Make Way for Ducklings Robert Mccloskey

Make Way for Ducklings – Robert McCloskey

CHARACTER TRAITS AND THEMES KINDERGARTEN

Primary Character trait: Respect - Acting in a way that shows I am valuable, you are valuable, and we as a group are valuable” Secondary trait: Kindness - Thinking and acting in ways that show you care

OBJECTIVES

The learner will:  Be introduced to and develop an understanding of the Character Trait: Respect  Understand that all living organisms have survival needs: food, water, shelter, and space  Develop an understanding of story elements  Begin to understand what the problem and solution are in a story

GRADE LEVEL CONTENT EXPECTATIONS

Kindergarten R.NT.00.03 Discuss setting, characters, and events in narrative text. R.NT.00.05 Respond to individual and multiple texts by finding evidence, discussing, illustrating and/or writing to reflect, make meaning, and make connections. R.CM.00.01Begin to make text-to-self and text-to-text connections and comparisons by activating prior knowledge and connecting personal knowledge and experience to ideas in text through oral and written responses. S.DS.00.01 Engage in substantive conversations, remaining focused on subject matter, with interchanges beginning to build on prior responses in literature discussions, paired conversations or other interactions. S.DS.00.03 Respond to multiple texts by reflecting, making meaning and making connections. L.RP.00.02 Listen to or view knowledgeably and respond thoughtfully to both classic and contemporary texts recognized for quality and literary merit.

RESOURCES

Trade Book: Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey Other Trade Books: Onstott, T. (2008). How the Dung Beetle Earned Respect Wheatmark Stover, J. (1989). If Everybody Did JourneyForth Fong-O’Neill, L. (2005). Mommy, Why? AuthorHouse Fox, M. (2006). Whoever You Are Sandpiper

Developing Character Through American Literature Make Way for Ducklings 1 ESTIMATED TIME PARAMETERS

One day More than one day Mini-unit

INTRODUCTION

“What does it mean to respect someone?” Allow ample time for processing and response. “In Make Way for Ducklings, respect plays an important role in the ducklings’ survival. Let me read it to you, and then we will discuss how respect is important.”

INSTRUCTION

Read aloud, Make Way for Ducklings. After reading, guide students in identifying the following:  Story elements: setting, characters, problems, events and solution  Point out that there are two problems within the story: first, Mr. and Mrs. Mallard have to find the right place to raise their ducklings, considering their need for food, water, shelter and space; second, Mrs. Mallard needs to lead the ducklings to the Public Garden to meet Mr. Mallard. Discuss how the problems are solved.

MAKE CONNECTIONS

How does respect play a role in getting the ducklings to the park safely? (The police and townspeople respect the Mallards, and then help them get to the park safely). The police show their respect by helping. How do you show respect? To whom do you show respect? Who didn’t show respect? (e.g., the boy on the bike, the drivers who honked at the ducks) When do you feel respected? Can you respect someone even if you don’t agree with them? How can we be respectful when we don’t agree with someone? (e.g., listen to each other, figure out a way to share, take turns, accept that there is a different opinion) Respect and kindness often go together. Were the policemen kind? How does it feel to be kind? How does it feel when someone is kind to you? How can we remember to be kind and respectful to each other in class and on the playground? *If you have a classroom constitution, relate respect to your expectations.

ACTIVITY IDEAS

Morning Meeting: Respect Notice instances of respect between students, and then mention them at morning meeting or consider spotlighting someone in your weekly newsletter. (It is important to keep track; it is also important to try to mention each student by the end of the year.)

American Literature 2 Real-life Respect Activity Materials needed: drawing paper, pencils, and crayons

 Ask students to draw a picture of someone at school who they feel is respectful.

 Ask students to label the picture with a name.

 Create a classroom display of students’ drawings.

 Highlight students’ interpretations by asking them to explain who they chose and why during a morning meeting. Literature Connection Activity Materials needed: chart paper  As a class, begin a running list of characters that are respectful and/or kind based on books that are read in class. Basic Needs Activity: Survival Materials needed: drawing paper, pencils, and crayons With student participation, list the things the ducks needed for survival. After the students have an understanding of what the ducks need for survival, tell them that they will be drawing a picture that will include the things that they need for survival. Provide the students with a blank piece of paper, a pencil, and crayons. Instruct the students to draw a picture that will include all of the things they need to survive. Ask students to label the parts of the picture that are absolutely necessary for their survival, and to draw themselves in the picture somewhere. Creating a sample to share first, so the students understand initial expectations, may be a good idea. Pictures must display the following: food, water, shelter, and space.

EVALUATION/ASSESSMENT

1. Discussion responses can serve as an understanding of respect. 2. Student-drawn examples of people, who are respectful, along with the accompanying description, will indicate understanding of the character trait. 3. Successful completion of the survival pictures can serve as an understanding of what living organisms need to survive. 4. Proper identification of the problems and solutions in the story can serve as an assessment for that objective. 5. Proper identification of the story elements can serve as an understanding of that objective.

Developing Character Through American Literature Make Way for Ducklings 3