Shark Lady in the Classroom! 25 Creative Ways to Explore Shark Science with Your Readers

Making waves with Shark Lady in the classroom!

Did you hear? It's a Shark Lady anniversary! 

This book is very close to my heart, and represents the very first time I wrote a nonfiction biography of a real life woman in STEM. It led to three others (so far!), and also happens to be the start of an unofficial trilogy about women who love the ocean.

Why? Because I'm a woman who loves the ocean. 😉 

(Note: You can find these other books here!)

Many of you have read Shark Lady at this point. To date, we've sold well over a quarter million copies!! 

But, I still get emails regularly from folks who are using this book in classrooms. I want to help! Thus, a new list for you.

Whether you’re a teacher, librarian, homeschooler, or parent, Shark Lady is a fantastic jumping-off point for diving (pun intended) into ocean exploration, critical thinking, and STEM empowerment.

I want to make it super easy for you to keep that conversation going long after story time is done.

So, I’ve put together 25 fun, low-cost, and high-energy activity ideas inspired by the themes of Shark Lady. These spark curiosity, build real-world science and STEM skills, and empower kids to think like explorers and channel their inner Eugenie Clark.

Let’s make some waves. Here we go!

1. Build-a-Shark Science Lab


Give kids a selection of “shark parts” (teeth, fins, gills, tail, etc.) and challenge them to build their own shark species. What does it eat? Where does it live? How does it move? (Bonus: Have another session where they divvy up the shark parts they want to interact with, and have them make them! Who wouldn't want to spend twenty minutes cutting out shark teeth from construction paper or drawing shark fins?!)

👉 What they’ll learn: Anatomy, adaptation, and biological design.


💡 Why it’s great: Inspires creativity while teaching real marine science.

2. Women in STEM Shark Spotlight


Introduce kids to real women who study sharks—like marine biologists, conservationists, or underwater photographers. Have them choose one to research and present “Shark Scientist of the Day.” Naturally, you can use Eugenie for this, but you an also find other wonderful ladies online!

👉 What they’ll learn: Research skills, presentation, and role model recognition.


💡 Why it’s great: Showcases diversity in STEM and lets kids connect with real heroes.

3. Shark Sense Station

For the sensory lovers. Set up a multi-sensory experience to explore how sharks perceive the world. Smell station? Sound station? Magnet station? YES. 

👉 What they’ll learn: Sensory biology, predator adaptations, and how different animals experience their environment.
(Be sure to chat about the organs that help sharks experience the world!)

💡 Why it’s great: Makes complex science super hands-on and memorable.

4. Create Your Own Shark Species


Have students design their own species of shark. What adaptations does it have? What problems does it solve? What does it need to survive? Let them draw it or build it in 3D!

👉 What they’ll learn: Evolution, marine ecology, and problem-solving.


💡 Why it’s great: Encourages STEM creativity and systems thinking.

5. Shark Teeth Sorting & Graphing


Print or use toy shark teeth of different shapes and sizes. Let kids sort and graph them by size, type, or function. Bonus points for linking tooth type to diet! You can also extend this one by having them imagine 'made up' sharks and coming up with the type of teeth that shark would have; reverse engineering what adaptive tooth styles would work best! 

👉 What they’ll learn: Data collection, graphing, and scientific reasoning.


💡 Why it’s great: Combines math and science in a concrete, visual way.

6. Ocean Food Chain Tag


Play an energetic game where kids act as ocean animals in a food chain—plankton, fish, shark, etc. As the shark, you’re top predator, but what happens if the food chain breaks?

👉 What they’ll learn: Ecosystem dynamics, predator-prey relationships, and environmental impact.


💡 Why it’s great: Combines movement and science with lots of laughs and big learning moments.

7. Shark-Themed Engineering: Buoyancy Challenge


Give kids materials like balloons, straws, foil, and cups. Can they build a shark that floats and moves through water (or air)? Talk about how real sharks manage buoyancy.

👉 What they’ll learn: Engineering design, physical science, and trial-and-error.


💡 Why it’s great: It’s creative, scientific, and splashy—in all the best ways.

8. Shark Poetry Dive 🌊✍️
Encourage students to write shark-inspired poems—acrostics, haikus, or free verse. Challenge them to use real shark facts in their writing! Be sure to let them know that not all poems need to rhyme (though they can!) and that they are welcome to focus on one shark or many of them!

👉 What they’ll learn: Language skills, marine vocabulary, and creative expression.


💡 Why it’s great: Makes science lyrical and gives every student a voice.

9. Shark Interview Roleplay 🎤
Have kids pair up and roleplay an interview between a journalist and a female shark scientist. They can write their own questions and answers, then perform for the group.

👉 What they’ll learn: Empathy, oral storytelling, and active listening.


💡 Why it’s great: Helps them see scientists as real people—and imagine themselves in that role.

10. Ocean Trash to Art Treasure ♻️
Explore ocean pollution and its impact on sharks. Then collect (clean) recyclables and create shark-themed artwork.

👉 What they’ll learn: Environmental science, art, and sustainability.


💡 Why it’s great: Sparks eco-awareness and creativity with a purpose.

11. Shark Book Club 📚
Start a mini reading circle with other books featuring sharks, oceans, or women in science. Kids can discuss connections between stories. Letting them take the lead on what topics to cover will be a great exercise in creative license for 'em!

👉 What they’ll learn: Literary analysis, comparison skills, and thematic thinking.


💡 Why it’s great: Builds community and deepens understanding of key ideas.

12. Shark Career Day 🌟

Create mini “career booths” where students explore different shark-related careers: marine biologist, underwater drone operator, oceanographer, science illustrator, and more.

