Dawdle Duckling
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Dawdle Duckling Curriculum Connections  Duck Curriculum Connections

[Instructions: Read the book aloud to children first, so that they can enjoy the illustrations and become familiar with the story.  Then, hand out a set of photocopied scripts to eight children.  Ask the remaining children to be the audience.  Have performers face the audience and simply read their parts on the first run-through.  Once all readers are comfortable with their parts, have a second reading with the opportunity to act out the story while reading.  Add costumes and props if desired.]

Narrator 1	Duckling 1
Narrator 2	Duckling 2
Narrator 3	Duckling 3
Mama	Dawdle Duckling

NARRATOR 1: Across the bay on the blue waves rolling

MAMA: One Mama Duck paddles and quacks.

DUCKLING 1: One

DUCKLING 2: Two

DUCKLING 3: Three

NARRATOR 1: Ducklings swim behind.

DAWDLE: But the fourth little duckling

NARRATOR 2: Dawdles and dreams.

MAMA: Quack!  Catch up!

NARRATOR 3: Dawdle Duckling winds his zigzag trail.

DAWDLE: NO!  Quack!  Quack!  I won’t catch up.

NARRATOR 1: Up the cove toward the big rock rising

MAMA: One Mama Duck paddles and quacks.

DUCKLING 1: One

DUCKLING 2: Two

DUCKLING 3: Three

NARRATOR 1: Ducklings swim behind.

DAWDLE: But the fourth little duckling

NARRATOR 2: Dawdles and dreams,
                             preens and plays.

MAMA: Quack!  Catch up!

NARRATOR 3: Dawdle Duckling nips his downy fluff.

DAWDLE: NO!  Quack!  Quack!  I won’t catch up.

NARRATOR 1: Along the shore to the green grass sprouting

MAMA: One Mama Duck paddles and quacks.

DUCKLING 1: One

DUCKLING 2: Two

DUCKLING 3: Three

NARRATOR 1: Ducklings swim behind

DAWDLE: But the fourth little duckling

NARRATOR 2:  Dawdles and dreams,
                              preens and plays,
                              splashes and spins.

MAMA: Quack!  Catch up!

NARRATOR 3: Dawdle Duckling splatters a foamy spray.

DAWDLE: NO!  Quack!  Quack!  I won’t catch up.

NARRATOR 1: Past the marsh with the cattails waving

MAMA: One Mama Duck paddles and quacks.

DUCKLING 1: One

DUCKLING 2: Two

DUCKLING 3: Three

NARRATOR 1: Ducklings swim behind

DAWDLE: But the fourth little duckling

NARRATOR 2: Dawdles and dreams.
                              preens and plays,
                              splashes and spins
                              dunks and dips.

MAMA: Quack!  Catch up!

NARRATOR 3: Dawdle Duckling nibbles a tasty fly.

DAWDLE: NO!  Quack!  Quack! I won’t catch up.

NARRATOR 1: Around the island in the shallow water waiting

MAMA: Quaaaaack! Look out!
                  One Mama Duck flaps and flutters.

DUCKLING 1: One

DUCKLING 2: Two

DUCKLING 3: Three

NARRATOR 1:  Ducklings hop up behind

DAWDLE: But the fourth little duckling

NARRATOR 2: Dawdles and dreams,
                            preens and plays,
                            splashes and spins,
                            dunks and dips,
                            looks --

DAWDLE: Quack!  Quack!  Quack!