Globe Trotting With Duck!


Back to Project Page


Project Overview
 

With the onset of a new Social Studies curriculum, our 5th graders are
about to embark on a quacktastic adventure! They will start with the
classic tale of the famous Mallard ducks of Boston, Robert McCloskey’s award winning book, Make Way for Ducklings.


Social Studies
  • We will introduce the Five Themes of Geography through the duck’s eye view of their Boston adventure.
  • Students will explore Google Earth and Google maps to familiarize themselves with longitude and latitude, finding locations of the continents, oceans, regions of the United States and more. 
  • By using the Google Earth Time Line, students will see how Boston has changed since 1941.
  • Students will use Discovery Atlas to study demographics of a region such as populations, politics, natural resources, economic activities, climate, and physical features.
  • Students will plot the migration paths of mallard ducks in Google Earth.
  • Students will plot their own duck’s adventure on Google Maps/Earth.
  • Students will learn how to use a GPS and do a bit of geo-caching!

 
        
 

Language Arts
 Written in 1941, the book lends itself to some lively discussions, from gender roles to duck migration. Integrating all curricular into this project is a goal shared by classroom teachers and specialists.  Mrs. Siegel, our librarian, will introduce the lesson by reading Make Way for Ducklings to each class. It will be up to each student to take notes on where the ducks find themselves throughout the city. Also included will be some discussion about the author, illustrator, characters, plot and setting.

The Process:

    • Students will be required to collect pictures from regions of the United States by using Google Images or personal pictures.
    • Students must collect at least 2 pictures from each region.
    • Each picture must represent a different theme of Geography.
    • All 5 themes must be represented in the final project.
    • Each picture must have a caption explaining the theme and location.
    • Personal photos to include a rubber duck may be collected throughout the project. This is optional.

  • Student will make business cards for their ducks

     

Art
 Our very talented art instructor, Mrs. Johnson, will also join us for some duck fun. Students will create a 3-D duck and design it with a collage combined with print and artwork depicting a particular region of the United States.

P.E. - Optional
 How could we look at the streets of Boston without mentioning the Boston Marathon? To support our wellness initiative, we are putting in the works a fun competition between students to see who can finish the Boston Marathon. From October through the end of our Spring Break, students will try to run twenty-six miles! This can be done during their recess or PE time. If they chose to do this, each student will be given a log sheet to track their progress. Each lap or time spent exercising will need to be logged in and initialed by an adult.  Let’s see which class can go the distance!  Lucky Ducks will be rewarded!
School Guidance
 Don’t count out Miss Anaid or Mrs. Chmelko! They will discuss character traits and team building and how this winning combination will help students through this project. It’s all about teamwork and we’d like a joint effort to make this authentic, meaningful and above all a fun learning experience!

Resources


 Resources for Language Arts:
 Lost Duck Letter (if teacher provides the duck)

Language Arts Photo Journal Project
 

If you chose to get a duck, then here is a letter about the project - this letter is to show or give anyone who happens to be asked to pose with the duck. It explains the purpose of the project and why they are being asked to pose with duck.

Making Business Cards

P.E. Resources:
 Optional Explanation Letter to Parents about 'Operation Marathon' Marathon
Activity Log
Conversion Chart

Science:
Effects of Oil on Ducks

Resources for Social Studies
5 Themes of Geography PowerPoint
Using Google Earth Maps
Using a GPS with your students

Geo-caching- This is a sample of the clue cards with coordinates that the students used. Also included

Directions to use the eTrex Garmin (Prince William County Issued)

 PowerPoint on Geo-caching

   VSTE Conference PowerPoint

On the Web:
Migration Paths (flyways) of Ducks in the U.S.
 Google Earth User Guide

Yes, you do need to play Google Earth with this before you tackle it with your

Students. Here is a link to an easy tutorial:

Creating a Simple Tour

Practice with the students before you begin.

FREE!

Big Huge Labs
Photo Story 3 - You can edit your pictures in here as well as Pixie 2

Pixie will give you a free 30 day trial!

 

 

 

 
TOP