Ducks Crossing Level 23-24

In Ducks Crossing, readers follow a determined duck family as they attempt to cross a newly constructed highway. Through vivid language, expressive verbs such as "shouted", "yelled", and "cried", and descriptive scenes of the bustling city, the book brings to life the tension and humour of the ducks' journey. With help from empathetic townspeople and some reluctant officials, the ducks eventually succeed in their quest. The book presents an engaging environmental message and encourages empathy and community spirit. Repetition in the crowd's dialogue and a cast of colourful characters, including the mayor and police chief, add richness and rhythm to the narrative. This text fosters critical thinking about civic responsibility and cause-and-effect, while offering opportunities for expressive reading and discussion.

Educational Benefits:

• Develops inference and prediction skills using prior knowledge and text clues.
• Supports exploration of cause and effect and the author's purpose.
• Encourages analysis of character motivation and ethical decision-making.
• Enhances vocabulary through varied verbs and environmental terminology.

Classroom Ideas:

• Act out scenes using expressive dialogue and roleplay the crowd's reactions.
• Create a city map showing the ducks' route and obstacles they faced.
• Write a persuasive letter to the mayor from the ducks' point of view.
• Discuss how communities can solve real-life environmental issues.

Information:

• Reading Level: 23-24 (Silver)
• Suitable for ages: 8-10 years
• Book dimensions: 210mm x 148mm
• Text features: dialogue repetition, complex verbs, descriptive language