Name: __________________________________

Legend of the Mermaid

by Kelly Hashway Weve all heard of mermaids. They are the beautiful half-human, half-fish creatures that live in the sea. They have the head and torso of a human and the tail of a fish. We also now that mermaids only e!ist in fairy tales. "ut where did all the stories about these creatures come from# $f you have ever seen a manatee, then you mi%ht have an idea.

&anatees, which are also called sea cows, are mammals that live in the ocean. 'ince they are mammals, they have to swim u( to the surface to breathe air. &any (eo(le believe that the le%end of the mermaid be%an with sailors who witnessed the manatees (o((in% their heads out of the water to breathe. "ecause manatees are u(ri%ht when they do this, it can loo li e they are standin%. $f a sailor saw a manatee doin% this from far away across the ocean, it is (ossible that the sailor would mista e the manatee for a creature that is half-human, half-fish.

&ermaids are described as havin% lon% flowin% hair. This is (robably because manatees li e to swim u( to the surface of the water in areas where there is seaweed. &anatees eat all inds of ve%etation, includin% sea %rass. The seaweed surroundin% the manatees head when they eat could %ive the im(ression of lon% hair.

&anatees also have (owerful tails that are very similar to the fish-li e tail of a mermaid. 'ailors (robably watched manatees come u( for air and then swim bac below the surface, usin% their (addle-sha(ed tails. This would e!(lain why sailors thou%ht mermaids had fish-li e tails.

)nother similarity between the manatee and the mermaid is how they hold their youn%. &anatees cradle their babies in their fli((ers *ust li e (eo(le hold their children in their arms. 'o it is easy to see human traits in manatees and how they *ust mi%ht have led to the le%end of the mermaid.
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Name: __________________________________

Legend of the Mermaid

by Kelly Hashway

1.

What is a manatee# a. a lar%e, %ray fish that lives in the ocean b. a lar%e, %ray fish that lives in la es c. a lar%e, %ray mammal that lives in the ocean d. another word for mermaid

2.

Three +easons )ncient 'ailors &ay Have &ista en &anatees for &ermaids $ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ $$ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ $$$ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________

3.

Which sentence is an o(inion# a. &ermaids e!ist only in fairy tales. b. &anatees eat all inds of ve%etation, includin% sea %rass. c. &anatees need to swim to the surface of the water for air. d. &ermaids are beautiful creatures.

4.

What is the author,s (ur(ose for writin% this (assa%e# a. to com(are and contrast mermaids and manatees b. to (ersuade you to believe in mermaids c. to describe how mermaids live d. to entertain you with a story about a mermaid who lived lon% a%o

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Name: __________________________________

Legend of the Mermaid

The words below are scrambled vocabulary words from the (assa%e. -nscramble each word and write it on the line. 1. t n a e a e m _________________________________

Clue: a lar%e, %ray sea animal that breathes air

2.

d n

e l

g e ________________________________

Clue: un(roven story told throu%h time

3.

s o

t r

o _________________________________

Clue: (art of the human body that does not include arms, le%s, or head

4.

g t

e t

i e

o a

v n _________________________________

Clue: (lant life

5.

l d

e c

a r _________________________________

Clue: hold %ently

6.

s r e !

l i _________________________________

Clue: flat limbs on sea animals used for swimmin%

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"#$%&' K&(

Legend of the Mermaid

by Kelly Hashway

1.

What is a manatee#

a. a lar%e, %ray fish that lives in the ocean b. a lar%e, %ray fish that lives in la es c. a large) gray mammal that lives in the ocean d. another word for mermaid

2.

Three +easons )ncient 'ailors &ay Have &ista en &anatees for &ermaids $ *hey o their heads out o! the water to breathe. +rom a distance) sailors may have thought the heads loo,s human-li,e. $$ .anatee heads were o!ten surrounded by seaweed. *his may have loo,ed li,e long) !lowing hair. $$$ .anatees have ower!ul !ish-li,e tails li,e mermaids.

3.

Which sentence is an o(inion# a. &ermaids e!ist only in fairy tales. b. &anatees eat all inds of ve%etation, includin% sea %rass. c. &anatees need to swim to the surface of the water for air. d. .ermaids are beauti!ul creatures.

4.

What is the author,s (ur(ose for writin% this (assa%e# a. to com are and contrast mermaids and manatees b. to (ersuade you to believe in mermaids c. to describe how mermaids live d. to entertain you with a story about a mermaid who lived lon% a%o

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Legend of the Mermaid

The words below are scrambled vocabulary words from the (assa%e. -nscramble each word and write it on the line. 1. t n a e a e m manatee

"#$%&' K&(

Clue: a lar%e, %ray sea animal that breathes air

2.

d n

e l

g e legend

Clue: un(roven story told throu%h time

3.

s o

t r

o torso

Clue: (art of the human body that does not include arms, le%s, or head

4.

g t

e t

i e

o a

v n vegetation

Clue: (lant life

5.

l d

e c

a r cradle

Clue: hold %ently

6.

s r e !

l i !li ers

.lue: flat limbs on sea animals used for swimmin%

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