👉 What they’ll learn: STEM career exploration and interdisciplinary science.


💡 Why it’s great: Shows kids that science isn’t just in a lab—it’s underwater, on boats, and even behind cameras. Bonus: they'll get to step into these careers in their imagination, and shift perspectives within their own mind about what's possible. 

13. Create a Shark Zine 🦈📰
Make a collaborative mini-magazine with articles, poems, facts, and drawings all about sharks and STEM heroines. Bonus: make a few copies and distribute them!

👉 What they’ll learn: Writing for an audience, teamwork, and research.


💡 Why it’s great: Empowers student voice and lets everyone contribute something unique.

14. Shark Adaptation Dance 💃
Choreograph a short dance where each movement represents a shark adaptation—like tail swishes, gill breathing, or jaw snapping!

👉 What they’ll learn: Kinesthetic learning, anatomy, and symbolism.


💡 Why it’s great: Gets energy out while making concepts memorable. Everyone needs a movement break, so why not make it sharky? 

15. Timeline of Shark Science 🕰️
Create a classroom timeline of major discoveries in shark science—highlighting the women who contributed along the way!

👉 What they’ll learn: Historical thinking and chronology.


💡 Why it’s great: Centers women’s voices in scientific progress.

16. Create a Shark Fact Podcast 🎙️
Students script and record short episodes where they “host” a podcast sharing shark facts or interviewing scientists.

👉 What they’ll learn: Research, scriptwriting, and audio storytelling.


💡 Why it’s great: Brings together STEM and media literacy in a super fun way.

17. Shark Lab Word Wall 🧠
Build a growing wall of shark-related vocabulary and definitions—with student-made illustrations for each word. True story: I had one of these in my room growing up. (Yes, I was, and am,  very nerdy.) You an also do this for other animals or environments, of course!

👉 What they’ll learn: Scientific literacy and vocabulary retention.


💡 Why it’s great: Helps make science accessible and visual.

18. Shark Mythbusters 🧪
Explore shark myths (like “all sharks are dangerous”) and let kids investigate the truth using real data and expert videos. When they're done, have them create fact-based posters or verbal presentations to present the truth about sharks.

👉 What they’ll learn: Critical thinking, media literacy, and evidence-based reasoning.


💡 Why it’s great: Empowers skeptical, thoughtful learners.

19. Coral Reef Diorama 🌊
Build coral reef scenes to explore shark habitats and how they interact with other marine life. Add labels and fun facts!

👉 What they’ll learn: Ecosystems, interdependence, and visual design.


💡 Why it’s great: Brings environments to life in 3D form. Arts and crafts time at its best!

20. Women in STEM Research Posters 👩‍🔬
Each student picks a real woman working in marine science and creates a visual profile of her work, impact, and background. There are loads of books for inspiration!

👉 What they’ll learn: Biographical research, synthesis, and visual storytelling.


💡 Why it’s great: Connects kids with real role models who look like them.

21. Design a Shark Superhero Comic 🦈🦸
Invite kids to create a comic strip or mini comic book featuring a shark-themed superhero. Maybe she’s a scientist by day, shark protector by night! Encourage blending real shark science with fiction.

👉 What they’ll learn: Storytelling, sequencing, visual design, and science integration.


💡 Why it’s great: Promotes creative literacy and shows how science and storytelling can team up! Plus, everyone loves comics.

22. "Day in the Life of a Shark" Creative Writing ✍️🦈
Challenge students to write a short story or journal entry from the POV of a shark—bonus points if their shark interacts with a scientist or faces an ocean challenge.

👉 What they’ll learn: Perspective-taking, empathy, and integrating factual detail into fiction.

💡 Why it’s great: Encourages writing fluency while reinforcing real science in a creative format.

23. Ocean Acrostics 📝
Let students create acrostic poems using words like "SHARK," "STEM," or "OCEAN" or even "EUGENIE" (or another brave woman in STEM) to share what they’ve learned.

👉 What they’ll learn: Language creativity and synthesis.


💡 Why it’s great: A quick and low-pressure literacy activity.

24. Shark Classification Challenge 🔬
Give students mystery shark “profiles” (diet, size, fin shape) and challenge them to classify each into a shark family. When you're done, they can also make little fact 'trading cards' about each of the sharks. These are oddly addictive, fyi.

👉 What they’ll learn: Taxonomy, deductive reasoning, and marine biology.


💡 Why it’s great: Turns kids into real scientists solving classification puzzles.

25. Letters to a Scientist 💌
End your shark unit by having kids write thank-you letters to a real woman in STEM (you can find addresses through public organizations), sharing what they’ve learned and asking questions.

👉 What they’ll learn: Reflective writing, gratitude, and real-world connection.


💡 Why it’s great: Shows students their voices can reach far—and might even spark a reply!

Did I miss any? If you try out any of these activities (or create your own!) get in touch so I can share them with the class. 😉

I hope these 25 ideas spark big curiosity, deeper thinking, and a whole lot of fun for the young readers in your world. Whether they’re diving into shark biology, celebrating real-life women in science, or writing ocean-inspired poetry, each activity is designed to extend the magic of the book far beyond storytime.

Want more shark science, girl power, and wild wonder?
Be sure to check out SHARK LADY—a beautifully illustrated story that blends fascinating facts about sharks with the inspiring journey of a trailblazing woman in STEM.

It’s a perfect way to introduce kids to themes of marine biology, scientific discovery, environmental stewardship, and the powerful role of women in shaping our understanding of the natural world.

Let’s raise the next generation of ocean lovers, question-askers, and science changemakers—together.

Thanks for reading! And as always, stay curious. 

-JK 🦈