The Sneetches
The Sneetches, while one of Dr. Seuss’ lesser known books, carries a strong and important message of tolerance, acceptance, and respect for differences. I think beyond racism and discrimination, this book can also be a springboard for talks on bullying and treating others kindly no matter what. We will be celebrating what makes us the same as well as what makes us different. So, in honor of Dr. Seuss’ upcoming birthday I have pulled together some snacks, activities, crafts, and a sensory experience to support the book- the emphasis is that ALL people have value, despite differences, or maybe because of them. You can choose to stretch it out over the week and do all the activities included or pick a few of your favorites to make a day of it.
Starfruit Snack Idea
Since stars are a big part of this book what could make a better snack than a Starfruit? I love getting fresh fruit into the kids as often as I can. This was a fun, new food experience for them as well as reinforcing an idea from the book. If you have never tried them- We simply wash them well, slice them, and eat them whole. Starfruits are about the consistency of a grape, and very mild in flavor, barely sweet, I would say they are like a grape and an apple combined. Before cutting into the starfruit, I asked the kids to guess what they thought they would taste like, and again after cutting into when they could see the pretty star shape it made, and finally after they tried it I asked them if it tasted like they thought it would by appearances. This led to a discussion on judging things by appearance.
Easy Lesson on Diversity
We had lunch and a lesson with this one, I made ham and cheese sandwiches with exactly identical bread and fillings. I then cut each layer out with 2 different cookie cutter shapes, a star and a heart. We put the sandwiches together and talked about how while they looked different they were essentially the same and that is often the case with people.
As a former girl Scout Troop Leader, I wanted to showcase realistic crafts, recipes and other activities that the average person can accomplish. Nothing is worse then spending several hours on one project only to be disappointed with the results. Stay with us this week as we celebrate Dr. Seuss’s Birthday and find creative ways we can tie in one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books – The Sneetches and everyday crafts and recipes.
What is your favorite Dr. Seuss Classic?
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