Class Mascot

Language Arts Activity

Children will create their own tales to tell using a class mascot for inspiration.

WHAT YOU NEED

A class mascot
A backpack
A notebook of ruled paper

WHAT TO DO

Choose a particular stuffed animal or toy as a class mascot and have children decide upon a name for their new friend. Then brainstorm with children some background information about the mascot. Some ideas might be:
- Where and when it was born
- All about its family
- What its personality is like
- How it got its distinctive features
- Its best friends
- What it likes to do
- Where it has already traveled
Each child will then write a paragraph or two, embellishing upon one of the ideas discussed (or any other idea).
Next, explain to children that they will take turns bringing home the mascot and notebook. In the notebook, they are to write their own tale about an adventure the mascot had or something it did. The tale could be about a trip to the dentist or an amusement park. How about a ride on a giant bird! Encourage them to let their imaginations fly. Also, suggest to children that they refer to the information written in class for ideas or details to use in their tales.
Show children the backpack and explain what's inside (in addition to the mascot and notebook):
- Information they wrote in class about the mascot
- A note to parents explaining what to do
- A list of items that should be returned to school
You might want to keep a list of the dates children take the mascot home and when the mascot should be returned. Each time the mascot returns to school, set aside some special time for the child to tell or read the tale to the rest of the class.

TEACHING OPTIONS

After everyone has written a tale, print each one on a construction paper panel, fastening the individual panels together to form a story quilt. Children could also make panels to illustrate their mascot's adventures.
Make a story caterpillar with each adventure printed on round body sections.
Create a story scroll - the adventures are all written on a 9- or 12-inch roll of paper. As the adventures add up, the scroll gets longer and longer.

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