Your kids are so lucky you're going to "LitWit" this fabulous book, and bring out its valuable lessons in fun, hands-on ways! They're going to have a blast! And thanks to you, they'll always remember this story, and be influenced by its positive messages for life.

Here are a few things to know ahead of time:

Reading

We recommend you have the kids read (or listen to) the whole book, just for fun, before taking your "field trip" through the narrative arc—that way there aren't any spoilers. You, too, will enjoy the shared experience more if the story is fresh in your mind.

Props

As you read, keep an eye out for items from the book you might like to collect and share, and ask your kids to do the same. Of course props are optional, but a table of objects pulled “straight from the story” can lead to all sorts of wonderful discussions and wide-eyed, “aha!” moments. Items unique to the setting help kids understand “what that was like,” and those symbolic of themes make big ideas visual and tangible. You don't need to buy anything, unless you want to—you’d be surprised how many things might be hiding in plain sight. Grandparents, garages, attics, and junk drawers sometimes yield the greatest treasures.

Prep

When you're ready, print the printables and gather supplies. The supplies lists and instructions are on our web page of Creative Teaching Ideas for The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet. (You can right-click anywhere on the page to print all or part, if you'd like.)

Near the bottom of that page, you'll find a heads-up about some key teaching points (see Takeaway Topics), and curated Learning Links for extra background info and extended learning opportunities, especially for older or more advanced kids.

Teaching

How: You might want to introduce the narrative arc, then go through its plot points, pausing to do relevant activities while discussing their purpose in the story. (A short description of the narrative arc is on our StoryLines worksheet; we've also included "How to Explain the Narrative Arc to Kids.") In our workshops, we weave worksheets in between activities, to keep the writing light and energy high. But do whatever best serves your teaching needs, in the order that keeps your kids respectfully engaged—so they want to read more!

Why: Besides nurturing a lifelong love of literature, the main point is to help kids grasp what the protagonist learned for life. So while discussion questions and teaching points are often academic, try to connect them to the character's personal development. In the end, the most important thing a great book tells readers is if s/he could make that positive change, so can you.

That's all you need to know, we think—but if you have any questions, just ask. Otherwise, enjoy this story, and have a wonder-full time!

Happy teaching,

Becky and Jenny

Your kids can use our six worksheets to:

• take notes about the author while watching this video.

• learn the important concept of the narrative arc, gain an overview of this story's structure, and engage in discussion questions (key included). You might also find this worksheet helpful for sequencing your activities.

• locate the setting of the story

• learn why the author's similes work

• learn some key mushroom anatomy

• practice scientific writing

For creative ways to integrate these worksheets into activities, see our Creative Teaching Resources for The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet.

Our activity printables help you teach this book in hands-on, meaningful ways. For supplies lists, instructions, and more lesson-planning aids, see our Creative Teaching Resources for The Wonderful Flight to the Mushroom Planet.

The Becky & Jenny version:  Feel free to print pages for teaching use, and make copies of printables for your students. Please don’t use our name, ideas, or materials commercially or share our printables, though we'd love for you to tell your fellow educators about our resources.

The blah legal version: You are granted exclusive use of our products in download or print version as follows: You have the right of reproduction that is limited to your use only in whatever quantity is necessary to meet your needs and those of your student participants. This right is unlimited and extends for as long as you need the materials during which time they cannot be given to or shared with any other person(s) through any means of delivery, materially or digitally via the Internet. As such you have the right to store the product(s) on the hard drive of your computer or as hard copy in your resource file.  Any misuse of these rights is in violation of copyright law.

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LitWits® teaching materials for Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry

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