During the Second Reading, you will:
~ read the text.
~ ask clarifying questions.
~ focus on vocabulary building.
The text contains great vocabulary building opportunities. As you read the text, there will be words that are explained by the illustration and the text working together. There will be words that you will need to explain by a short, easy definition that is provided. If you have any memories and connections that you can make to these words, don’t miss the opportunity to share them.
*Read the series of pages before your discussion begins.
Pages 1 – 6:
~ The ducks have names. What are they?
~ Do you know why they might be called Mr. and Mrs. Mallard?
~Why does Mrs. Mallard want to stay away from foxes and turtles?
~ On page 3, there are sound words to help us with visualizing. What are they? (quacking, flapped)
~On page 3, public: open to all people. What is a public garden?
~ What might the Mallards want to find in the pond for their breakfast?
Pages 7 – 12:
~ Find the “strange, enormous bird”. Why doesn’t the bird talk to the Mallards? (It isn’t a real bird. It is a bird made out of wood.)
~On page 7, polite: courteous, using manners. Is the “strange, enormous bird”being polite?
~ Mrs. Mallard thinks that she wants to live in the Public Garden. She gives three reasons. What are they? (no foxes, no turtles, people giving the ducks peanuts)
~Why does she change her mind?
~ On page 11, what does it mean when Mrs. Mallard, squawked “all of a dither?”(She is very upset.)
Pages 13 – 18:
~ On page 18, what reasons does Mrs. Mallard give for choosing the Public Garden as the right place to hatch ducklings?
Pages 19 – 20:
~ On page 19, molt: shedding feathers. Point out all the information in the text that tells us what molt means.
Pages 21 – 22:
~ Why do the Mallards come to see Michael every day?
Pages 23 – 24:
~ What do you think Mrs. Mallard has for lunch? (Food that she can find in the pond.)
Pages 25 – 34:
~ What do you notice about the ducklings’names?
~ On page 26, great responsibility: jobs that people count on you to do or complete.
~The illustrations on these pages show some of the responsibilities of the father and mother. What are they?
~Do you have any responsibilities? Do you have any that are great responsibilities?
~ On page 34, check on the understanding of “Before you could wink an eyelash…”What does that mean? (very fast)
Page 35 – 38:
~ There are many sounds on these pages. What would the different sounds be that you would hear if you were walking through the city with the ducklings?
~ On page 38, what are “their little quackers?”(their little beaks, voices)
Pages 39 – 46:
~On page 41, planted: to stand firm and not move. It has a special meaning here. Are there any clues to help us understand its meaning?
~beckoned: to motion someone to move. What clues are in the text and the illustration to help explain beckoned? (beckoned with his hand)
Pages 47 – END: Enjoy reading to the end.
Do you think that the illustrations and the text go together well?
Do you think it’s a good idea for the Mallard family to live on the island?