Here are three follow-up activities based on The Mitten that focus on art, drama, and winter-themed exploration for children aged 2 to 5. These activities are designed to engage creativity, encourage self-expression, and reinforce the story’s themes.
1. Art Activity: Animal Mitten Collage
Objective: Create a collage that represents the animals cozying up in the mitten.
Materials Needed:
- Large mitten template printed on cardstock or drawn on a large sheet of paper.
- Pictures or cutouts of forest animals (bear, fox, mouse, etc.).
- Glue sticks, cotton balls (for snow), markers, and crayons.
Instructions:
- Give each child a mitten template and encourage them to color or decorate it as the “lost mitten.”
- Provide animal cutouts or allow children to draw their own animals.
- Glue the animals inside the mitten, arranging them snugly to emphasize the crowded space in the story.
Extension: Ask children to describe the animals they included and why they think those animals wanted to stay warm.
2. Drama Activity: Acting Out The Mitten
Objective: Recreate the story through role-playing and movement.
Materials Needed:
- Simple animal masks or headbands (optional).
- A large blanket or sheet to represent the mitten.
Instructions:
- Assign each child an animal role from the story. Encourage them to make the animal sounds and practice movements that mimic the animal (e.g., hopping for a rabbit, waddling for a bear).
- Spread the blanket on the floor as the “mitten.” One by one, call the animals to crawl under the blanket, just as they did in the story.
- Encourage the children to express how the mitten feels as it gets more crowded (e.g., “It’s getting tight!” “Who’s stepping on my paw?”).
- End the activity with a big sneeze from the bear, causing all the animals to scatter, recreating the whimsical moment from the story.
3. Winter Activity: Exploring Warmth and Cold
Objective: Investigate how animals and humans stay warm in winter.
Materials Needed:
- Mittens, scarves, and winter hats (variety of sizes).
- Ice cubes (or snow, if available) in small bowls or sensory bags.
- Pictures of forest animals in winter.
Instructions:
- Show the children the mittens and discuss how they help keep us warm in winter, just like the mitten in the story.
- Let the children touch the ice cubes and describe how it feels. Discuss how animals like the ones in the story might keep warm in the snow.
- Encourage the children to try on the mittens and scarves and explore how different materials feel against their skin.
- Show pictures of how animals like bears and rabbits stay warm in winter (e.g., thick fur, hibernation).
These activities integrate storytelling with creative play and exploration, ensuring a holistic learning experience for young children.