Winnie The Witch

Title:  Winnie the Witch

By Valeri Thomas

 

 

Click HERE to purchase the book on Amazon.

Subjects: Language Arts, Art, Colors, Science

Objectives: Adjectives, Problem/Solution, Creativity, Nature

Grade(s): Prek-2nd 

 Description: This is a fun book to use around Halloween time, but it is perfect for school because it doesn’t discuss Halloween or even mention it.  The book is about a witch who has a black cat, but always trips or sits on the cat because it is black like the rest of her house and possessions.  She changes the cat to green, but can’t see the cat outside in the grass because it blends in, so she then turns the cat several different colors.  The cat is embarrassed, so she turns it back to black, but changes the color of her house and possessions so she can see the cat again.

 

Remember this is not a complete lesson.  It is ideas on how to integrate the arts into Language Arts and other subjects that have to do with the children’s book.  Use and adapt as you like!

 

Lesson ideas:  

HOOK: (Get the students interested…) Put on a witches hat to read the story. 

1.     Art integration/Colors: This is a fabulous book to integrate finger paints and colors with.  After reading the book have the children paint something!!  You can be as specific as you want (better for younger children) or let the children be creative and paint what they want.  The catch is- they have to use the colors you tell them.  For example, if you are working with preschoolers and teaching colors, give them a coloring sheet, such as a house or something Halloweeny.  Then you tell them a color, and they use their fingers to paint that color on their picture.  For older children, you could have them paint on a blank canvas or piece of paper, but you still tell them the color they have to use.  They probably already know their colors at this point, but it makes the art activity more involved and fun, and allows the students to think more creatively and deeply as to how they are going to paint their pictures using only certain colors at a time. 

2.     Drama Integration Activity/Problem and Solution: This book is great for teaching young children about problem and solution. This activity would be best for 2^nd graders, but can be adapted for younger children.  While reading the book, discuss the problems the witch has.  Discuss how she solves her problems.  After the book, put the students in groups.  Give each group a problem.  The group then has to figure out a solution to the problem and act it out in front of the class.  Some possible Halloween problems you can use are: 

a.      The little ghosts lost their mother ghost during their midnight walk.

b.     The little girl wanted a big pumpkin, but they were all gone at the pumpkin patch. 

c.      The kids went trick or treating, but their friend was sick and couldn’t go with them.

d.     The witch lost her hat while she was on her broom flying around the city.

e.      The little spiders’ web got washed away from the water, so they didn’t have anywhere to live. 

3.     Art Integration/Graphic Organizer/Problem and Solving: This problem/solving activity is good for Kindergarten -1^st grade.  Before reading the book the children, create a big chart with two columns.  One side will be the problems while the other side is the solutions.  Make little pictures to go on your chart for each problem/solution.  The pictures you will need are: black house, black cat, grass, green cat, tree, colored cat, and colored house.  As you read the story, place the corresponding picture in the correct column.  For example, the first problem is that the black cat blends in with the black house, so put the black house on the problem side with the black cat.  As you read you can move the pictures to the solution side or back to the problem side if they become the next problem.  (If you choose you can make multiple pictures of the same things, and leave the current picture in its original place so you don’t have to move the pictures).  Now for the students’ activity: during small groups- choose another simple problem/solution book for each group depending on their reading level.  Read the book together, but this time the students will make a chart and color/draw little pictures to represent the problems and the solutions.

 

You can use the following pictures (found on Bing images) or find your own.  The blank cat is for the multicolored cat and needs to be colored after printed.

 

4.     Music Integration Activity/Colors/Science (Nature):  There are lots of fun color songs.  I found several YouTube videos with color songs!  Choose your favorite and teach the kiddoes the song!  You can show them the YouTube video if you choose. The videos all have lots of colors displayed in the video!

 

This video is great for pre-k.  My toddler loved watching it, as well.

 

This video is good for learning to read the color words, or incorporating colors into nature. Plus, it has a pumpkin, so another added bonus to use during October or November.

This video is fun for Kindergarten age children reviewing their colors.

At home Activity: Of course the above activities can be adapted to be at home activities, but another idea that would be great at home is to find all of the colors in your house to see if you have as many colors as Winnie does with her new colored house. 

If you have more school or at home ideas to go with this book, please share!!