Here are some fun duck activities for preschoolers.
It includes: book lists, music ideas, arts and crafts, games, colouring & cut and paste printables, videos to learn about ducks, duck jokes and more.
Our Preschool Duck Theme
Ducks became the theme of our preschool homeschool this winter.
We feed the birds every winter. This year, the seeds that fell to the ground from the bird feeders attracted the attention of 2 ducks. Those ducks spent all afternoon in front of our window just sitting on the snow below the feeders.
The next day we had 5 ducks. Those ducks told other ducks who told other ducks and we now have nearly 30 ducks who visit our house frequently throughout the day.
We read that ducks like cracked corn, so we bought a bag, and several times a day we sprinkle some outside my front door.
We are learning so much about ducks, having so many opportunities to observe them. My daughter will sit in front of the door and just watch them.
To supplement her learning about ducks, and incorporate other subjects into it, I decided to put together a duck unit study. I’ve included all the links below for you and your little ones as well.
5 Little Ducks Song
5 little ducks song on youtube (music)
If you have an ipad or iphone, the song on a free app can be found on Numbers by tinytapps – Redbytes Software Pvt Ltd. Once downloaded, it’s in the free folder labeled 5-1 Rhyme. My daughter watched that song numerous times over and over and OVER again until she had it memorized. She loves singing with it. (music)
Learn “5 little ducks” song in American Sign Language (foreign language)
Art
Learn to draw a duck
Even if they are young, they can still learn how to draw a duck by watching the youtube video and with your direction. It’s not about creating a masterpiece, it’s about them learning.
This is my 3 yr old’s drawing. My involvement included reshowing my daughter on a separate piece of paper how to draw an oval, I tried to teach her how to draw lightly, and I did all the erasing.
The drawing is entirely hers tho. It only took less than 10 minutes of my time, and was a fun little art project.
- how to make a paper duck with origami
- a paper plate duck
- duck finger puppets
- duck handprint craft
Science
A short video of ducklings hatching from egg to duckling
If you live in the US, you can watch this full PBS episode on ducks. Unfortunately, if you don’t live in the US, the video probably won’t play.
They do let you watch a few short scenes of this video. Here’s one scene of a wood duckling jumping from a tree, a short clip about ducks feet in cold water, and a quick clip on duck feathers.
If you live in Canada like I do, the only option I could find to watch it was to buy the DUCKumentary dvd or blu-ray. Also someone mentioned it was on Netflix, for those that have that.
Very cool info page on ducks. Lots of things to teach a little one.
Preschool Duck Worksheets
I created mallard duck worksheets for preschoolers. Click here to download the 4 page, fun, educational .pdf that I created for preschoolers. Don’t worry it’s free.
Play
Jokes (public speaking)
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side.
Why did the duck cross the road? Because he was tied to the chicken.
Game
“Duck Duck Goose” (if several children available to play)
Duck Books
There are so many fun duck books to include in a preschool duck unit study. Here are a few good choices:
Duck & Goose Books
My favourite are any of the Duck and Goose books like:
Truck Full of Ducks
by Ross Burach
The Story About Ping
by Marjorie Flack
I’m a Duck
by Eve Bunting
Make Way For Ducklings
by Robert McCloskey
Check out these Make Way for Ducklings activities and lesson ideas to go along with the book.
Mary
Monday 11th of May 2015
Love the selection of books. Thanks for sharing this unit study.
Ciara ourlittlehouseinthecountry
Monday 7th of April 2014
Really great ideas, think we'll have to try some of them out. Lovely selection of books. Thanks for sharing.
Jill
Monday 24th of March 2014
This is a fantastic unit study!
Thank you for stopping by the Thoughtful Spot Weekly Blog Hop this week. We hope to see you drop by our neck of the woods next week!
Melanie Thomas
Monday 24th of March 2014
Thanks so much Jill. And yes I was there this morning. :)