Introduction
 

    This Web Quest is designed for fourth graders as a literature study of the book, The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White.  Through the use of the internet, the students will research and investigate the places where Louis, the trumpeter swan, travels in his efforts to pay his father's debt and win the love of Serena, the female swan.  They will also research information about the trumpeter swan and learn the difference between a diary and a journal and how to write one.

    The Trumpet of the Swan is a story of the friendship between a boy and a trumpeter swan and how they help each other solve their individual problems. In the end, the boy, Sam, realizes what he would like to do when he grows up and Louis, the trumpeter swan, overcomes his disability and finds that he has some greater abilities than he ever imagined that he had.

Task

   In this Web Quest you are asked to travel the route that Louis takes throughout the book.   Louis, in his quest to repay his father's debt, must travel to many locations in the United States.  You will be asked to:

• Research information about trumpeter swans
• Write a report of what you learned about trumpeter swans
• Label all the places where Louis, the trumpeter swan, travels in the story on a printed out map
• Write journal entries throughout the story as Sam did
• Visit three city/state web sites and make one travel brochure of your favorite
• Learn the history of the famous Swan Boats of Boston

back to home

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• trumpeter swans
• twin groves
• endangered
• red rocks lakes

3.  Now that you have gathered all your information about trumpeter swans, write a brief report of what you now know about them. (Extra Credit)

4. As you begin to read The Trumpet of the Swan, you will find that Louis will travel across the USA.   Go to usamapand print out the map.  You are to use it to plot Louis' route throughout the story.

5.  As you read the first 4 chapters, you will notice that Sam does a lot of writing about what he sees.  Is this journal writing or diary writing?  Go to journals/diaries to learn the difference between the two.

6.  After learning the difference and getting tips as to how and what to write, try to write some entries for Sam.  Don't forget that he ends each entry with a question.

7.  Louis goes to Boston, Massachusetts where he works leading the Swan Boats across the the pond.  Go to swan boats history to read about this historic site in Boston.

8.  Once you have finished reading the book, research the following city/state sites and create a travel brochure for your favorite place.
 

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Massachusetts
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania
• Billings, Montana
• Montana

TEACHER NOTE:  + or - will be added to any grade that may meet added or less criteria.  Extra credit will be given to those who do the report on the trumpeter swan.
 
 

Conclusion

Now that you have finished the book and completed all the required assignments for this literature study, it is time to end this Web Quest by playing the SWAN GAME.  Have fun!

Hopefully this Web Quest on The Trumpet of the Swan has given the story added enjoyment through your research about the trumpeter swan and the places that Louis traveled in the USA.
 
 

Credits:

Photos:
http://www.iconbazaar.com
http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/trump/trumptg.htm
http://expedia.msn.com/wg/north_america/united_states?p23614.asp

Swan Game:
http://www.twingroves.district96.k12.il.us/wetlands/TrumpeterSwan/SwanGames.html