Additional Learning Resources for The Trumpet of the Swan Art & Baking Guide Chapter 4: The Cygnets


Here are the extra resources for you and your students to enjoy while reading chapter 3 of the Trumpet of the Swan.

Vocabulary Words:

cygnet

blessed

feild glasses

shell

Watch this video of a Swan’s Nest with Eggs and the Birth of the Cygnets!

Art Project: Clay Swan Family

Watch how to make a swan using clay, or play dough with this video below:

Steps:

Using your air dry clay again today, create your own family of swans. Scan our QR code for inspiration of using clay to make swans. Starting with a ball of clay, roll it out into a teardrop shape, which will be the long neck, and beak. roll two mall balls for the wings, and shape into what looks like two leaves, add some cross cross details for the feathers. using slip, secture your wings onto your swan. You may want to add a base of clay, for your family of swans to rest on, and look like they are swimming in a pond. Add as much detail as you would like.


Additional Art Project: Learn how to draw a Baby Swan

Learn How to Draw a Baby Swan on YT:

Additional Books + Read Alouds:

Little Swan by Jonathan London

The Baby Swan by Winnie P.

Make Way for Ducklings by Robert Mc Closkey

Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri

I Hatched by Jill Esbaum

The Cow Who Laid An Egg by Andy Cutbill

The Sheep Who Hatched an Egg by Gemma Merino (we love this book, and include it in our Adventures in Ireland 3 when we learn all about the Irish Sheep, and Sheep Shearing!)

Discussion Questions:

What did the 5th cygnet do to greet Sam?

What two things is the sawn equipped with to enable it to get out of his egg?

Recipe: Shoestring Fries

Ingredients Need:

Canola Oil or Peanut Oil for deep-frying

2 lb Yukon Gold Potatoes

Salt & Pepper

Peel or wash the potatoes. Heat 2-3 inches oil in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed, deep pot. Bring to 365 degrees. (It is important to use a deep-fry thermometer.) Fill a large non-reactive bowl with water. Using a mandoline fitted with the fine julienne blade, cut the potatoes then place them in the water. Swish the potatoes around the water so any excess starch will be removed.Take the potatoes out of the water and place on paper towels to dry. Pat the potatoes dry with more paper towels. If you have a salad spinner, spin the potatoes. The potatoes should be as dry as possible before placing in the hot oil. The potatoes will really splatter if any water is left. Now this is very important; place the potatoes in the oil very carefully and fry only a small amount of potatoes at a time. (If too many potatoes are added at one time, the oil will bubble over the top of the pot - trust me!)Fry the potatoes until they are brown and crispy - stir often for approximately 4 minutes.Scoop the potatoes from the hot oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate or pan covered with paper towels. Salt and pepper the shoestring potatoes. Check the thermometer often to make sure the oil stays around 360-365 degrees. Repeat the process until all potatoes are fried.

An Easier Recipe Option:

This is a yummy breakfast recipe you can enjoy after reading this chapter. We came up with this idea after my daughter saw a shoestring fries recipe video, and since she loves hash browns for breakfast so she made the connection between the thinness of the potato strips and the fries and decided to try that instead. Just like Sam did, in this chapter, he made himself some breakfast before going out to the pond. Encourage your kids to cook breakfast with you. Enjoy watching the swan videos included in this lesson while you eat breakfast. :)

Shoestring Breakfast Hash-browns Recipe

  • 3 potatos

  • bacon fat or oil

  • frying pan

  • salt and pepper to taste

    Steps:

  • Peel your potatoes, and then using a grater, grate your potatoes with the medium size blade.

  • Once you have your potatoes grated, you then take handfuls of them, and squeeze out the starch.

  • Heat a frying pan to medium heat, and apply a generous amount of bacon fat, or oil. Once the pan and oil is hot, sprinkle on the grated potatoes evenly, and salt and pepper them.

  • Fry your shoestring hash browns for a few minutes on each side, until they are browned nicely. Enjoy with a slice of bacon, and eggs on the side.