Rubber Duckies Heading for British Coast
(Repost from 07/03/2007)
I find this story to be interesting for several reasons. First, the mental picture I have of these toys washing overboard and floating around the world for the past 16 years makes me chuckle. Second, our children think this story is hysterical. Third, it’s cool that technology has made it possible to track these floatees as they’ve trekked the oceans of the world.
I know of examples of students tracking the migration patterns of whales, severe weather, earthquakes, sea turtles, sports teams, things in space, etc. but these rubber ducks bring an entirely new element of fun to such an activity.
For Discussion
What are some ways that you could extend this idea and integrate it into a lesson?
What technologies might be integrated into these kinds of activities?
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June 10th, 2009 at 2:55 PM
I think a neat project would be to have classes write a story of how the “duckies” felt during their trip. From falling overboard, to those that ended up in the tropics, possibly those that got lost at sea, etc. It could be a joint project where each student was assigned a section of the story to write.
Depending on what time of year (summer school vs regular school year) the students could blog about this, create podcasts, make PowerPoints, etc. Even as simple as word processing for the basic typing of the story.
This is a little off base, but does anyone know where the ducks are? Have they ended their voyage? I did not see a link to update since the newcast from last summer. Just curious!
July 14th, 2009 at 10:25 AM
This is such a fun story. I think it would be a fun activity to have the students write a story about the ducks’ travels. The student can include the weather of various parts of the country they ducks have been to. They students would integrate Internet research of weather patterns into their stories.
July 16th, 2009 at 11:24 AM
I can’t believe I have never heard of this story. I worked in the import/export business for many years and have heard stories, but never this one. How cute it is. I feel that this could be integrated into a math lesson that dealt with predictions. The students would take the original number that fell overboard and then predict such numbers at how many would float to different shore lines in the world and how many would not survive and drown? I could also see a science lessonn about the durability of rubber duckies and the actual materials that it is made of. I could see using computers to download information, pictures and videos. I could see the use of spreadsheets, tables and power point presentations. The students could even make their own mini movie as their final presentation.
July 16th, 2009 at 5:03 PM
This story is absolutely darling! It reminds me of an activity that my mom did with her school. She’s an elementary school librarian and is constantly finding new ways to encourage her students to read. During my senior year of high school I got to aid in and witness the most amazing project. Every student was given a postcard that they wrote their name, age, and favorite book on. These cards also had the school’s address on them. At noon, every child got a bright red [biodegradable] balloon. The whole school counted to three and set their balloons free. About two weeks later the postcards came flooding back to the school with the names of the people that found them, their age and favorite book.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:38 PM
What a great story. You could make an environmental lesson from it. What were the duckies made from and how long a life span does it have. How long will it stay in our environment even considering the effects of salt water. How could looking at this and looking at maritime disasters, like oil leaking, have world-wide affects.
September 3rd, 2009 at 9:44 PM
This is a really cute story (I will probably tell my three and four year olds soon). We could turn this into all kinds of lessons: science, math, geography (the list could go on)! I to would love to do this as a science lessons, discussing the where the ducks where located and what the weather and seasons where like when they were there. It would be neat if we could track the ducks throughout the school year and have an on going project.
September 4th, 2009 at 12:45 AM
This could easily be extended into a lesson about weather and global climate (as well as geography and oceanography). The students could use the internet to keep up with reports of the duckies’ whereabouts as well as any meteorological reports relating to them.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:03 PM
For classes dealing with world culture, the ducks’ routes could be used to guide culture lessons. Anyone remember Flat Stanley? Students could make ducks instead and decorate them with culturally-appropriate dress, flags, names of athletes or musicians, pictures of food, etc.