks.
That's how the story ends.

Ocean Songs




Karen Chace  2011 ©
This blog post was painstakingly researched and compiled by Karen Chace. Permission for private use is granted. Distribution, either electronically or on paper is prohibited without my expressed written permission. For permission please contact me at storybug@aol.com. Of course, if you wish to link to my newsletter via your website, blog, newsletter, Facebook page or Twitter please feel free to do so; I greatly appreciate your support and personal integrity.