Where the Wild Things Are Text Talk Lesson Plan
Text Talk Lesson for Where The Wild Things Are
Author and Illustrator: Maurice Sendak
HarperCollins Children’s Books, 1963, 1991
SUMMARY: This is a story of Max, a little boy who takes an imaginary journey to a land of the “Wild Things”. As Max’s imagination unfolds, his bedroom is transformed into an entirely new world. When he sails to the land of the Wild Things, they quickly make him their ruler. The Wild Things are tamed under Max’s fearless leadership and enjoy a “wild rumpus” planned by Max. Ultimately Max leaves the land of the Wild Things, despite their loving protests, to return home where he finds his dinner waiting for him.
FOCUS: The focus of this story is the imagination of a young boy. He uses his imagination to travel to a land of the Wild Things and become their ruler. Descriptive words are used throughout the book. When using your imagination, descriptive words are important so that others can invision the same thing you are invisioning.
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS:
Cover
Have the students observe the cover of the book. Have them guess what the story may be about. I am sure answers will vary and most might say: “Monsters”.
Page 1
Can you figure out what the word ‘mischief’ means from looking at the picture on page 2? (Mischief: Conduct or activity that playfully causes petty annoyance; tease. Max is making a mess and hammering things to the wall).
Page 5
Do you think his mom would really send him to bed without eating anything? (No. She would not do that, she is his mother. She loves him no matter if he is Max or Wild Thing).
Page 7
Look at all of those trees growing in Max’s bedroom! Have you ever had trees grow in your bedroom? (No. That cannot really happen).
Page 15
1. What do you think is going to happen to Max? Is that dragon going to hurt him?
2. A year is a pretty long time. I bet he misses home.
Page 17
What does gnashed mean? (Gnashed: To grind or strike (the teeth) together). I bet Max is terrified!
Page 18
Oh no! What do you think the monster’s are going to do next? (Eat him, become friends with him, give him a hug). There are lots of different answers the kids may give.
Page 19
What does Max mean when he said he ‘tamed’ them? (Tamed: To soften; tone down. Changed from the wild or savage state).
Page 20
They really like Max and are not frightened by him.
Page 22
What does rumpus mean? (A noisy or violent disturbance; commotion; uproar).
Page 29
What did Max do to the Wild Things, that his mother did to him back at home? (Sent them to bed without supper).
Page 30
Where do you think that smell is coming from? (His house; the food his mother made).
Wrap-Up: Do you think Max really sailed for a year to where the Wild Things are? (No). What do you think really happened? (He imagined it, he dreamed it, he was playing pretend).
Vocabulary: mischief, gnash, tame, rumpus
MISCHIEF
In the story, the first page reads, “The night Max wore his wolf suit and made mischief of one kind”. Mischief is a conduct or activity that playfully causes petty annoyance; tease.
Say the word mischief. Can you think of any other stories we have read where someone gets into mischief? Which of these books has a character who gets into mischief?
Goldilocks and the Three Bears (Yes)
Dennis the Mennis (Yes)
Cinderella (No)
The Three Little Pigs (Yes)
GNASH
The story describes the Wild Things as gnashing their terrible teeth. Gnash means to grind or strike your teeth together (Show them by gnashing your teeth, then let them try. You can even have them act out the Wild Things when Max first meets them: roar their terrible roar, gnash their terrible teeth, roll their terrible eyes, and show their terrible claws).
Say the word gnash. Which of the following animals/insects do you think might gnash their teeth at you?
Bunny Rabbit (No)
Wolf (Yes)
Bear (Yes)
Bird (No)
Butterfly (No)
Shark (Yes)
TAME
The story explains that Max tamed the Wild Things. To tame means to soften; tone down. Changed from the wild or savage state. When he first met the Wild Things they were roaring their roars, gnashing their teeth, rolling their eyes, and showing their claws. But, once Max tamed them with a magic trick, they were still.
Say the word tame. Have you ever heard of someone taming their dog? Lets think about the things you could tame your dog to do. Could you tame your dog to:
Sit? (Yes)
Roll over? (Yes)
Use the toilet? (No)
Drive a car? (No)
Shake their paw? (Yes)
Clean up their own mess? (No)
RUMPUS
After Max tamed the Wild Things, they made him king. As king, Max led a rumpus with the Wild Things. Rumpus means a noisy or violent disturbance; commotion; uproar. During the rumpus, Max and the Wild Things danced and howled at the moon, swung from trees, and marched through the forest.
Say the word rumpus. Which of the following places might you see a rumpus:
Street (Yes. Like a parade).
Church (No)
Yard (Yes)
School (No)
Doctor’s office (No)
Lets think about these words some more…
Which word best describes ‘mischief’? annoyance/funny
How do you gnash your teeth like the Wild Things? (Have them demonstrate).
Which two things can you tame your dog to do? Sit, eat with a fork, roll over, flush the toilet
Which word best describes a rumpus? Noisy/quiet
Image and summary by Google.com
3 Comments »
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Velma Schmider Said:
on October 1, 2009 at 2:21 pm
This is going to be a great lesson plan for you. I have never read this story, but just by looking over the summary, I can tell it will be very interesting. I can’t wait to hear it read by you in the classroom!
Melissa Heller Said:
on October 19, 2009 at 9:50 pm
Megan –
I am glad you chose this book for your text talk lesson plan. I think it will renew in its popularity with the movie coming out (although I have heard rumors it is more for adults than children). Great vocabulary choices and questions.
re3030 Said:
on November 2, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Megan,
Hope you get to use this lesson.
Woody Trathen