Cause and Effect Fun: Delving into ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie’

Preschool / Pre-Primary / Nursery / Pre-Kindergarten Lesson Plan – Learning If You Give a Mouse a Cookie Book, Maria Montessori philosophy

Title: “Cause and Effect Fun: Delving into ‘If You Give a Mouse a Cookie'”

Age Group: Preschool / Pre-Primary / Nursery / Pre-Kindergarten (3-5 years old)

Learning Framework: Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) – USA

Educational Approach: Montessori Method

Learning Outcomes (Based on ELOF):

1. Language and Literacy: Enhance listening comprehension, vocabulary, and understanding of narratives.
2. Cognition: Introduce the concept of cause and effect and sequences.
3. Perceptual, Motor, and Physical Development: Develop fine motor skills through hands-on activities.
4. Approaches to Learning: Foster creativity and problem-solving skills.
5. Social and Emotional Development: Develop patience and the ability to wait for turns.

Resources Needed:

• The book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” by Laura Numeroff
• Art supplies (paper, coloring tools, scissors, glue)
• A simple cookie recipe and cooking materials
• Pretend play materials (like a toy mouse and pretend cookie)

Lesson Plan:

1. Story Introduction (20 minutes):

Introduce the book and read “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” focusing on the sequence of events.

2. Story Discussion (15 minutes):

Discuss the story, touching on the cause and effect of each action in the story. Ask questions like, “What happened when the mouse got a cookie?”, “What did the mouse want after the milk?”, etc. to gauge understanding.

3. Art Activity – Mouse and Cookie (30 minutes):

Invite children to create their own mouse and cookie using art supplies. This will enhance fine motor skills and creativity.

4. Sequence Activity – Story Ordering (30 minutes):

Prepare a set of pictures representing key events in the story. Children arrange the pictures in order, reinforcing their understanding of sequences and the cause and effect concept.

5. Practical Life Activity – Baking Cookies (60 minutes):

Under adult supervision, children participate in baking simple cookies, following a recipe. This not only ties back to the story but is a hands-on way to develop patience, fine motor skills, and understanding of sequences.

6. Pretend Play (30 minutes):

Children engage in pretend play with the toy mouse and pretend cookie, re-enacting the story. This activity enhances creativity and understanding of the story.

7. Reflection and Conclusion (15 minutes):

Discuss the activities of the day, ask about their favorite parts, and discuss what they learned from the story and activities.

Assessment:

Assess children’s comprehension of the story, their participation in activities, understanding of sequences and cause and effect, and their ability to express their thoughts and feelings about the story.

Alignment with Montessori Method:

This lesson plan embraces the Montessori approach through its hands-on learning, practical life activity (cookie baking), child-led pretend play, and integration of various subjects (language, science, art, and math).

Link to ELOF:

This lesson plan covers all five domains of ELOF – language and literacy, cognition, perceptual, motor and physical development, approaches to learning, and social and emotional development – ensuring a comprehensive and enriching learning experience.