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The Runaway Duck

Language: English

Sebastian’s pull-toy duck, Egbert, has many adventures after Sebastian ties him to the bumper of his father’s car. In this funny and compelling story, Egbert’s travels are delightfully chronicled as he travels in air, on land, and at sea. LeVar takes his own trip to Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay where a naturalist shows him around, and he learns about waterfowl and their environment. Viewers will get a glimpse of the intricate art of duck carving, and hear how expert duck callers “call” a duck.

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Quacker Snackers

You will need:

  • bite-size crackers, cereals, nuts, dried fruit or other snacks
  • tissue paper, especially in bright colors
  • toilet paper tubes, one for each quacker snacker
  • tape
  • stickers or name tags (optional)
  • ribbon or yarn

Kitchen stuff:

  • wax paper
  • sandwich bags
  • bowl or basket

Directions:

  1. Wash hands. Spread out the various crackers, cereals, and other snacks on a sheet of wax paper. Mix the snacks together by hand.
  2. Scoop up about ½ cup of the mixed snacks to put in each of the plastic sandwich bags. Let the snacks settle across the bottom in the bag. Then, roll the bag into a tube shape.
  3. Slip each rolled tube into a cardboard tube.
  4. Wrap each tube with colorful tissue paper, with extra tissue at each end of the tube. Tape the tissue paper at the center.
  5. Gather the tissue at each end and tie with ribbon yarn.
  6. Decorate the tube with stickers or a nametag. This is the Quacker Snacker!
  7. Fill a basket or bowl with the fluffy tissue paper ends of the Quacker Snackers showing. It makes a great centerpiece for kids.
  

Just Ducky

For youngest family members:

  • fill the bathtub with water.
  • add a duck.
  • add child.
  • retell the story about the runaway duck.
  • have your child come up with his/her own ending.

For older children:
Have your children create their own board game of the runaway duck’s journey. Talk with your children about all the places to include on the game board.

Enjoy the bath time together! And remember to clean up the mess together!

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • Dabble Duck by Anne Leo Ellis
  • The Story About Ping by Marjorie Flack and Kurt Wiese
  • Jamaica’s Find by Jaunita Havill

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

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