Belmont Hills Media Center Blog

In honor of the EXCITING political events taking place this November, our November Book of the Month is Duck for President. While we are reading the book, we will discuss democracy and the election process. When we complete the book, we will use the CPS devices to answer some questions about the story. We hope you will sign your class up to hear Duck for President. Plan to sign up for a 45-minute block of time so your students will have plenty of time to hear the story, complete the activity, and check out books.

About the book:
“Our fellow Americans: It is our pleasure, our honor, our duty as citizens to present to you Duck for President. Here is a duck who began in a humble pond. Who worked his way to farmer. To governor. And now, perhaps, to the highest office in the land.

“Some say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he is a duck.

“We say, if he walks like a duck and talks like a duck, he will be the next president of the United States of America.”

Related extension activities: (from www.scholastic.com)
To extend students’ understanding of the story, try these activities in your classroom. Or talk to Mrs. Launey about collaborating on one of these fun activities!

• I Need Your Vote: Pretend you are Duck running for head of the farm. Give a short speech telling the other animals why they should vote for you.
• Sketch It Out: With your students help, list on the board ten major events in the story. Then create a large storyboard with ten frames. Have volunteers draw each of the events in the correct frame and add a speech bubble to show what the main character is saying. Retell the story using the finished storyboard.
• Read Other Books: Read aloud to the class an appropriate grade-level biography of a former president. Talk about the accomplishments and disappointments that president had on the job.
• Make it Real: Ask students to find pictures in newspapers and magazines showing candidates electioneering. Which of these strategies are similar to those in Duck for President?
• Go to the Polls: Create a poster encouraging people to get out and vote in the next presidential election. Talk about the elements that make a good poster. Display the posters in the classroom or corridor.
• Do the Research: To run for president of the United States, a person must meet certain requirements to hold office (be a natural citizen of the U.S.; be 35 years old; be a resident of the country). Read aloud a book that explains these and talk it over.
• Vote for Me!: Hold an election for class president and vice president. First discuss the duties and responsibilities of the job, and its duration. Accept nominations, do some electioneering, and hold the election itself. Later, have the elected officials write about the pros and cons of the job. Invite classmates to write about their view of the officials performances.