A Real Lucky Duck! Arkansas 8th Graders Create a New Leg for Peg the Duck!
Patsy Smith, from Mississippi Country, Arkansas, has raised ducks for many years. One of her ducks, Peg, was a bit different.
When he was young, Peg lost one of his legs from a run-in with a turtle. After a while, the wound on his leg started to become infected. So Mrs. Smith put out a call for help around North America to see if anyone could create a new leg for Peg.
When 8th grade students from nearby Amorel East Lab in Amorel, Arkansas, learned of the situation, they decided to take action! They thought they might be able to use their 3D printer to create an artificial leg for Peg!
Three students, Abby Simmons, Matthew Cook and Darshan Patel investigated. They spent several months creating and testing different models. It turned out to be a lot more complex than they had thought!
But finally, their actions paid off and they created a model that fit Peg’s leg perfectly! Now, Peg can walk and run just like his duck buddies! And Mrs. Smith is very grateful.
Check out more about their inspiring story here:
Additional Resources:
- Read and watch other IMK stories about inspiring animals and others with special needs.
- Check out inspiring quotes for kids about empathy and perseverance
- Here is an article with stories on 11 different animals, from a penguin to a tiger, that have artificial limbs!
Topics for Discussion:
- What character traits did the students exhibit?
- Do you know anyone who uses an artificial limb? How does it affect his or her everyday life? What do you think it would be like to have an artificial limb?
Take Action:
- Check out this IMK feature article with many ideas about How Kids Can Help Animals
Teacher Features:
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for elementary school students.
- Here is a link to a Critical Reading Skills worksheet that you can use for middle school students.
