Coming Soon to a Theater Near You…
Posted by Hope Spencer on 28 Sep 2009 | Posted in: Grade 1, Grades 2-3, Literature Connections, Teacher's Helper, The Mailbox, The Mailbox Books
Hollywood is at it again! This time they have chosen to make a screen adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I’ll admit it: I cannot wait to see what the moviemakers do with this rollicking story. I have wonderful memories of Max and his wild pals. My mom read this story to me again and again. I read it to my younger brother and then, years later, shared it with my students. This is one you just can’t keep to yourself!
If your students haven’t heard the book before, what are you waiting for? Read it to them today! Or if they have heard it, why not read it again? A good story just can’t be heard often enough. Then use the activities in this post to enrich your students’ experience and prepare them for the movie.
A Wordless Rumpus
No words are spoken as Max and the wild things frolic during the rumpus. But no doubt the characters are thinking a variety of wild thoughts! After a first reading, direct students’ attention to the wordless pages. Welcome students’ ideas about why the author-illustrator designed the pages so that there is no text and the illustrations ar
e full-size. Then explain that students are going to give voice to the characters’ thoughts.
Place the book and a supply of large sticky notes at a center. When a child visits the center, she studies the wordless pages. She writes on a sticky note what a chosen character might be thinking and then places her sticky note on the appropriate page. Near the end of each day, remove the labeled notes and display them on a poster. Return the book to the center for more thought-provoking responses! (The Mailbox, grades K-1, Dec./Jan. 2004-5)
Max in Action
Max’s actions are a very important part of this spirited story. Review the book and encourage students to describe the things Max does. Write each action on a sentences strip. Next, display the strips and ask volunteers to put them in sequential order using the book as a reference. Then direct each child to select a trio of sequential sentences and write them on a 12″ x 18″ sheet of construction paper, trifolded as shown. Ask the child to draw and color a picture for each sentence; then have her share her sequence of story scenes with the class. Aren’t Max’s actions interesting? (Reading & Writing With Picture Books, grade 1)
Scare Tactics
From roaring their terrible roars to rolling their terrible eyes, the wild things react to Max’s arrival and departure in exactly the same way. Perhaps they could spice up their repertoire of actions with suggestions from your youngsters! Revisit the book with students and review the wild things’ response to Max when he arrives and leaves. Then give each student a 12″ x 18″ sheet of drawing paper and a copy of the prompt shown.
Ask each youngster to complete his sentence to tell how he would act fiercely if he were a wild thing. Have him glue his sentence near the bottom of his paper and draw a picture of this wild thing in action. Then invite students to share their wild ideas! (The Mailbox, grades K-1, Dec./Jan. 2004-5)
Wild Thing Puppet
Materials for one puppet:
1½ paper plates, two 2″ x 4″ gray construction paper rectangles, two 2″ construction paper squares, 2½” construction paper square, 2″ x 9″ construction paper rectangle, several dried lima beans, crayons, scissors, glue, and stapler
Steps:
1. Cut a circle from each 2″ paper square to make two eyes. Use crayons to add pupils. Glue the eyes to the rounded side of the whole paper plate.
2. Cut a nose from the 2½” construction paper square. Glue it in place on the plate.
3. Draw a mouth. Glue on lima beans for teeth.
4. Cut two horns from the gray construction paper rectangles. Staple them to the back of the plate.
5. Tear or cut the 2″ x 9″ construction paper rectangle into strips to make hair. Glue the strips in place.
6. Staple the paper plate half to the back of the project as shown. (The Mailbox, primary, Aug./Sept. 2002)
Still looking for more? Try this page from the grade 1 Teacher’s Helper magazine, Oct./Nov. 2000.
Leave a comment and let me know how much your students enjoy these fun ideas and activities. And if you see the movie, come back and let me know what you think.
Now pass the popcorn, please!
Hope
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I am excited as well but wondering why it is rated PG. I was hoping it would be a fun class trip. Love the ideas.
I to like the idea of movies being made from children’s literature. I love the idea of reading the book then seeing the movie, I always look for things in the book but not the movie or vice versa.
I think talking to children about that helps them pay attention to details, get involved a little more.
I really like the suggestions above.
Thank you again Mailbox and all my colleagues.
The puppet is so cute! Thanks for the great ideas!
I AM IN AN AREA WHERE I CANT GET THE HOLLYWOOD STUFF EASILY. CAN I GET HELP TO EASILY GET THE MOVIE THINGS.
TO ME NOW LIKE A DREAM. KEEP ME ABREAST.
I have been using Wild Things for many years in my classroom. Thank you for the new ideas. I love that they are making so many childrens books into films it makes children more eager to read.
I like how they are turning chilren’s literature into movies. It makes getting to see the movie a reward for having read the book and so many lesson plans can be shaped around that.
I love this story. I like the writing prompt idea given above. I really like how they are turning so many wonderful children books into movies. I am not an advocate of only seeing the movie but it is something fun the children can do at home to reinforce school. I can’t wait to see this one!