If You Give Mouse a Cookie Fun

September 29, 2013

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie is such a fun story to read aloud and lends itself to so many teachable  moments.  Circle stories are so great for little firsties!!!  It opens the door to introduce prediction strategies in a simple way for the little guys. 

I want to share a fun way our school has used Laura Numeroff books to do this….we have also had a family literacy and math night with our firsties that centered around If you Give a Mouse a Cookie.  I want to share how we prepped for and spent the week leading up to it.  First off – a disclaimer — This is NOT my idea. :o)  I really don’t even know who to credit because it has been in our district for so long.  We actually make cookie costumes.  I mean who wouldn’t want a cookie costume?  And what kid doesn’t look absolutely adorable in one??!?

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie activities

{ that is my daughter on the left – a leopard print mouse helper that night. :o)  She was this little one’s reading buddy } * from 2010*

Just use brown bulletin board paper and make 2 large circles.  Cut a sponge to look like a chocolate chip and have the kids put little chips all over the circles.  We gave them each a chocolate chip hat and attached the two circles with brown strips ( think size of sentence strips ).

We would make chocolate chip cookies too.  I called up each table to do a certain part of the recipe.  Our wonderful lunch lady would put them in our school oven and we were enjoying yummy, delicious cookies to end our unit. We would be sure to make several batches.  One for our class ( the teachers too – Hello! like I would miss out on that? ) and the families for the lit and math night.

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie literacy night

If you Give a Mouse a Cookie activities

The evening is a lot of work/prep but the kids and parents love it so much!  They basically walk around to ‘stations’ and one of them was always: take a picture with the mouse.

We always start the night with a fun poem and song of course dressed up in their costumes.

Then the kids walk around to stations with their parents:

Estimation Station

Mouse Craftivity

Reading Corner

Photo Op

Make a Frame

 

This isn’t the one we used ( ours is at school ) but you get the idea:

If you give a mouse a cookie activities

 The families would come to this estimation station and make a guess.  We would have a little prize for the closest family guess.

If you give a mouse a cookie activities

How cute are these guys at the reading corner?  We made sure to have lots of Laura Numeroff books available for the kids to read with pillows to make them comfy.

I don’t have pics of the rest { Lame – I know } but the mouse craftivity was formed from a paper plate and we had them make frames.  We prepped square frames from our Ellison machine and let them decorate with brown hole punch circles for chocolate chips and sticky decorations from Michael’s and markers.  Then when we printed the family pics we would put them in the frames they made and slap a piece of magnetic tape to the back…viola they have an adorable keepsake.

Of course I created a unit that includes story response sheets and ideas to accompany this book….

Bundle option

This unit has tons of ideas and activities to help you make a fun week for your kiddos.  Click {here} for it.

If you give a mouse a cookie bundle

If you are in charge of a family night at your school this year – why not try this fun one for your grade level?  Even if you don’t incorporate a family night – this pack is perfect for responding to the story or for a sub in a pinch!

vicky1970

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  • Kris Jenkins September 30, 2013 at 1:45 am

    This is super-cute and I would LOVE it if you would share!!

  • Anonymous September 30, 2013 at 1:49 am

    This looks like so much fun. I love her books! Thanks for the chance to win it!
    Laura

  • kerri m September 30, 2013 at 1:58 am

    This is A+ adorable!

  • whitesilkpurse September 30, 2013 at 3:43 am

    Darling. What a clever, clever plan. My kiddos would LOVE this. {And their parents would too!}

  • Elizabeth September 30, 2013 at 7:04 am

    What a fun event!!:)
    Elizabeth
    Fun in Room 4B

  • Traci Clausen September 30, 2013 at 7:20 am

    HOW FUN!!! We don't do anything like this. Is it just for your first grade families?

  • vicky1970 September 30, 2013 at 2:19 pm

    Hi Trac,
    Yes it is only a first grade event that the teacher's put together. It's always been a beloved event at our school. :o)

  • Mrs. Lindsey September 30, 2013 at 11:37 pm

    The cookie costumes are so adorable!!

    Lindsey
    Lovin’ Kindergarten

  • Mrs. Leeby October 1, 2013 at 3:12 am

    Oh my gosh, I need to do this! Thank you for the fab idea- you're brilliant, Vicky!

    Learning With Mrs. Leeby

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