Dr. SeussOn The Loose!

Dr. Maggie McGuire

maggie@drmaggiemcguire.com

Schedule

• 9:30-9:45– Welcome

• 9:45-10:45– History of Dr. Seuss

• 10:45- 11:00– Break

• 11:00-11:30– Integrating academic domains

with the Pre K Guidelines– Green Eggs and Ham

• 11:30-12:00– Horton Hears A Who

• 12:00-12:10– Break

• 12:10-1:20– Activities with Other Seuss

Books

• 1:20-1:30– Evaluation

The Facts!

• Born Theodor Seuss Geisel in Springfield, Massachusetts on March 2, 1904

• Seuss is his mother’s maiden name.• He was the editor-in-chief for the Jack-O-Lantern,

Dartmouth College’s humor magazine.• Went to Oxford in England for his advanced degree.• Back in the states he drew cartoons for The Saturday

Evening Post and advertising campaigns for Standard Oil and others.

War Years

• During WWII he began drawing political cartoons for PM magazine.

October 1, 1941

October 22, 1941

First Publication

• And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street!• Was submitted to 27 publishing

houses and received 27 rejection

letters.• Finally published by Vanguard

Press( Houghton & Mifflin)

in 1937.

The Cat In The Hat• May of 1954, Life published a report on illiteracy among schoolchildren, suggesting that children were having trouble reading because their books were boring. • Dr. Seuss’ publisher, Random House, gave him a

list of 400 words they felt were important for children to learn. He was asked to cut the list to 250 words and use them to write an entertaining children's book.

Break!

1960

Green Eggs and Ham

• VI. Science Domain– VI.A.1. Child describes observes, and investigates

properties and characteristics of common objects.

Green Eggs and HamScience- Math-Language Arts

• Read the book and discuss.• Science

– Have the children predict whether or not they think they will like green eggs.

– Make traditional scrambled eggs and discuss

– Add green food coloring to the eggs and give each child a serving of the green eggs.

– Have them eat the green eggs and make their decision.

Green Eggs and Ham

• V. Mathematics Domain– V.E.1. Child Collects data and organizes it in a graphic

representation.

Green Eggs and HamScience- Math-Language Arts

• Math– Prepare a graph that has the following columns “I like green eggs” and “I do not like green eggs.– Give each child a post it note with their name on it.– After the children have tasted the green eggs have them

decide if they like them or not. – The children will place their post it note on the correct

side.– Discuss results of their graph.

Green Eggs and Ham

• II. Language and Communication Domain– II.A.1. Child shows understanding by responding appropriately.– II.B.3. Child provides appropriate information for various

situations.– II.D.1. Child uses a wide variety of words to label and describe

people, places, things, and actions– II.E.5. Child combines sentences that give lots of detail, sticks to

the topic, clearly communicates intended meaning.

Green Eggs and Ham Science- Math-Language Arts

• Language Arts– “Things We Don’t Like! A Class Book– Have a discussion with the children about things they

do not like.– Have each child write a page for the book about what

they do not like.– Ask them to write their name and a sentence about

what they do not.– Bind the pages together with a cover entitled “Things

We Don’t Like!”

Green Eggs and Ham

• IV. Emergent Literacy-Writing Domain– IV.A.1 Child Intentionally uses scribbles/writing to

convey meaning.– IV.B.2 Child writes own name(first name, or frequent

nickname), not necessarily with full correct spelling or well formed letters.

1954

Horton Hears A Who

• V. Mathematics Domain– V.A.3.

• Child counts 1-10 items, with one count per item.

– V.A.9.• Child recognizes one digit numeral, 0-9

Horton Hears A WhoMath-Language Arts Social Studies

• Math– Make dandelions from a pompom glued on a

pipe cleaner. – Cover small cans with paper and glue a numeral

on the outside.– The children put the correct number of

dandelions in the labeled containers.

Horton Hears A Who

• II. Language and Communication Domain– III.C.1.

• Child names at least 20 upper and at least 20 lower case letters.

Horton Hears A Who Math-Language Arts-Social Studies

• Language– Make an elephant out of a small paper plate.– Only glue on one ear and label it with a capital

letter.– Write lower case letters on all of the other ears.– The children will match the lower case ear to

the elephant.

Horton Hears A Who

• VII. Social Studies Domain– VII.A.1 Child identifies similarities and

differences in characteristics of people.

Horton Hears A Who Math-Language Arts-Social Studies

• Social Studies– Have each child paint a picture of who lives on

their dandelion in Whoville.

Break!

Final ThoughtI meant what I said, and I said what I meant. An elephant's faithful, one hundred percent.Dr. Seuss

Credits

• http://www.drseussart.com/faq.html

• http://origin-www.seussville.com/university/

• http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/seussbiography.html

• http://www.highsmith.com/pdf/Dr_Seuss_activityguide.pdf