Classroom Activities for Little Beaver & the Echo
1. Discussion: Have you ever heard the expression, “To make a friend, BE a friend”? What does it have to do with the story you just heard? What did Little Beaver discover about making friends?
2. Reading/Listening: When you read the book, have the children be the “Echo” and let them repeat to you the Echo’s words. (Omit the “he said” or “he cried” phrases to make it easier for them.)
3. Music: “Clap your hands in a simple pattern and have your class repeat the pattern exactly after you. As they get used to it, clap more complicated patterns and go faster. My second grade class loved the challenge of this game, it is a good activity to promote listening skills, as well as sense of rhythm.” (Iram Kahan, Grades K,1, Dease Lake School, British Columbia, Canada)
4. Art: “Create handmade puppets for each of the animals in the story.. then read the story aloud and use the puppets to act out the story. After acting the story, as it is read aloud, try acting the story again from memory. You may wish to have one person play the part of the narrator.” [from A Celebration of Maine Children’s Books, by Lynn Plourde and Paul Knowles, University of Maine Press, 1999]
5. Game: “The Telephone Game. Have students sit in a circle. Whisper a phrase into your neighbor’s ear. Have each student repeat the phrase all the way around the circle. When the last person hears the phrase, have him or her tell the rest of the class what they heard. How close was this to the original phrase?” (Iram Kahan, Grades K,1, Dease Lake School, British Columbia, Canada).
6. Science: “Visit a pond, and use paper and pencils, crayons, paints, etc. to record observations about the pond’s animals, plants, and water using both words and pictures.” [from A Celebration of Maine Children’s Books, by Lynn Plourde and Paul Knowles, University of Maine Press, 1999]
7. Science: “Research each of the animals in the story. Then draw a simple chart with facts about each animal. For example, for a beaver the chart might show in words and/or pictures:
a. A beaver cuts down trees with its teeth.
b. A beaver lives in a lodge.
c. A beaver slaps its flat tail on the water to warn of danger.
“Then play a guessing game about the chart with a friend. For example, one of you might say, “I’m thinking about an animal that lives in a shell. Which one is it?” Use the chart to help you find the answer (turtle). Continue with more turns. “I’m thinking of the animal that has a beak (duck).” [from A Celebration of Maine Children’s Books, by Lynn Plourde and Paul Knowles, University of Maine Press, 1999]
8. Science: “Discuss the concept of ‘echo.’ If possible, demonstrate a real echo in an empty room or outside. Then play an echo game. One person should stand on one side of the room and say a sentence. Then another person on the other side of the room plays the echo and says the sentence back exactly as it was said. Be sure to listen carefully and remember what was said (an echo does not change or add words).” [from A Celebration of Maine Children’s Books, by Lynn Plourde and Paul Knowles, University of Maine Press, 1999]