Five Little Ducks
Raffi Songs to Read (Library) Series
on Goodreads (2)
What’s inside...
When her five little ducks disappear one by one, Mother Duck sets out to find them. Lift-the-flaps and pull-the-tabs enhance a boldly illustrated baby book about five little ducks that play an exciting game of hide-and-seek with their watchful mother.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
0-7
Length
26 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Mother Duck
Five Little Ducks
Discussion points
Why do you think the little ducks didn't come back when their mother called them the first few times?
How do you think the mother duck felt when her ducks were missing?
What do you think the ducks saw and did while they were away from their mother?
How did the story change when the ducks came back at the end?
What would you have done if you were one of the little ducks?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think about the emotions of the characters by asking how they would feel in similar situations.
Use the repetitive structure of the story to engage your child by asking them to predict what might happen next or count the ducks as the story progresses.
Discuss the importance of staying safe and listening to parental guidance, relating it to the ducks’ adventure in the story.
Post-reading, engage in a role-play where your child can pretend to be the mother duck or one of the little ducks, exploring different outcomes.
Connect the story to real-life situations by discussing times when they may have felt lost or found, and what helped them in those situations.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Counting and Numeracy Skills
Explanation: Through the repetitive and descending structure of the story, children learn to count backwards from five as each duck goes out and doesn't come back.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children apply basic subtraction in real-life scenarios, like sharing snacks or counting down days to an event.
Example Lesson: Importance of Responsibility
Explanation: The mother duck’s persistent search for her missing ducks teaches children the value of looking after those in their care.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this to looking after their belongings or taking care of a pet, understanding the importance of responsibility.
Example Lesson: Obedience and Safety
Explanation: The story subtly highlights the consequences of the little ducks not staying close to their mother, emphasizing the importance of listening to and obeying caregivers.
Real-World Application: This can be reflected in children staying close to parents in public spaces or following instructions for their safety.
Example Lesson: Emotional Expression
Explanation: The mother duck’s sadness when her ducks go missing and joy upon their return helps children understand and empathize with emotional expressions.
Real-World Application: Children learn to recognize and express their feelings in situations like reuniting with a friend or family member after a separation.