Lesson Plan #: AELP-CHL0230

Halloween with Arthur

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Submitted by: Melissa Melnyk
Email: melissamelnyk@yahoo.com
School/University/Affiliation: University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown

Date: January 22, 2003

Grade Level: Kindergarten

Subject(s):

Duration: 35 minutes

Description: After reading the book Arthur's Halloween by Marc Brown, students will participate in a song accompanied with movement. Students will also practice writing the letter "S."

Goals:

  1. To introduce students to the letter "S."
  2. To practice listening and following directions.
Objectives:
  1. Students will be able to write and identify the letter "S."
  2. Students will be able to discuss an experience where they felt they were being helpful.
  3. Students will follow directions and perform the correct movements when directed during a song.
Materials: Procedure:
Students will gather in the front of the room, near the teacher's chair. Stand in the back of the room with your "magic" bag, and have the children turn around to see what is different about you. When the children notice the bag, walk up front and sit on the chair. Place the bag behind the easel. Ask the students what event is coming up this week that you might use your bag for. (Halloween) Each child will have a chance to share what she/he is dressing up as for Halloween. Tell the class you are going to read a story about some else's Halloween costume and day. Hold up the book so students can view the cover and see whom the story is about. While looking at the cover, ask the students to identify the letter that is on Arthur's costume (letter "S"). The students will use their fingers to draw the letter "S" in the air. Read Arthur's Halloween to the class.

[ Summary of book: Arthur is frightened by everyone's costume and weird food concoctions on Halloween, but is disappointed that he must take his sister, D.W., trick-or-treating with him and his friends. After his sister enters a house that everyone thinks is a haunted witch's house, he gains the respect of his friends when he goes in after her to find nothing more than a sweet elderly woman, Mrs. Tibble, living in a house that has not been kept up with for the past few years. Arthur realizes that Halloween is not that scary, and Mrs. Tibble just needs someone to help her out.]

The class will discuss ways in which they helped someone out as Arthur and D.W. did in the story. Each child will have a chance to share his/her experience. Get the bag back out from behind the easel, and have students close their eyes. Hand out one Halloween cut-out to each student. When the children open their eyes, they will discuss the object they have. As a class, sing the following song (students with the certain cut-outs will follow the directions from the song):

[Sing the song to "The Muffin Man"]

Do you have the witch's hat, the witch's hat, the witch's hat?
Oh, if you have the witch's hat, please stand up.

Repeat for the other objects. After students stand up, they go back to their seat. After everyone is back at their seat, hand out the dry erase boards and markers. Students will practice making the letter "S" on their board.

Assessment: During the song, observe how well the children followed directions. Did they recognize what their objects were? While discussing ways in which they are helpful, observe students' ability to express their ideas and present a situation that they were helping someone. Observe students as they make the letter "S" on their dry erase boards.