Book 2/Week 3
The Ugly
Duckling
In Class: Elements of Fantasy. Author study of Hans Christian Andersen (HCA).
Introduce: Alliteration & Onomatopoeia
Authors use figurative language to paint a picture with their words. Alliteration and
onomatopoeia are part of Jerry Pinkneyʼs style of storytelling! Review the definitions of
alliteration and onomatopoeia from the above link. Review title, author, and illustrator. Although
Hans Christian Andersen wrote the original story, Jerry Pinkney retold and illustrated it.
by Jerry
Pinkney
As you read the book aloud, point out alliteration and onomatopoeia. Give brief explanations.
Youʼll be amazed how quickly your children will pick out examples. Throughout the week, review
both alliteration and onomatopoeia. Have children find examples in the book and write them on
index cards. Next, ask them to make up their own examples. For fun, string alliterations together
to make tongue twisters. Make a pocket for the index cards. Label it “Go Figure!”
Literature &
Writing
This week, make Literature Lapbook components for: (1) Elements of Fantasy (2) Pocket
labeled “Go Figure” with alliteration and onomatopoeia cards inside.
Resources:
• Elements of Story and
Genre Addendum
• Lapbook templates
• Quotation notebooking
pages for copywork
• Hans Christian Andersen
museum in Odense,
Denmark. Excellent site
for biographical info,
travel log, photos, and
artwork.
• HCA fairy tales and
biographical information
K4-K Letter Recognition:
Letter Dd (for duck, David)
Letter Kk (for king)
Geography &
Social Studies
Resources:
• Timeline Ideas
• Maps
Write: Copywork – “If you want your children to be bright, read them fairy tales. If you want
them to be brilliant, read them even more fairy tales.” – Albert Enstein
Have your students copy some of the Hans Christian Andersen (HCA) quotes found here. Or,
write the beginning and ending sentences from their favorite HCA fairy tale.
Connect: Review the key elements of fantasy (fairy tale). This week, enjoy reading Hans
Christian Andersen fairy tales. Remember to have your students keep a reading log! Afterwards,
fill out this fairy tale book report form, or this one for younger students. You could also have your
student pick a fairy tale project from here. Make a Fairy Tale Castle out of all the reports!
Practice active reading! When there is specific action (or noise) described in the story, invite
your children to act it out right then and there! Use the book for student reading practice.
Vocabulary: secluded, monstrous, taunted, nonsense, bewilderment, companion, boughs
Have students look up words, write out definitions, and copy the sentence where the word is
found. Have younger students copy sentences from the book and act out the definitions!
Extend: We could call The Ugly Duckling an “autobiographical fairy tale,” because Hans
Christian Andersen shared a lot of his own experiences in the story. Learn more about H.C.
Andersenʼs life or read The Perfect Wizard by Jane Yolen. Then, have your children write or tell
a fairy tale that includes events and feelings from their lives. Add to Autobiography Lapbook.
In Class: European continent. Denmark. HCAʼs travels.
Connect: Create a timeline of Hans Christian Andersenʼs life. Or create a timeline of the
fairytales you read based on their publication dates. Have fun decorating with artwork.
The “setting” is where a story takes place. Ask, “Where does the story of the Ugly Duckling take
place?” On a sheet of paper, have your students draw and label the settings (places) creating an
Ugly Duckling map. Repeat for other fairy tales you read together. This is a great way to put
story events in order. Fold or roll papers up like maps. Place in your big Explorations notebook.
HCA was from Denmark. Locate Europe on the map/globe. Locate Denmark. Make a traditional
Danish treat and enjoy together while you read fairy tales this week!
Explorations Unit 1 © 2012 Circle Christian School
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Biblical
Worldview
Resources:
• Jesus Storybook Bible
(JSB)
• Psalm 139
• 1 Samuel 16:7
• Copywork pages
Family Sermon:
Watch this excellent sermon
“Help the Children Love the
Different People”
by John Piper
(45 minutes)
Introduce -- Ugly Ducklings in the Bible
Ask: “Does the story of the Ugly Duckling remind you of any unlikely heroes from the Bible?”
Discuss examples with your children. Examples of other Ugly Ducklings – Leah, Moses, Paul.
You may want to read their stories in the Jesus Storybook Bible (JSB) or the Bible throughout
the week.
Read “The Teeny, Weenie True King,” p116 in JSB. While you read, have younger students
draw pictures from the story. Ask: “What did you discover about Jesus from this story?”
Parents: Remember to teach your children that the Bible is Godʼs special way of revealing
Himself. Bible stories are primarily about God, who He is, and what He has done. Read this blog
post by Sally Lloyd-Jones for more explanation.
Play several rounds of “Duck, Duck, SWAN!” to demonstrate Samuel trying to figure out who
God had chosen.
Write: Use Psalm 139:7-12 for writing, cursive, or typing practice this week. Repetition is good
for handwriting skills as well as memorization!
Connect: Remember Psalm 139 was written by a former Ugly Duckling – King David! Read
Psalm 139:7-12 as a family. Take turns reading out loud and discussing. Focus on memorizing
verses 7-12 this week. For a fun twist, play Beach Ball Bible Memory. Toss a beach ball around,
whoever catches it has to say the next word in the verse that you are currently memorizing.
Ask: “What does this Psalm teach us about who God is? What does it say about Godʼs special
design of YOU?” Discuss. Have students write down what they learn or think in their journal.
Extend: Bullying is making someone feel bad or hurting her on purpose. Teasing is pointing out
someoneʼs differences in order to hurt him. Read 1 Samuel 16:7. Ask: “How did we see this truth
in the story of David? How did we see it in the Ugly Duckling?”
