Today is Dr. Seuss's birthday! Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904. What fun Seuss-related activities did you do in your libraries last week?
At our school holiday party, I won bulletin board cut-outs of the Cat in the Hat. I put them up and displayed Dr. Seuss books. They have been checking out like crazy!
We didn't plan anything big because our PTA is sponsoring their annual reading month and their theme is Dr. Seuss. All our hallways have Dr. Seuss decorations up and the books have been flying out of the library.
The Dr. Seuss books at Northwest are in a red plastic tub. Students check them out regularly and a few have not been returned. When I ordered them I wondered if students would be interested. It has been gratifying to see that older students still love Dr. Seuss.
I read the all the Kindergarten classes from a biography about his childhood, without telling them who he was! Then everyone colored pictures from the Lorax, while I read from the Lorax. Students got stickers and bookmarks too! I found out pretty fast that I am terrible at reading Dr. Seuss out loud!! haha!
Hello...here is a lesson plan for middle or high school students using the "Oh, the Places You'll Go," book by Dr. Suess
Notecards Pens Paper
slide 3 of 7
Reading the Book Read the book straight through without stopping, showing the pictures on the pages to students as you finish each one. When the word “you” is stressed, such as “And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where you go,” speak the lines directly to the class, making it obvious that you are directing your words at them.
Pinpointing Main Themes – Groupwork
Divide students into five groups, and hand each group a notecard that contains one of the following lines from the book:
I Don’t Choose to Go There Bang-Ups and Hang-Ups Can Happen to You Everyone is Just Waiting You’ll Be Famous as Famous Can Be All Alone!
Have students work in their small groups to discuss the words on the notecard that they received. Encourage them to apply Dr. Seuss’s words to their own life experiences. For example, if they receive the notecard that reads, “You’ll be as famous as famous can be,” they might discuss whether fame is truly the blessing that the book makes it out to be, as well as times when they wished that they had the fame or honor of others. Students should come up with a short, oral presentation describing their reactions to the line they were given, and each group should take turns coming to the front of the class and describing the ideas they discussed.
Inspiration from Doctor Suess
Discuss with students how Dr. Seuss has inspired many people through his seemingly simple poetry. Instruct them to write a story about a character who is having a problem, but finds a solution through reading “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.” You will probably need to supply them with a copy of the book’s text so that they will be able to reference the book when necessary. Students who have not yet finished this exercise by the end of class can finish it for homework.
Assessment
You can use each group's oral presentation, as well as the individual writing assignments, in order to assess whether students have understood the messages from the book.
I hope this lesson works to inspire your students about the choices they can make and to encourage them to look at their futures with a discerning eye. Teenagers may especially relate to the many of the pages of the novel, so don’t hold back from introducing it to them, even at the high school level. Do you have any further ideas on teaching this book or any of Dr. Suess' works to older students?
Darn! I'm embarrassed to admit that as much as I adore Dr Seuss, I keep skipping his birthday. I think that it is because his birthday is sandwiched between my lessons for both Black History and Women's History months. Next year, I vow to put his birthday week into my plans, use some of the above ideas, and create an amazing Seussed up library.
Due to SEPs we are doing ours this week (Mar 11 - 15). We will be having RIF, Garff Reading Program assembly, dress as you fav. Dr. Seus character, and Dr. Seus stories in teh library all week.
Can any one tell me how to dress as a pair of green pants with nobody inside them?
The library teamed up with the PTA and we read "The Lorax" and made Trufula Tree bookmarks. The PTA also decorated the halls of the school with Trufula Trees made out of water noodles trunks and tissue paper tufts.
Who doesn't love Dr. Seuss. He is one amazing man...he didn't give up when rejection came his way and he stayed true to his work and talent. He is much beloved by children and adults and is one of those writers that makes it easy to share your childhood with your children, grandchildren and students. Ageless and timeless.
At our school holiday party, I won bulletin board cut-outs of the Cat in the Hat. I put them up and displayed Dr. Seuss books. They have been checking out like crazy!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't plan anything big because our PTA is sponsoring their annual reading month and their theme is Dr. Seuss. All our hallways have Dr. Seuss decorations up and the books have been flying out of the library.
