In preparation for the July Summer Virtual Book Club, I checked out lots of Don and Audrey Wood's books from the library, but the one that the kids asked me to read over and over was The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear
. In fact, they had it memorized in the first four days we had it. The narrator follows a little mouse who is going to pick a red, ripe strawberry. The narrator warns the mouse that the big hungry bear loves red ripes strawberries and will come looking for it no matter how the mouse tries to hide, disguise, or guard it. The narrator tells the mouse that the only way to keep himself safe from the bear is to cut the strawberry in half so they can share it. 
Since my kids' favorite part was when the mouse divides the strawberry in two, it seemed like a good opportunity to practice our scissors skills. I made lots of paper strawberries and then drew a line dividing the strawberries in half.
I made straight lines.
and jagged lines.
and curved lines.
and the kids practiced cutting the strawberries in half following the lines.
They liked it so much that they cleaned me out of the strawberries I had made and I had to come up with something more challenging.
I can't wait to see which of the Woods' books you chose and what activities you did! Please link up any posts with activities for books by Don and Audrey Wood and find your next project! If you don't have a blog, you can still share your activities on the Virtual Book Club for Kids Facebook page!
My soon to be kindergartener could use some scissor practice...and this is his favorite book! I think I know what we are doing today! Thanks for the fun idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you can use it! I hope you have as much fun with it as we did!
DeleteI love the scissor practice ideas and especially like that they are tied to literature! Thanks for the great ideas!
ReplyDeleteChristine@ www.thecrazypre-kclassroom.blogspot.com
This would totally be a hit at our house! My son loves cutting. Great activity idea!
ReplyDeleteI love the Woods' books and this one is one of our favorites! My son is still a bit too young to cut paper, but I'll pin this for later on. Thanks for the idea!
ReplyDeleteThat is such a cute and practical idea!
ReplyDeleteWow this is great and so easy to do. I will be doing this with my girls for sure!
ReplyDeleteGreat book. We definitely have to do this. My boys' scissor skills are lacking... probably because I still keep the scissors out of reach and forget to ever get them out!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a great idea to use the strawberry drawing as a way to practice scissor skills. I imagine it would be fun if you cut real strawberries into similar puzzle halves that they could put together and eat after the activity. I hope you will stop by today and link this post to Artsy Play Wednesday on Capri + 3, a new linky for arts, crafts and play posts. I hope to see you there.
ReplyDelete: 0 ) Theresa
http://www.multiples-mom.com
I really like this idea. My son likes using scissors but gets stuck after the initial incision. This would be a good and fun way to help him practice.
ReplyDeleteWhen my daughter was Goblin's age, I gave her things to cut that only required one snip to cut. Ribbon, strips of paper, playdough snakes, thin rope...
DeleteWhat a great extension activity! The strawberries are so cute!
ReplyDeleteHow cute! My preschooler loves this book! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a great idea and making it fun!
ReplyDeletewww.iheartpears.blogspot.com
Such a great idea for scissors practise!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you have this post! I was just browsing through your blogs, but earlier tonight a I was searching pinterest for activities to practice scissor use! Awesome!
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