Seashores to Sea Floors 3.0.0

The Seashores to Sea Floors is a comprehensive and thoughtfully developed educational resource focusing on the ocean biome. Created in collaboration with the University of Alaska's Department of Oceanography and a team of educators, this digital publication integrates interactive enhancements and universal design accessibility features aimed at enriching the learning experience.

Part of the Crack the Books series, Seashores to Sea Floors represents a significant advancement in digital non-fiction literature. Notably, these books are among the first to allow readers to adjust the reading level from 1st through 8th grade without compromising content integrity, thereby promoting inclusive access to varied audiences with diverse reading abilities.

The primary objectives of this resource include enhancing reading comprehension, nurturing a curiosity for science, and strengthening reading confidence among young learners. It serves as a valuable tool for educators and parents alike, supporting children with diverse needs, from those requiring additional accommodations to academically advanced students.

Coverage within Seashores to Sea Floors encompasses a broad spectrum of topics such as ocean layers, marine flora and fauna, adaptations, ecological benefits, and threats faced by oceans. The content explores major ocean ecosystems including open seas, polar regions, the deep sea, sea floors, seamounts, hydrothermal vents, cold seeps, rocky intertidal zones, beaches, kelp forests, estuaries, and coral reefs.

Designed to promote engagement and comprehension, the textbook’s multimedia features include high-definition photographs, embedded videos, intriguing facts, custom animations, interactive charts, tables, globes, and pop-up vocabulary definitions. Students can interact with the material by creating bookmarks, highlights, and notes for study reinforcement.

Additional accommodations for learners with special needs include functionalities such as text-to-speech, answer dictation, image reinforcement cues, and adjustable text size to support diverse learning preferences.

Key features include:

• Lexile-certified reading levels from 1st to 8th grade
• Visual supports for comprehension enhancement
• Over 100 high-resolution images
• Videos and custom animations
• Interactive globes and maps
• Built-in vocabulary definitions and glossary with recording capabilities
• Leveled chapter quizzes—25 in total across five chapters—and options for custom assessments
• Automated test grading functions
• Text-to-speech and voice-over functionalities
• Adjustable text zoom
• Bookmarks supporting multiple users

Note: Requires iOS 11 or later to operate effectively.