Seals are Jerks! (2025-2026 Show Me Reader Nominee): Home

Kdg, 1st, 2nd, 3rd

MO School Library Instructional Standards

K-2

Information Literacy: Access: Understand different types of information: 

• Identify facts and opinions.
• Identify fiction and nonfiction.

3-5

Information Literacy: Access: Explore different types of sources and information: 

Develop keywords to locate information, with support.
• Use search strategies to locate information, with support.

1 - 60 minute class period (or break it up into two 30 min. class periods)

This lesson was created by Marlana Howerton from Ezard Elementary School. 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

After reading Seals Are Jerks by Jared Chapman, students will explore nonfiction information about seals using resources in Wakelet and discuss the differences between facts/opinions and fiction/nonfiction. They will then write and illustrate their favorite seal fact(s). Early finishers can complete additional seal-related activities to extend their learning.

• Book: Seals are Jerks! by Jared Chapman
• Seals are Jerks! Book Trailer by Scholastic 
• Seals are Jerks! Wakelet
• Writing and drawing materials (paper, crayons, markers, pencils)
• Epic! subscription (Free for educators and free for students before 3:00 pm)
  
  Optional: 
• Seals are Jerks! Read Aloud by Jared Chapman
• Seals are Jerks! Author Introduction Book Trailer

Objectives

K-2: 

• Students will be able to identify facts and opinions.
• Students will be able to identify fiction and nonfiction.

3-5

• Students will be able to develop keywords to locate information, with support.
• Students will be able to use search strategies to locate information, with support.

I Can Statements

K-2: 

• I can identify facts and opinions.
• I can identify fiction and nonfiction.

3-5

• I can use keywords to locate information, with support.
• I can use search strategies to locate information, with support.

Before Reading

1. What do you know about seals? Have you seen them in real life or in videos?
2. What do you think the word "jerk" means? Why might someone think a seal is a jerk?
3. Show the Seals are Jerks! book trailer by Scholastic.
4. Look at the book’s cover—do you think this book will be fiction or nonfiction? Why?
5. Can animals really have personalities like "jerks" or "nice"?

After reading Seals are Jerks! by Jared Chapman, we will focus on fiction vs. nonfiction, facts vs. opinions, (and for third grade) how to search to locate information. 

During Reading

• Read Seals Are Jerks! aloud to the class or you can use the optional YouTube read aloud by Jared Chapman in the materials section above. 
• Pause throughout the story to discuss the difference between fact and opinion (e.g., "Seals are jerks!" is an opinion, while "Seals live in the ocean." is a fact).
• Ask students to identify moments when the book is being funny versus when it might have real information.

After Reading & Discussion Questions

1. How did this book make you feel about seals? Did your opinion change?
2. What is one fact you learned about seals from the story?
3. How can we tell the difference between facts and opinions?
4. Was Seals Are Jerks! a fiction or nonfiction book? How do you know?
5. Why is it important to look at multiple sources when learning about animals? 

Introduce the Seals are Jerks! Wakelet collection, explaining that it contains activities that each student will get to complete. 

Go over the order of the lesson and the expectation that students will complete the items in order beginning with #1 and #2. Let students know that they are not allowed to go on to #3 until they have handed in their My Favorite Facts About Seals printable and it has been completed to your satisfaction. 

Wakelet Directions: 
1. Learn:

• Listen to one video about seals. (linked in Wakelet)
• Read one book about seals on Epic! (linked in Wakelet)

2. Do:

• Write/draw your favorite fact about seals on the My Favorite Fact(s) About Seals printable from your teacher/librarian.

My Favorite Facts About Seals Printable 

• Students will write one or more facts they learned about seals and illustrate their favorite fact(s). (3rd grade will not illustrate) 
• Students are expected to write in complete sentences in 2nd-3rd grade. 

3. Fun when you're done!:

• Click one of the links to choose something fun to do when you finish. (linked in Wakelet)

Examples of Early Finisher Activities: 

• Britannica Kids seal videos
• How to Draw a Seal YouTube video
• How to Do a Seal Walk YouTube video
• The Seal Family meditation video

• Observe students’ responses during discussions and their ability to distinguish between fact and opinion.
• Review student writing and illustrations for accuracy in identifying nonfiction facts and using complete sentences.
• Exit Reflection: Have students share one fact they learned about seals before leaving.

• The My Favorite Facts About Seals printables are differentiated and meant to be used as pg. 1 - Kdg. & 1st grade, pg. 2 - 2nd grade, pg. 3 - third grade. However, if you know you have students that need a higher or lower level, you can mix and match pages giving your students what best fits their needs. 
• (K-2): Provide extra support to focus on verbal identification of facts vs. opinions. Provide sentence starters for writing (ex., "Seals can…").
• (3rd): Challenge students to develop their own search keywords to find more information about seals.