Quentin Tyler, Director, MSU Extension, East Lansing, MI 48824. Issued in furtherance of MSU Extension work, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. MSU is an affirmative-action, equal-opportunity employer, committed to achieving excellence through a diverse workforce and inclusive culture that encourages all people to reach their full potential. Ask the children what animal it is and what they think the animal will do before you turn the page.įor more information visit the MSU Extension early childhood development site. On each page you read there is a picture of an animal in the lower right hand corner. Give them directions to stretch out a different part of their body, one part at a time. MOTOR SKILLSĪsk the children to curl up as small as they can. Pretend that you are that animal living in the forest on a cold winter day. Pick at least one of the animals in the story. Try things like hop 10 paces to the left, take 3 giant steps forward, or walk 5 steps backwards until they find where you hid the mitten. Give the children movement clues to find it. After it is dry, have the children draw some pictures of animals and slip them inside of the mitten. Cut the mitten out and glue the inside edges together. Put two pieces on top of each other and have the children trace around their hand to draw a mitten. Next, put the objects inside, counting each one as you go.

Ask them to guess how many of the things will fit inside. Have the children gather some stuffed animals or toys and put them next to the blanket. Get out a sleeping bag, or a big blanket or sheet that is folded up. Try to figure out reasons why the gloves or mittens felt different.

Ask them to pick which one felt the warmest. Ask them to describe how their hand feels. Have the children put their hand inside, one at a time. Each day, pick a different activity to do with the children after reading “The Mitten.” MATH AND SCIENCE Hearing the same story again and again helps them learn new words and understand the ideas they hear better. Read this book several times to the children.

The mitten story animals in order