8THE NEW VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOL © THE NEW 42ND STREET, INC.

before | THE GRUFFALO

COMMON CORE STANDARDSReading: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 7; 10Speaking and Listening: 1; 3; 5; 6Language: 1; 4

NEW YORK STATE STANDARDSThe Arts: 1; 4ELA: 1; 4

BLUEPRINT FOR THE ARTSTheater: Developing Theater Literacy; Making ConnectionsVisual Art: Art Making

This section is part of a full New Victory® School toolTM Resource Guide. For the complete guide, including information about the New Victory Education Department check out: NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS

INSIDE BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

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Ready-to-implement classroom activities that explore the themes and artistry of the show.

ACTIVITY: ACTIVATE THE GRUFFALO!

Prepare your students to see THE GRUFFALO by reading through the story with your students using puppets!

PREP

1. Before you begin, purchase or borrow from your local library a copy of The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson.

2. Using the CREATIVITY PAGE: Paper Puppets on the next page, have your students create their own Mouse and Gruffalo finger puppets!

3. Read through the story on your own and decide at which specific moments in the story to have students “activate” their Mouse and Gruffalo finger puppets. Where and how should they come alive?

ACTIVITY

1. Gather your students into their storytime space.

2. Before you begin reading the story, have your students put a finger puppet on each hand. Then, teach them these repeated parts of the story that they will all recite with you when it’s time:

a. “A mouse took a stroll in the deep dark wood. A (for example: fox) saw the mouse, and the mouse looked good.”

b. “What’s a gruffalo?”

c. “A gruffalo! Why you don’t know?”

3. Read through The Gruffalo with your students, guiding them in bringing their puppets to life with their fingers to enliven the story!

REFLECTION QUESTIONSWhat was your favorite part about the story The Gruffalo? Why?

Do everyone’s puppets look the same or are they different? Why do you think that is?

How do you think watching the story on stage at the New Victory will be different from reading it in our classroom?

9THE NEW VICTORY® THEATER / NEWVICTORY.ORG/SCHOOLTOOLS © THE NEW 42ND STREET, INC.

before | THE GRUFFALOINSIDE BEFORE EN ROUTE AFTER

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BE A PART OF YOUR KID'S FIELD TRIP!®

WATCH

• Check out the video trailer and a message from the company! NewVictory.org

• While you're there, do the suggested Family Activities to learn more about the show.

NewVictory.org/FamilyActivities

ASK

Ask your kid BEFORE the show: • What do you imagine the Gruffalo character will look like on stage?• What are you most excited about for your trip to 42nd Street?

Ask your kid AFTER the show: • What was your favorite part of seeing THE GRUFFALO?• Which songs did you enjoy most in the show?• How was THE GRUFFALO different from other shows you’ve seen?

VISIT

The New Vic is New York City’s only performing arts theater exclusively devoted to kids, their families and classmates—

bringing exhilarating stories, innovative art forms and unparalleled performers from around the world to our

historic stage in Times Square. For a full list of shows in the New Vic’s 2015-16 season, visit NewVictory.org.

CREATIVITYPAGE®

Create your own finger puppets of Mouse and the Gruffalo!

BONUS: Bring these puppets with you when you come toThe New Victory Theater! We’d love to see them!