Three Days on a River in a Red Canoe by Vera B. Williams
Reading Level: 3 Read Aloud Level: 2
Topic(s): adventure, family
TeacherView by Carmen Talavera
Grades taught: 5-6
Craig Williams Elementary School
Lakewood, California USA
The Review
Aunt Rosie, Mom, and their sons buy a canoe and decide to take a three day
trip on a river. While on their trip they encounter mosquitoes, a waterfall,
rain, moose, and a breeze that turns into a wild wind. The boys get to paddle
the boat, fish, and learn to light the camp fire. My favorite part is when
Aunt Rosie and Mom save the canoe from turning over when one of the boys gets
excited and jumps up in the canoe (he falls in). This is such a well written
and colorful story they you feel like you're on the river in the canoe.
The Activity
This activities can be used with grades 2-6.
- Use this story at the beginning of the school year. The students can write and illustrate their summer adventures. Bind them into books.
- Cooking: Make fruit stew and dumplings from the recipes in the book. Write and draw about the experience.
- Read and write about local rivers and their waterways. Look at maps of the area to find local waterways.
- Research and write about canoeing, boating, camping, and weekend trips.
- Bring a tent to school. Students put up the tent by following the directions in the story.
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