Little Loon and Papa
Home  Loon Books  Little Loon and Papa Reader's Theater
Little Loon and Papa Curriculum Connections  Loon Curriculum Connections

 

Little Loon and Papa Curriculum Connections

National Science Education Standards
Content Standards K-4

Little Loon and Papa has curriculum connections in both Science and Language Arts content areas. It may be used to address two of the six Science Content Standards K-4 as published by the National Research Council in National Science Education Standards.

  CONTENT STANDARD C—Life Sciences

  CONTENT STANDARD F—Science in Personal and Social Perspectives

Little Loon and Papa also offers many curriculum connections in the Language Arts.  It may be used to address six of the 12 standards as published in Standards for the English Language Arts by the NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) and the IRA (International Reading Association):

Standard 3 (strategies for comprehension, interpretation, evaluation, and appreciation of texts)

Standard 4 (adjusting communication for differing audiences and purposes)

Standard 5 (strategies for writing and using writing process elements)

Standard 6 (applied knowledge of language, media, and genre)

Standard 7 (research process)

Standard 8 (use of technology in research and communication)

Many of these Science and Language Arts content standards can be addressed when working with Little Loon and Papa.  In addition, many of the activities, particularly Field Guide to Little Loon’s North Woods Home, address Information Literacy standards.

For a full chapter of standards based curriculum activities for Little Loon and Papa, see the book Toni Buzzeo and YOU.

When it came to spelling Papa’s long wail, I found the answer -- “AHA-OOO-OOOO’OOOO-OOO-AHHH!”-- in a book you may like to read yourself as a teacher. Loon Magic by Tom Klein (Northword Press, 1996).  The text of this lovely in-depth book is written for adults but the beautiful photographs should be shared with children, too.  Students, on the other hand, will find the clear text of Klein’s children’s title, Loon Magic for Kids (Northword Press, 1991) much easier to understand.

FIND OUT MORE

About the Author: Students may wonder what life experiences led Toni Buzzeo to write a loon story.  Read more about her son Topher and her cabin on Rangeley Lake in the article she wrote for MEMOrandom (pp. 9-10).

About Teaching about Loons: Explore the topic of loon teaching from the links on the author's webpage. 

SAMPLE CURRICULUM ACTIVITIES (A complete standards-based curriculum guide for Little Loon and Papa is available in the book Toni Buzzeo and YOU)

Loon Talk: Just as humans have many different ways of expressing ourselves, the Common Loon has four distinct calls: the hoot, the yodel, the tremolo, and the wail.  The hoot is used between members of a family group or flock when they are maintaining close contact.  In Little Loon and Papa, Papa Loon hoots at Little Loon.  The yodel is a call used only by males who are setting borders or when they are involved in confrontations.  The tremolo is used by either a male or female loon who is frightened or has been disturbed or when one loon is being chased away by another.  In addition, this is the only call they ever use in flight.  Finally, the wail is used when loons are trying to maintain contact at a distance or trying to locate a mate or chick.  In Little Loon and Papa, Papa Loon wails when Little Loon is lost.  Loon chicks have only one call, which is a peent.  Little Loon peents throughout the book.  Invite students to listen to the four loon calls at the Loon Preservation Committee website.  Ask them to imagine what the loon might say in words each time it uses one of its calls.

Field Guide to Little Loon’s North Woods Home: Little Loon encounters three north woods mammals along the shore when he is separated from his papa.   Discuss the particular ecosystem where Little Loon lives.  What other mammals might he have encountered?  Support students as they research the mammals that live in Little Loon’s north woods habitat.  I grew up in Michigan and then moved to Maine, so I am especially familiar with this ecosystem but depending on the location of your school, your students may not be.  In the library, use reference books (Wildlife and Plants of the World, published by Marshall Cavendish, 1999, is an excellent reference set for use by primary students), field guides, and online resources to conduct research. 

Encourage them to create a field guide to the area where Little Loon lives.  Each entry will include a student drawing of the animals found in the north woods with notation of a few physical characteristics, one or two behaviors, and its habitat.

Adopt a Loon: