Discussion Questions

 

Before Reading

 

Have a discussion about crossing the street safely.

What should you do before crossing the street?

Discussion points might include looking both ways, holding an adult’s hand, always crossing at an intersection, waiting for the “walk” light or the crossing guard to signal it is safe to cross, etc. 

What do you find in a park? 

In a city? 

Ask whether a city would be expected to be a good place for ducks to live.

 

During Reading

 

Vocabulary words

Raise

Island

Enormous

Nest

Delighted

Horrid

Hatch

Molt

Called

pride

 

Started at the public garden

Laid eggs at the Charles River

Flew over Beacon Hill

Louisburg Square

Flew over the Charles River

Down mount Vernon Street

Turned into Charles Street

Beacon hill

Into the public garden

 

After Reading

 

• Why did the ducks want to cross the street? Have you ever needed to cross a busy street? What did you do?

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• What do you think the ducks will do in the park?

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• What do you like to do when you go to the park?

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• What means of transportation do the ducks use? What means of transportation do you see people using?

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• How do you know the story took place many years ago?

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• Name the physical features Mr. and Mrs. Mallard saw as they looked for a place to raise their ducklings.

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• Name the occupations you see pictured in the story.

 

Discuss the man-made and natural elements of the setting. Which characteristics of a park make it like a city? Which characteristics make it like a natural area.

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