Craft Lesson # 3

The Grumpus Under the Rug by Ellen Jackson

Retelling the Story

Recourses and Materials Needed
· The Book: The Grumpus Under the Rug by Ellen Jackson
· Scissors
· Copy Machine
· Laminator
· Tape
· Construction paper
· Markers

Discussion
The Grumpus Under the Rug was my absolute favorite book as a child. I really loved the pictures in the book, especially the ones that showed all the silly things the Grumpus had done. I think reading a silly story should be more than just for laughs. In this assignment, I want to make sure the children are able to comprehend the story well enough to retell it back to me.

How to teach it: (3rd- 5th grade)
(Before beginning discussion, place class in groups of four to five students.)
Today we are going to read my favorite books when I was a child. I am going to read it to you two times and I need you to listen and pay very special attention to what happens. After we have read the book once, I am going to pass out these laminated pictures from the story. I want you to talk about what we just read in your groups, and put the pictures in order according to when the Grumpus did them.

After reading the book the first time, explain to the kids that every time the Grumpus did something, the little boy got in trouble. Ask them to keep that in mind as you read the story to them again. Also, you should explain that because the boy gets in trouble each time, you are only going to have them retell the events in the story where the Grumpus makes a mess.

Next, pass out the packets with the laminated pictures in it. Give the students about ten minute to talk about the story and put the pictures in order of which they occurred in the story. After the kids have finished putting their pictures together, have another set of pictures set aside for you to do with the class as a whole. Take your pictures and place tape of the back side of them. Discuss the story again with the kids, and have them tell you which order to tape the pictures to the board. Then read the book again, and as you are doing so, place the pictures in order on the black board.

If you have any free time after you have finished reading and placing the pictures on the board, pass out the construction paper and markers. You can have the kids draw their favorite picture of the Grumpus, or of him doing something else to get the boy in trouble.