STORY-SPECIFIC PROJECTS
Although the other activities in this guide can be used with any of the titles, here are some ideas that are specific to each of the books.
Mr. Bump: Come up with a list of safety tips to help Mr. Bump avoid having so many accidents.
Little Miss Busy: Write a story about the further adventures of Little Miss Busy.
Mr. Chatterbox: Write a monologue in which Mr. Chatterbox continues talking to himself.
Little Miss Somersault: Create a cartoon about Little Miss Somersault visiting your classroom.
Mr. Funny: Tell a funny story with a great punchline.
Little Miss Curious: Make up a list of questions that you would like to have answered.
STORY THEATER
After reading one of the Mr. Men & Little Miss Books, students can adapt it for story-theater format. In this activity, the story is rewritten as a play. Children become familiar with the way in which a play is written and how story dialogue can be changed to play script.
Story theater is easier to perform than a play because students read their parts, either seated before the class or standing in front of music stands that hold the script. Although there is no action, hand gestures and props are used. Funny hats or paper masks can identify the characters. Name tags and simple scenery can also be created.
SIMILES
To make their writing more creative and their reading more enjoyable, students should be encouraged to look for interesting comparisons. Those comparisons that contain the words "like" or "as" are similes. Many appear in the Mr. Men & Little Miss Books.
When students understand the purpose of similes in writing, they should look for them in their reading. After they have found the similes in the collection, they can write their own for each of the characters.
Sample: The giant in the book Mr. Greedy has a floor as big as a field, a table as big as a house, and chairs as high as trees.
Elicit original similes from students:
Plates as round as _______________
Drinking cups as deep as ___________________
COLLABORATIVE POEM
Use the titles of the Mr. Men & Little Miss Books and the characteristics described to write a classroom collaborative poem. Begin with a simple phrase such as:
As happy as __________.
As funny as __________.
Have individual class members choose an ending to each phrase. Encourage the use of colorful language. All of the contributions can be combined to form a single poem.
Sample Poem
As quiet as feathers
falling on the grass,
As quiet as the morning
before anyone awakens,
As quiet as....
CREATE A BOOK
After reading one of the Mr. Men & Little Miss Books together in class, have the students contribute to a joint project creating a sequel to the episode read. For example, use Mr. Bump as the protagonist, and have each student place him in another difficult situation resulting from his lack of coordination. The students' words can either be written or dictated and compiled into a book.
After reading several of the Mr. Men & Little Miss Books, students can choose one of the characters in a book they have not yet read. They each can write a short book describing the escapades of this new character. Afterward, their original versions can be compared to the published book.
LETTER WRITING
Use the Mr. Men & Little Miss Books to offer your students letter-writing practice. Suppose each member of the class chooses one of the characters to invite to his or her home for a visit. Contained in the letter would be some suggestions for appropriate behavior. Here is a list of steps for a letter-writing activity:
1. Choose a character. List some things your character might do that are nor permitted in your house
2. List some things that the character might do that are acceptable.
3. Write a friendly letter to your character including these suggestions.
JUST FOR FUN
CREATIVE DRAMATICS
The Mr. Men & Little Miss Books provide an excellent touchstone for creative dramatics. After reading most of the collection, have the students imagine that some of the characters are going on a trip together.
Each student can select a character that he or she wants to be. Decisions must be made concerning his or her destination, what will happen along the way, and what will happen once he or she arrives.
The group can then perform an impromptu play. Name tags or simple props can be used to identify the characters during the performance. The only rule to follow is that the characters must remain true to their personalities.
PUPPETRY
The Mr. Men & Little Miss Books are an excellent vehicle for a class project in puppetry. Students can create puppets to represent the characters in the books and write their own scripts for dramatization. Hand puppets of the various Mr. Men and Little Misses can be made from socks or paper bags. With the aid of an art instructor, more sophisticated marionettes can be made to represent the characters.
Making a Puppet Stage
A puppet stage can be as simple as large corrugated box, or as elaborate as a wooden construction that resembles a real stage. Have the class decorate the stage together, using poster paints, construction paper, etc. You may want to help your students make a curtain, too. Illustrations in the book can serve as a model for backdrops that the children can paint themselves.
Making a Popsickle-Stick Puppet
1. Draw your favorite Mr. Men or Little Miss character onto heavy construction paper or poster board.
2. Color your character with crayons or markers, and then carefully cut the character out using scissors.
3. Glue a popsickle stick to the back of your character.
4. Use colored yarn, buttons, felt, etc. to decorate your puppet.
OTHER IDEAS
1. Put yourself in Mr./Miss __________ 's shoes: Have each class member assume the characteristics of one of the characters for an entire morning.
2. Have a contest. Class members each choose a character and describe what this character can do best. Students can vote for the Mr. Men and Little Miss of the Year.
3. Prepare tape recordings for a listening center. Students begin by reading a story to themselves. It is then read aloud several times until it can be read without mistakes. The tapes can be placed in a listening center, where less able readers can listen to them and follow along with each story.
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