The Grinch tried to steal Huddleston Elementary’s Christmas, but the big hearts of the Hounds helped him see the error of his ways and join in the festivities.
When students in Meredith Mazzillo’s kindergarten class arrived in the morning, they realized their tree had been stolen, and the Grinch left a note detailing his dastardly deeds.
“When the Grinch visited our classroom, one student told the Grinch that he hoped his heart would grow, and he should return our tree,” said Mazzillo. “Later that morning, we heard a knock at the classroom door and saw a note with the first clue.”
Students had to follow the rhyming riddles and use context clues to figure out where they needed to go next on the scavenger hunt. The search ended when the students followed the last clue to the ice cream machine. Along with their tree, the Grinch left a note saying his heart had grown and left a little treat for each student.
Lessons in the week leading up to the day included making reading connections and writing about themes, including what can make people feel like a “grouchy Grinch” and what they could do to help make the Grinch grin.
“They were so excited to compare their experience to being like the Whos in Whoville when the Grinch’s heart had grown and the tree was returned,” said Mazzillo. “They later wrote about the experience and shared their stories with their classmates.”
