Materials
Book about riding on a train
Large cardboard boxes (big enough for a child to sit in)
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Markers
Maps, atlas, or Amtrak travel planner
Suitcases and large canvas bags
Train props, such as an engineer's hat, stop watch, and a whistle
Hole punch
Instructions
1. Show the children the cover of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Ask them if they
can guess what the story is about (a mouse and a cookie).
2. Read the title, author, and illustrator of the book, pointing out each word with
your finger.
3. Read the first page of the book. Ask the children to guess what might happen
next. After they guess, continue reading the story.
4. Discuss the story when you finish the book.
5. Make a graphic organizer showing the events of the story. Ahead of time, prepare
a blank organizer. On a piece of poster board, draw arrows in a circle
shape and leave space between them to write events in the story.
6. At the top of the circle draw the boy, the mouse, and a cookie.
7. Fill in the pictures as you interact with your class. For example, draw an arrow
pointing down to a glass of milk. Then, draw an arrow pointing down to a
straw. Next, draw an arrow pointing down to a napkin.
8. Continue this way through the story, adding arrows and events in a big circle.
9. With these pictures to help them, the children can re-tell the story in their
own words.
Snack: Serve a
mouse-size book
snack! If children
are not allergic, give
them a mini chocolate
chip cookie (about the
size of your thumbnail)
and a tiny cup of milk. If
desired, make slice and bake
chocolate chip cookies, or
bake them from scratch if your
appetites are not mouse-size!
