Materials Needed

• Book: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
• Paper & Drawing Tools: Graph paper, plain printer paper, colored pencils/markers
• Digital Tools: Phone/tablet/computer with internet access, audio recorder or free music app (e.g., GarageBand, Chrome Music Lab, or Incredibox)
• Math Tools: Ruler, tape measure, calculator
• Hands-On/Building Items: Twigs, leaves, cardboard box, string, tape, small river stones
• Printables/Notebook: Interactive "River Bank Portfolio" folder or digital slide deck

Weekly Project Goal

The Wild Wood Explorer Portfolio: Troy will create a multi-media survival guide and interactive map documenting the geography, science, history, music, and math embedded in the world of Mole, Ratty, and Toad.

Monday: Chapter 1 – "The River Bank"

Subjects Covered: Language Arts, Life Science

Estimated Time: 35–40 minutes

1. Hook & Read Together (15 mins)

Read Chapter 1 together. Talking Point: "Mole literally ditches his spring cleaning chores to go hang out by the river. Have you ever wanted to drop everything and just escape outside? Let's see how Ratty shows him a completely new world."

2. Instructional Body (15 mins)

• I Do: Define anthropomorphism (giving human traits to animals). Show how Kenneth Grahame makes Ratty act like a British gentleman while keeping his animal instincts.
• We Do: Compare Mole and Ratty (Water Vole) biological traits vs. their literary personalities.
  • Real Mole: Poor eyesight, underground digger, solitary.
  • Book Mole: Impulsive, curious, talks, wears a velvet coat.
• You Do (Quick Project Component): Create a 2-column "Real vs. Reel" Specimen Card for the European Mole or Water Vole. Draw the animal and list 2 real biological adaptations (e.g., paddle-like paws, waterproof fur) alongside 2 human traits Grahame gave them.

3. Wrap-Up & Assessment (5 mins)

Troy presents his Specimen Card. Success Criteria: Correctly identifies 1 literary device (anthropomorphism) and 2 real animal adaptations.

Tuesday: Applied Math & Visual Art (Non-Reading Day)

Subjects Covered: Math (Scale & Rate), Art (Cartography & Design)

Estimated Time: 30–35 minutes

1. Hook & Mini-Lesson (10 mins)

Talking Point: "Ratty says 'there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.' But rowing takes math! If Ratty rows at 3 miles per hour, how long will it take him to visit Toad Hall 1.5 miles upriver?"

• Concept Check: Time = Distance / Speed. ($1.5 \text{ miles} / 3 \text{ mph} = 0.5 \text{ hours}$ or $30 \text{ minutes}$).
• Scale Ratio Concept: $1 \text{ inch on graph paper} = 100 \text{ yards in real life}$.

2. Hands-On Activity (20 mins)

• You Do (Map Design): Using graph paper, Troy drafts a scaled map of the River Bank incorporating Chapter 1 details.
  • Include: Mole's Underground Home, The River, Ratty's Boat House, The Meadow, and the Wild Wood off in the distance.
  • Add a Map Legend (Key), Compass Rose, and Scale (e.g., 1 grid square = 50 yards).
  • Use colored pencils to style it like an old-fashioned 1900s map.

3. Wrap-Up (5 mins)

Troy measures the distance between Mole End and Ratty's House using his map scale and calculates the distance in yards.

Wednesday: Chapter 2 – "The Open Road"

Subjects Covered: Language Arts, Social Studies (History of Technology)

Estimated Time: 35–40 minutes

1. Read Together & Hook (15 mins)

Read Chapter 2 together. Talking Point: "Toad is obsessed with the 'next big thing.' First it's canary-yellow caravans, then—BOOM—a motorcar passes by and ruins everything. Toad represents early modern tech obsession."

2. Instructional Body (15 mins)

• I Do: Briefly explain early 1900s (Edwardian England) context. Automobiles were noisy, expensive, fast, and controversial compared to traditional horse-drawn travel.
• We Do: Look at a picture or historical note about 1908 motorcars (like the Ford Model T or early British cars). Compare Toad's reaction ("Poop-poop!") to Ratty's reaction (disgust and annoyance).
• You Do (Tech Shift Ad/Meme): Troy creates a 1900s-style "Wanted" or "Sales Pitch" poster comparing the Gypsy Caravan to the Motorcar.
  • Include 2 pros/cons of each technology from the perspective of Toad vs. Ratty.

3. Wrap-Up (5 mins)

Short discussion: "Is Toad just impulsive, or is he a pioneer embracing new tech? What's a modern technology that makes people react like Ratty or Toad today?"

Thursday: Music & Sound Design (Non-Reading Day)

Subjects Covered: Music Theory/Appreciation, Audio Design

Estimated Time: 30 minutes

1. Hook & Analysis (10 mins)

Talking Point: "Film composers use leitmotifs—specific sounds or melodies for specific characters. What does the river sound like compared to Toad's motorcar?"

• Listen to 30 seconds of classical orchestral music (e.g., Smetana's The Moldau for river flow) vs. fast, chaotic percussion/horns.
• Discuss musical elements: Tempo (speed), Dynamics (volume), and Instrumentation.

2. Hands-On Creation (15 mins)

• You Do (Soundscape Creator): Using household objects, vocal effects, or a free phone app (GarageBand / Chrome Music Lab / Incredibox), Troy records two 15-second audio tracks:
  • Track A ("The Whispering River"): Slow tempo, soft dynamics, soothing rhythm (e.g., tapping water glass, soft rustling paper).
  • Track B ("Toad's Poop-Poop Madness"): Fast tempo, loud, sudden chaotic interruptions (e.g., pots clanging, vocal horn sounds).

3. Wrap-Up (5 mins)

Play back both tracks back-to-back. Troy explains his choices of tempo and volume for each soundscape.

Friday: Chapter 3 – "The Wild Wood"

Subjects Covered: Language Arts, Engineering/STEM, Earth Science

Estimated Time: 40 minutes

1. Read Together & Hook (15 mins)

Read Chapter 3 together. Talking Point: "Mole walks straight into the Wild Wood alone in winter. The atmosphere gets terrifying fast—faces in the dark, whistling, rustling. How does mood change a place from safe to dangerous?"

2. Instructional Body & Hands-On STEM Challenge (20 mins)

• I Do / We Do: Discuss literary *mood* (how the author makes the reader feel). Identify imagery Grahame uses (e.g., bare trees, shadows, cold winds).
• You Do (The Wild Wood Emergency Shelter Challenge):
  • Scenario: Mole is trapped in the snow in the Wild Wood before finding Badger's home.
  • Task: Using twigs, cardboard, string, leaves, and stones, Troy must build a small 3D prototype emergency shelter for Mole (approx. 6 inches tall).
  • STEM Constraints: Shelter must stand independently and feature wind resistance (solid back wall) and thermal insulation layering (leaves/cardboard cover).

3. Wrap-Up & Weekly Portfolio Assembly (5 mins)

• Test shelter stability with a gentle "wind blow" test (blowing air on it).
• Gather the Map, Specimen Card, Tech Comparison Sheet, Soundscape Files, and Shelter Photo into Troy's **Wild Wood Explorer Portfolio**.

Differentiation & Adaptations

For Restless Moments / Fast Pacing:

• Movement Breaks: Allow Troy to build or sketch while listening to the reading portions (Audiobook alternative for shared reading: listen while sketching).
• Scaffolding (Support): Provide pre-drawn outlines for map scale or pre-made chart templates for Monday/Wednesday.
• Extension (Challenge): Calculate the actual fuel efficiency or speed limits of 1908 automobiles vs. modern cars (Math/Science connect).

Assessment & Success Criteria