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Where the Wild Things Are Small World

Maurice Sendak Books Lesson Plans

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Lesson plan developed by Aurora Tollestrup, BS Ed. 

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Activity:  

Where the Wild Things Are Small World

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Age Group:

Preschool

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with toddlers, or school-age children.

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Objectives:  

Children will: ​

• explore a small world play area based upon a popular children’s book.
• be able to retell parts of a popular children’s book.

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CDA Competency Standard:   

II.6.1a

• Materials promote early literacy

a) Literacy/storytelling/bookmarking materials are provided

Online Courses

Where the Wild Things Are: Maurice Sendak
(1 hour)
$9.50

Teaching Preschool Math Using Manipulatives  
(3 hours / .3 CEU) 
Tuition: $31.50

Use of Puppetry and Plays 
(3 hours / .3 CEU) 
Tuition: $31.50

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Materials: 

• ​Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak

• 4 toilet paper rolls
• paint or markers
• scissors
• green and blue sand
• sticks, leaves, pine cones, small rocks and other natural items

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Procedure: 

• Begin the lesson by reading Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak.
• Next, invite children to play with the sand, characters and natural materials
• Then have them retell and recreate the story.

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Assessment: 

• Were the children able to retell some of the major elements from the story? Were they able to recall facts and names from the story? 

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Click on the photos to enlarge.

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Music & Movement Lesson Plans

Literature Lesson Plans

Fall Gallery

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Author: Maurice Sendak

In the 1950s, Sendak illustrated nearly 50 children’s books in his own unique style. Where other illustrators focused on bringing imagery to the words of children’s literature pieces, Sendak believed that illustrations should also expand the reader’s vision of the book and grow their imagination further. His style of illustration was often surreal and even a bit odd, but somehow he was able to tap into the psyche of children and know that they would accept the illustrations and look past their flaws and oddities.  

In 1963 his most famous book Where the Wild Things Are was published which took the children’s literature world by storm. Sendak both wrote and illustrated the book which became an instant classic. The tale of a boy who is punished by his mother and embarks on a vivid imaginative journey to where the wild things are combined fantasy with remarkable illustrations that allows a child’s mind to soar.

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In the Night Kitchen

Nutshell Librar

Higglety, Pigglety, Pop

Outside Over Ther

Maurice Sendak published many more popular children’s books throughout his long career, including In the Night Kitchen, The Nutshell Library, Higglety, Pigglety,Pop!, and Outside Over There. ​

President Bill Clinton hailed Maurice Sendak as the “King of Dreams” for his profound effect on children’s literature through words and illustrations. Throughout many decades and up until his death in 2012 he illustrated and wrote children’s books, even releasing Bumble-Ardy in 2011. ​​

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