Introduction
Finding the right place to live is not always as easy as it sounds. Some
people want different things in a home. For example, some people like a
lot of trees and grass around their homes, while others enjoy the sights
and sounds of the city. Knowing where you want to live is very helpful,
but finding such a place can be quite difficult if you do not know very
much about the area.
Shared Book Literature Source
Make Way for Ducklings, Robert McCloskey.
The endearing classic of the Mallard family who, tired of looking for
a new home, find he perfect spot in the city.
Other Materials Needed
- Landscape Picture Map
- Map Markers
- Post-it Notes
Suggested Lesson
In a shared book experience, invite the children to read Make Way for
Ducklings by Robert McCloskey to see how Mr. and Mrs. Mallard go about
making a home for their family. Ask the children to think about which
places Mr. and Mrs. Mallard traveled to in their efforts to find a home.
Accept, help students to clarify, and list all responses on the
blackboard or easel tablet.
Use the Landscape Picture Map. Ask the children to refer to the
Landscape Picture Map and put an "X" on all of the places listed from
Mr. And Mrs. Mallard's travels that appear on the Landscape Picture Map.
Ask the children to take turns pointing to one of their selections. Ask
each student to describe the location of each feature. Encourage the use
of spatial terms such as close to the school, near the airport.
In language experience style, ask the children to help you build a
list of things they would look for in finding a home where their family
might want to live. Write their responses next to the list for Mr. And
Mrs. Mallard. Encourage the children to discuss what they see and select
examples on their Landscape Picture Map. Suggest that the students
compare building size, color, shapes, labels (signs or symbols). Ask
them "Do you see different uses for different buildings?" "Are all homes
in smaller buildings?" "Why would some children want to live in the
central city area, others on the edge of the city, someone else on the
farm, and still others on the lake or mountain?"
Write the word "neighborhood" on post-it notes and give one to each
child to place on his/her Landscape Picture Map. Write the word
neighborhood on the board. Brainstorm on the definition. For example,
the discussion might begin with ..."it's a place where my home and
friends' homes are..."
After the children have developed and agreed upon their definition
for neighborhood, encourage them to use their map markers and circle on
the map the neighborhood where they would want to live. Let various
children share why they selected that location. |