Ask: “Who stands up for Ugly Duckling in the story? Who is unkind? How do these actions affect
the Ugly Duckling?” Discuss as a family. Decide how your family will handle unkind words or
hurtful actions. Role play how to handle bullying when it happens to your child OR when he sees
it happening to others. Be honest with yourself. Is your child the one hurting others? (If you need
help, contact Tara Concelman, Circleʼs Behavior Coach at [email protected]).
Science
Resources:
• Web sites on swans,
ducks, or waterbirds:
• Early elementary #1,
• Early elementary #2.
• Young readers
• Advanced students
• Watch eggs hatch live!
• Field Trip Report ideas &
links
In Class: Water bird study. Egg-to-Duck cycle. Egg Candling.
Connect: Ask your student to “teach” you what she learned in class. Learn more about ducks
and swans (or other waterbirds). See website links. Consider making the Duck Lapbook (or
parts of it) available here. This could be a multi-week study. Weʼll read about ducks in two other
books this semester.
Ducks and swans are called by different names depending on age and gender (so are lots of
other animals weʼll talk about this year). For K4-K, use this coloring sheet to teach names. Play
a variation of “Duck, Duck, Goose.” Play “Cob, Pen, CYGNET.”
Ask: “Why do ducks float?” Discuss the childrenʼs answers. Then say, “Letʼs find out together!”
Here are various buoyancy lessons & experiments (1), (2), (3), (save some of the activities for
Explorations Unit 2. Weʼll be learning about ducks and boats then too!). Now, go for a swim!
Pretend to be ducks – dive, dabble, nest, and quack!
Extend: Field Trip #1: Lake Eola in downtown Orlando features swans, ducks, and other
Florida water birds. Research the right food for each bird and bring it to feed them. Field Trip
#2: Visit a local farm, such as ReFarmers Ranch in Apopka, or Lake Meadows Farm in Ocoee.
Plan a group field trip with other Explorations families. Remember to document your field trips!
Explorations Unit 1 © 2012 Circle Christian School
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Art
Art
In Class: Hans Christian Andersenʼs art.
Extend: Hans Christian Andersen was also an artist. He loved sketching scenes for his travel
books, making intricate “paper cuts,” and creating collages for childrenʼs picture books. One
Connect: Hans Christian Andersen was also an artist. He loved sketching scenes for his travel
winter, he was very sick and spent his time making a huge collage on eight wooden panels.
books, making intricate “papercuts,” and creating collages for childrenʼs picture books. One
winter, he was very sick and spent his time making a huge collage on eight wooden panels.
After viewing Andersenʼs art, have your child pick one form to copy! After all, the author
considered imitation the highest form of flattery! Bring your creations into class to share!
After viewing Andersenʼs art, have your child pick one form to copy! After all, the author
considered imitation the highest form of flattery! Bring your creations into class to share!
For early elementary students, here are two easier projects -- a paper plate swan or a
customizable scissor practice worksheet.
For preschoolers or early elementary students, here are two easier projects – a paper plate
swan or a customizable scissor practice worksheet. Also, allowing children to color while you
read is a great way to keep little hands busy, while still keeping ears open to listen. Click here
for Ugly Duckling coloring sheets. Great for younger siblings too!
Additional
Learning Ideas
Drama: Dress up and act out the fairy tales you read together. Have older students videotape
and make them into mini-movies! This is a great way to get boys involved in drama, as well as
review the stories.
Math: This week turn math facts into an Egg Game. Take a plastic Easter egg, write an equation
on one half (i.e. 3x3=) and the answer on the other half (9). Put all the eggs in a basket and
have your child match them!
Music: Swan Lake by Peter Tchaikovsky. Play this beautiful music throughout the week (watch
the ballet here). Check out “The Story of Swan Lake” by Maestro Classics & accompanying
curriculum. Learn more about Tchaikovsky.
On Your Own (OYO)
Read: Chapters 6-10 in The Trumpet of the Swan, by E.B. White.
5th-6th grade
Literature
& Writing
In Chapter 6, the young cygnets learn to fly. When reading this chapter, note how Louis
questions his ability to learn new things and how that seed of fear grows. This is a universal
struggle for children, but it is especially hard for those who have disabilities. Discuss.
Connect : Why do the Red Rock Lakes never freeze (pg.54)? Explore the Red Rock Lakes
area to determine if any of the lakes are fed by hot springs.
Hot Springs and How They
Work
Anatomy of a Hot Spring
USA Map of Hot Springs
Red Rock Lakes Area Map
Vocabulary:
frolics, exhibition, utmost,
presently, captivity, serenity,
aroused, anxiously
Louis heads out on an adventure in Chapter 7. Where exactly is he? Research his location.
Page 63 gives a few clues to get started. Using RRL Area Map, find the Yellowstone River (on
the physical map) and find the “Sweet Grass” country near this river (the photo tab gives some
clues). Finally, find the names of a few towns in this area. Draw a map of Montana and include
what you have discovered.
Write: Chapter 9 tells the story of the cobʼs quest to help Louis. After reading the first two
paragraphs of this chapter, STOP. We know that his quest succeeds, but how? Write an original
version of the cobʼs quest before you finish reading this chapter. Add Billings to your map of
Montana.
Extend: Throughout these chapters, there is a recurring theme of taking matters into our own
hands. Godʼs Word reveals that this path begins with doubt, involves pain, and always results in
regret. This, however, is not the end. God redeems us for His glory too!
Discuss:
(1) Did God forget to give Louis a voice? Read Psalm 139:15-16.
(2) "I did it to help my son. I did it for the love of my son Louis" pg 95.
(3) Can you think of someone in the Bible who takes matters into their own hands and is
redeemed for Godʼs glory?
Explorations Unit 1 © 2012 Circle Christian School
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