Auntie Duck

Auntie Duck flies in to teach Duck and his mom about air pollution and the impact that has.

Aims of this story

In the story Auntie duck teaches young Duck and his Mom all about air pollution, how it affects us and what we can do to try and stop it.

Key Messages

  • That the quality of the air we breathe can affect us.
  • That air pollution affects the quality of the air we all breathe.
  • To be aware of how we can test the quality of the air around us.
  • That we should try to all minimise the amount of air pollution we create.
  • That we can all make simple changes in our day to day lives that can have a big impact on minimising the amount of air pollution we create.
  • To promote that children should always tell an adult, that they know they can trust, if they are worried or scared.

Discuss with your child how Cat played with a knife and how worried her dad was for her safety when she played with it. But why was he so worried? We are going to look at that now.

Print off the worksheet and give it to your child to do or, view it on screen (together with your child) and see if your child knows where to store these items safely.

Activity: Where should we store things safely

Ask your child:

"Why should knives and other sharp objects, such as screwdrivers, be stored safely?"

Possible answers could be:

  • Because they can be dangerous
  • So they cannot be played with, as they can be dangerous
  • So younger children do not think they are toys to be played with
  • Because knives are sharp and should be put away safely
  • To help keep everyone safe

Key Messages:

  • If knives and sharp objects are used carefully, for the job they are meant for, and by someone responsible, then it minimises how dangerous they can be.
  • Children should ONLY EVER use a knife or sharp object if they are supervised by a trusted adult and they should always be super careful.
  • Accidents can happen at any time. BUT, if we are sensible and careful, we can help to prevent bad things happening, and help keep ourselves and others safe.

Discuss with your child that in the story, Cat was pretending to be a pirate, and picked up a knife without thinking, putting herself and her Dad in danger. We want to learn from Cat’s mistakes and make sure that no other animals, or children makes this mistake again.

Now its time to let your child get creative!

Give your child a blank piece of paper, so they can create a poster, leaflet, advert, or web page design that would cover one of the following topics:

  • Advise against playing with a knife or sharp object - it is not cool; it is just DANGEROUS!
  • Advise on why playing with knives and sharp objects is dangerous - you can get cut and hurt very easily
  • Advise on what to do if they hear about or see someone playing with a knife - tell a trusted adult straight away, to help keep EVERYONE safe!
  • Reminding people that they should only ever use a knife or sharp object for the job it is meant for, and that a child should be always supervised by an adult.

Discuss these ideas with your child, or help them create their own ideas.

To reinforce the message of the safety of knives, click the button below to access the ‘Knife Facts’ sheet for your child to do.

Activity: Knife and sharp object facts homework

Discuss with your child any concerns they may have or if they are stuck.

The idea of this activity is to strengthen their learning, to ensure that their own home environment is safe and raise awareness of knife safety with parents/carers. We want your child and yourself to understand that knives need to be stored sensibly, as this can help us all stay safe.

Key Messages:

  • If knives and sharp objects are used carefully, for the job they are meant for, and by someone responsible, then it minimises how dangerous they can be.
  • Children should ONLY EVER use a knife or sharp object if they are supervised by a trusted adult and they should always be super careful.
  • Accidents can happen at any time. BUT, if we are sensible and careful, we can help to prevent bad things happening, and help keep ourselves and others safe.

Auntie Duck Quiz

Take our quiz to see what you have learnt from this story!

Togetherness. Talking. Having Fun.