Connecting With Literature
Mouse Shapes by Ellen Stoll Walsh
It is time to share another great children's book and an activity to further your child's learning!
We have been enjoying a shape study this week at my preschool, and I tried to come up with some fun shape activities for the kids to explore during both our morning choice time, and our Center/Work Station time. We LOVED reading Mouse Paint for color week (you can check out my connection activity for Mouse Paint HERE. It was super fun and engaging), so the kids thought it was amazing to see those silly mice again so soon!
We have been enjoying a shape study this week at my preschool, and I tried to come up with some fun shape activities for the kids to explore during both our morning choice time, and our Center/Work Station time. We LOVED reading Mouse Paint for color week (you can check out my connection activity for Mouse Paint HERE. It was super fun and engaging), so the kids thought it was amazing to see those silly mice again so soon!
Set UP:
I cut out a bunch of the shapes that the mice use in the book (in a variety of sizes and colors). I then made some "fancy" shapes like hearts, stars, and octagons. I put the shapes and the jumbo die into a tray. I got a set of Jumbo Dice in Target's dollar bin a few years back. Somehow they have survived and I tape pictures to them all the time for a variety of games. For our Mouse Shapes game I put one of each shape from the book on a side of one die. Then I made one of the mice from the book and put that on the last side :)
Our Game:
The kids goal was to build a shape picture for the "Mouse in the House" from the book! Like the mice we would use shapes to make pictures. I taught the kids how to play the game as a whole group during our morning circle time. Each child threw the die and then said the name of the shape that ended up on top (great shape recognition practice). Then they had to search through our shape tray to find that shape, and add it to our picture!When the kids roll a mouse they get to add a "fancy" shape of their choice to the shape picture.
After we spent time learning the game we had it out as a Center's activity and the kids played in pairs :) Some kids chose to make a picture together, or chose to take turns rolling and adding to their own picture for the mouse :)
If you have a set of dice (of any size) you could create this game from materials you probably have around your home or school :) It is engaging, gets the kids working on shapes, and connects to a fun book the kids will want to read again and again! Enjoy!