Some of the best ideas for incorporating Dr. Seuss into reading, writing and arithmetic lessons come from Really Good Teachers. We’re so excited to share with you some really good ideas that they sent our way. Try one or, even better, try them all and make it a fun day of Seuss!
Creating A Dr. Seuss Filled Day!
Reading
Suzanne, a Really Good 1st Grade Teacher from Sharpsviile, PA, likes to have her students read aloud to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday.
“I have each student choose his or her favorite Dr. Seuss book. I then have them pick a favorite passage from their book and practice reading it with fluency and expression at home and in school. On Dr. Seuss’ birthday we sit in a circle and each child takes a turn reading his or her favorite passage.”
For an added challenge, or for older students, have them memorize the passage. As they recite the passage, “the class tries to guess the title of the Seuss book from which each passage was lifted. When a child guesses correctly, the presenter shows the class that passage as it appears in print in the book.”
Writing
A Really Good 3rd grade teacher, Melanie from Pensacola, Florida, sent in this great writing idea that she uses after reading Dr. Seuss’ “A Wocket In Your Pocket.”
“After reading the book and discussing rhyming words, with a very serious face I peer into each desk and announce that they may not have wockets in their pockets, but there are definitely some kind of creatures in their desks making a mess. For those few students who have spotless desks, I mention that they must have a very clean, tidy creature helping them keep their desk so clean and organized. [They then] draw a picture of the creature living in their desk and name him. The name, of course, has to rhyme with desk. For example, “The Pesk in my Desk” or “The Tesk in my Desk.” After drawing their creature they write a paper describing him and what he does inside their desk. Each student reads their paper to the class before showing their picture.”
Arithmetic
From Winston Salem, North Carolina, Really Good 1st Grade Teacher, Janice, shares with us her secret for some math fun with Dr. Seuss.
“Did you know that Ted Geisel (Dr. Seuss) wrote Green Eggs and Ham after his publisher wagered $50 that he could not write a book using only 50 different words? After sharing that fun fact with my students, I give each student a copy of a grid featuring spaces labeled with each letter of the alphabet and a space beneath it. I then challenge them to use the grid to record the 50 different words Dr. Seuss used. Working in pairs, students comb through the book, recording words as they go. When they come upon words they’ve already recorded, they make tally marks to see how often that word is used. When finished, the students total up the words to see if they come up with 50. Early finishers are encouraged to read the words they’ve written and to write a sentence or two using only the words from the story. Students will be practicing reading, writing, tallying, and addition.”
What are some of your Really Good ideas for using Dr. Seuss books in math? Leave a comment below and let us know!