Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman is such a Halloween classic. It is a book that is actually meant to be sung, even if you are not a singer. Once the children catch on to the song, then you can act it out. The song is:Big Pumpkin on YouTube
It has the little "beeps" because it is actually an old cassette tape recording to read along with a book. It is helpful to hold the book out so that the children can read the pictures while they are learning the song. The beeps tell you when to turn the page.
You will find the children singing the song to themselves while they are working (love!). If they need a Brain Break, put on the You Tube song and let them do the actions while they are singing. It is also really fun to do in a circle!
You can put the words on a big piece of chart paper and leave it up on the wall for reference. It's great practice reading/singing!
This story is about a witch who wants to make a pumpkin pie on Halloween, but is unable to pull the pumpkin in her garden off of the vine. Along comes a ghost, then a vampire, then a mummy. They each claim to be bigger and stronger than the previous one, and each try but fail to pull the pumpkin off the vine. Last flits along a teeny little bat...and the others just laugh at the idea that the bat might succeed where they have failed.But the bat has a plan!
They form a line and pulling together, the pumpkin flies off the vine, rolls down the hill, and the witch makes a pumpkin pie which she feeds to her Halloween guests, remembering to save a pumpkin seed for the next year's big pumpkin.
For literacy centers, it is perfect for sequence of events work; who came by first, second, third, last?
It begs for a lesson on -ed, since the refrain of the song is
"well, he pulled and he tugged and he pulled. First he pulled hard and then he pulled harder."
"and she kicked that pumpkin."
"...but they thought about pumpkin pie and stepped aside."
"boasted the vampire (ghost, mummy)"
Other -ed sight words to teach include: wanted, planted, weeded, watered, poked, looked, rolled, started, called, landed, bounced, shouted, hurried, watched.
It is the perfect time to bring out your anchor chart with Mr. and Mrs. -ed on it to show that words that end with -ed always happened in the past.
And the dance along Brain Break movements? Just make those up! When pulling and digging, bend over at the waist, reach down and grab up and down, up and down....when she kicks the pumpkin, give a little kick, when a character steps aside, well.....step aside. Don't forget to say the witchy lines in a witchy voice!
Happy Reading and Singing and Dancing!
Till Next Time, Nancy
This is a wonderful book that I actually spent the required $15.99 for the hardcover version year before last. The author, Carolyn Crimi, says she "loves monsters and all things Halloween." This book centers around an adorable character, Little Baby Mummy, who gets separated from his Mummy during a twilight game of hide and seek in the graveyard. (Where else?)
Little Baby Mummy isn't afraid as he runs around in the dark, calling for his Mummy. He isn't afraid when he runs into Bones (a skeleton who wears boxer shorts), Glob (a slimy, gunky creature from the swamp), and Drac (you know who that is.) All of these monsters are not too terribly frightening because they are all in their pajamas, getting ready for bed.
But THEN a creature appears who scares Little Baby Mummy to death...a mouse! He runs screaming for his Mummy! Mummy comes to his rescue quickly, and all is well as they get ready for bed and Little Baby Mummy is tucked in all safe and sound.
There are several notable things about this book. One, the full-page illustrations strike just the right note. There are lots of cobwebs and dark shadows, and tombstones, but we are ready to believe that Little Baby Mummy is just another little kid playing a game before bed. Second, there are some repetitive phrases that are just a joy to read aloud:
"So he tromped, tromped, tromped
to the deep, dark woods,
the spookery woods,
to look for Big Mama Mummy."
He travels to the slithery swamp, the shivery cave, and finally plops down under the creaky, squeaky tree.
This is a great book to teach students about alliteration. Each "monster" makes a hideous
sound before showing itself:
Glug glug glip
Glug glug glop
Glug glug GLOO
Flap flip flap
Whap whap WHOO
Flap flip FLOO
A nice literacy center activity is just to make a simple flip book showing the six characters who appear (in order). It gives the children practice in looking back in the story, to get the order correct. The should also label each character with their name, which is a great way to practiced remembering that all names begin with a capital letter!
Super Craft Ideas for Mummies abound on my Pinterest page October Ideas...click the link on the upper right!
Happy Reading! Till Next Time, Nancy
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