ReplyDeleteThere is a charming "Seussville" program online that students adore. It promotes reading! It is available at:
ReplyDeletewww.seussville.com
I saw one of our Kinder teachers in the hall all dressed up! I just let him celebrate for me. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Dr. Seuss books at Northwest are in a red plastic tub. Students check them out regularly and a few have not been returned. When I ordered them I wondered if students would be interested. It has been gratifying to see that older students still love Dr. Seuss.
ReplyDeleteI read the all the Kindergarten classes from a biography about his childhood, without telling them who he was! Then everyone colored pictures from the Lorax, while I read from the Lorax. Students got stickers and bookmarks too! I found out pretty fast that I am terrible at reading Dr. Seuss out loud!! haha!
ReplyDeleteI can't imagine you reading Dr Seuss badly....your book reviews atUELMA were read so passionately.
DeleteHello...here is a lesson plan for middle or high school students using the "Oh, the Places You'll Go," book by Dr. Suess
ReplyDeleteNotecards
Pens
Paper
slide 3 of 7
Reading the Book
Read the book straight through without stopping, showing the pictures on the pages to students as you finish each one. When the word “you” is stressed, such as “And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where you go,” speak the lines directly to the class, making it obvious that you are directing your words at them.
Pinpointing Main Themes – Groupwork
Divide students into five groups, and hand each group a notecard that contains one of the following lines from the book:
I Don’t Choose to Go There
Bang-Ups and Hang-Ups Can Happen to You
Everyone is Just Waiting
You’ll Be Famous as Famous Can Be
All Alone!
Have students work in their small groups to discuss the words on the notecard that they received. Encourage them to apply Dr. Seuss’s words to their own life experiences. For example, if they receive the notecard that reads, “You’ll be as famous as famous can be,” they might discuss whether fame is truly the blessing that the book makes it out to be, as well as times when they wished that they had the fame or honor of others. Students should come up with a short, oral presentation describing their reactions to the line they were given, and each group should take turns coming to the front of the class and describing the ideas they discussed.
Inspiration from Doctor Suess
Discuss with students how Dr. Seuss has inspired many people through his seemingly simple poetry. Instruct them to write a story about a character who is having a problem, but finds a solution through reading “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.” You will probably need to supply them with a copy of the book’s text so that they will be able to reference the book when necessary. Students who have not yet finished this exercise by the end of class can finish it for homework.
Assessment
You can use each group's oral presentation, as well as the individual writing assignments, in order to assess whether students have understood the messages from the book.
I hope this lesson works to inspire your students about the choices they can make and to encourage them to look at their futures with a discerning eye. Teenagers may especially relate to the many of the pages of the novel, so don’t hold back from introducing it to them, even at the high school level. Do you have any further ideas on teaching this book or any of Dr. Suess' works to older students?
http://www.brighthubeducation.com/middle-school-english-lessons/67035-a-fun-oh-the-places-you-will-go-last-day-of-school-lesson/#
Darn! I'm embarrassed to admit that as much as I adore Dr Seuss, I keep skipping his birthday. I think that it is because his birthday is sandwiched between my lessons for both Black History and Women's History months. Next year, I vow to put his birthday week into my plans, use some of the above ideas, and create an amazing Seussed up library.
ReplyDeleteDue to SEPs we are doing ours this week (Mar 11 - 15). We will be having RIF, Garff Reading Program assembly, dress as you fav. Dr. Seus character, and Dr. Seus stories in teh library all week.
ReplyDeleteCan any one tell me how to dress as a pair of green pants with nobody inside them?
The library teamed up with the PTA and we read "The Lorax" and made Trufula Tree bookmarks. The PTA also decorated the halls of the school with Trufula Trees made out of water noodles trunks and tissue paper tufts.
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love Dr. Seuss. He is one amazing man...he didn't give up when rejection came his way and he stayed true to his work and talent. He is much beloved by children and adults and is one of those writers that makes it easy to share your childhood with your children, grandchildren and students. Ageless and timeless.
ReplyDelete