Make Way for Ducklings

Make Way for Ducklings 

McCloskey, R., & McCloskey, R. (1941). Make way for ducklings. New York: Viking Press. 

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are ducks searching for a proper place to raise a family. The first place they come across is in one of Boston's public garden's. at first sight this seems to be the perfect place. The people even feed the other birds peanuts! After further examination though, they find that it is too dangerous of a place to raise a family. They settle on a place in the bushes next to Charles River. After Mrs, Mallard laid and hatched eight egg, Mr. Mallard decided to go exploring the rest of the river. In the time he was gone, Mrs. Mallard taught her ducklings to swim. After a week, Mrs. Mallard took her ducklings to meet Mr. Mallard in the park. After an eventful trip, the family was reunited at the park's pond. The Mallard family liked it so much they decided to stay. 

This book would be best in the primary grades. The illustrations are helpful in understanding the story, especially if your students have never been to Boston or a public park. With that said, the age of the book shows in the illustrations. In my opinion they lack color, but I do appreciate the look of hand drawn art. 

This book could be used for a number of reasons...

1) A read aloud

2) During a unit study on animal habitats 

3) Prediction lesson- students must predict what will happen to the ducks as the teacher reads aloud 

Is that Mrs. Mallard and all her ducklings!?

Here are some potential activities!