Halloween may provide an ideal window, but there’s really not a bad time for Laura Numeroff’s book, Ten Step Guide to Living with Your Monster. From the same author who wrote the “If You Give a…” series, this whimsical spin on monsters explains how one should select and care for a new pet monster. It’s hard to hang on to any fear of monsters as this story shows them playing the banjo, blowing bubbles, and drinking from the bathtub!
I wrote about this book last year, explaining how to use it to create a whole language journaling activity. This year, combine that writing activity with a sculpture! Using classic playdough and add-ons like craft eyes, toothpicks, beads, and pipe cleaners, children can bring their monstrous creatures to life, supporting their creativity and small motor skills simultaneously! Strengthen language skills and math concepts as well by talking about these monsters as they’re being built, introducing descriptive words, counting and comparing accessories as they’re added, and getting your children to share their ideas about what these monsters might be like.
Finish it off with the whole language activity, recording your child’s dictations with the monster’s name and story, and you’ve got yourself one enjoyable, high-powered, and open-ended learning activity!
Enjoy your pet monsters!
I wish I had a pet monster. I would have him eat the clutter in my garage. Cute book. Thanks for sharing. Will have to look for this for my sons…am sure that they would enjoy making pet monsters. Back in my classroom days, we made pet monsters out of Halloween gourds. We added wiggly eyes, pipe cleaners, and felt scraps. Reading your post takes me back 12 years and makes me think that I should do those this week with my sons, as well as do the neat ones you made. If we make any, I will be sure to link to you and to share your cool post.
I am out of memory with my blog so I can’t post photos until I buy more storage and I can’t seem to get a secure message in order to guarantee that it is legit. so until then, my blog will have posts but not photos…
Well, have a good one and as always, I love your blog,
Colleen:)
Ooooh, I need a clutter eating monster too!
What a great idea to make monsters from gourds! That would be a lot of fun! Especially if they got to hammer in some nails or golf tees to make holes for the pipecleaners….or just leave the golf tees of course!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Colleen! I hope you get room on your site for pictures soon. I’d love to see your pet monsters!