Duck & Goose learn not to jump to conclusions when they confuse a ball with an egg, but they also learn about cooperation and friendship. This hilarious story amuses children while it teaches about sharing and working together.
This teacher lesson plan is age-appropriate for elementary classes and takes about 30 to 60 minutes to teach. It includes a lesson plan, vocabulary development activities, and fine motor skills activities. This lesson plan encourages beginning readers and develops vocabulary skills.
The students learn the following skills:
- Teamwork
- Cooperation
- Sharing
- Interpersonal relationships
Hands-on projects help teachers explain concepts of read-aloud stories. Teamwork and sharing is easier to show than tell, but the telling reinforces the showing. Other language arts lessons like those on rhyming words or synonyms and prior knowledge can be linked to this lesson plan to provide continuous review and produce independent readers.
Here is a supply list for this story:
- The children’s book Duck & Goose, Tad Hills, [Schwartz & Wade Books, 2006]
- Vocabulary cards or word wall strips for these words: Duck, Goose, Blue Bird, flew, egg, ball, fussing, grunting, groaning, slipping, sliding, bounced, honking, quacking, quack, honk, waddle, swim, rolled, fly.
- One paper plate for each student
- Small paper circles in assorted colors
- Cut out figure of a duck and goose (use a cookie cutter, trace, and cut out)
- Glue sticks
- Hole punch
- Ribbon or yarn
- Kid friendly scissors
Literacy Lesson Plan Teaching Method
The teacher shows the book cover to the students, points to the title and reads it and then points to the author’s name and says it. She invites the class to observe the book cover and make predictions about the story. Before reading the story, she instructs the children to quack every time she says the word duck, and honk every time they hear the word duck.
To teach the vocabulary activity, he uses the prepared cards and holds them up to the class one at a time. For each card he points to the word, says the word, and traces the word with a finger. The class repeats this sequence in unison. Next, the teacher goes through the vocabulary cards again but this time she models a movement or sound for the class to imitate – for example, groaning or honking.
Discussion Questions and Fine Motor Skills Activity
Here are some discussion questions to use in conjunction with the story of Duck and Goose. The questions can be inserted into the natural reading flow of the story or used at the end for a more directed and controlled discussion session.
- Who saw the object first?
- What did Duck think the object was?
- What was it really?
- How did Duck and Goose try to claim the ball?
- How did they keep the ball warm?
- What did Duck and Goose want to teach their baby?
- What did they teach each other?
- How did the two friends discover their mistake?
- What did they do with their ball?
To make the craft activity, give each child a paper plate to represent their ball. Invite the children to decorate their balls with the paper circles. Next, encourage them to cut out the figures and glue the duck and goose on the plate as a reminder of the story. Use the hole punch to put a hole in the top of the plate, and help the children add a ribbon or yarn as a hanger. The balls are used to decorate the classroom.
Book List for Lesson Extension
Here is a recommended reading list for this lesson plan. These books can be used by teachers or parents to extend and reinforce the lesson concepts.
What's Up, Duck?, Tad Hills, [Schwartz & Wade Books, 2008]
Duck, Duck, Goose, Tad Hills, [Schwartz & Wade Books, 2007]
Hip & Hop Don't Stop, Jef Czekaj, [Hyperion Books, 2010]
By the end of this lesson plan, the children have heard a story about two animals friends and learned about teamwork. They have participated in a vocabulary strengthening exercise and made a hands-on craft project. Using a specific teacher lesson plan, like a literature based one, is an excellent way to teach core reading, grammar, and pre-writing skills.
Donna Cosmato - Donna is a Certified Image Consultant, author and public speaker, whose first book Buying Your First Home? will be available in bookstores ...
