Monster Mash (PDF)

							                             Monster Mash
                       (Target Audience: Ages 6–8)

Not all monsters are scary – remember Grover, Cookie Monster and Elmo?

1. Invite children to dress up as a funny monster, with prizes for the funniest
   in each age category.

2. Play the song, “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, get the kids to
   dance along and have staff dress up as mad scientists.
        a. Because the budget was so small when recording the song, all of
           the sound effects were actually performed live. According to
           Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monster_mash), “the sound
           of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of
           a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water
           being bubbled through a straw and the chains rattling were simply
           chains being dropped on a tile floor.” Have some fun with the
           group by making the sound effects together.

3. Play Monster Mash-Up
        a. Draw or make a giant-sized monster, being as detailed as you
           can with separate body parts (horns, sharp teeth, three eyes, tail,
           etc.) Cut up the monster into separate body parts and place in a
           large, black garbage bag. Keep the torso separate from the parts
           in the bag and tape on wall. Get kids to select a part from the bag
           and add it to the monster’s body anywhere they like to create a
           new monster, making sure to encourage creative new uses for the
           parts.

4. Play Mix-and-Match-a-Monster
        a. Using 6 different clip-art monsters, photocopy and enlarge
           enough for the group. Cut each monster into 3 segments – Head,
           Torso and Legs. Allow children to mix and match parts to create
           their very own monster, and let them colour and decorate their
           monsters as they wish.

5. Play Monster Match-Up
        a. In a grid pattern, arrange 16 pieces of coloured paper on a wall,
           taping only the top edge down.
        b. Select 8 funny monsters and photocopy each once.
        c. Randomly tape the monsters behind the coloured paper.
        d. Place kids on 2 teams.
        e. On a rotational basis, have 2 kids from Team 1 try to reveal
           matching monsters on the wall.
        f. Switch teams and repeat until all matches are made.




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   6. Share a funny monster story (see suggested books below) and then have
      children create their own pet monster.
            a. Provide each child with a large piece of blank paper and materials
               to create and decorate (crayons, paint, construction and tissue
               paper, feathers, fabric, sequins, sparkles, ribbons, fun fur, etc.)
               their pet monster. Provide a certificate-like form for children to
               indicate their pet’s name, age, interests, likes/dislikes, quirks, etc.,
               and stamp the certificate to show that their pet has been entered
               into the Pet Monster Registry. Award prizes for most creative,
               furriest, funniest, etc., or display monsters in the library.

   7. Make “Monster” bookmarks.
          a. Tell the children that you will be creating monster bookmarks so
             they can take a bite out of a good book.
          b. Provide each child with a piece of sturdy coloured paper (Bristol
             board works well) and have children fold it in half.
          c. Cut the folded paper so it looks like a semi-circle and opens to
             look like a circle.
          d. With the circle opened, attach magnets to opposite sides so that
             when the paper is folded, the magnets stick together.
          e. Fold the paper up so that the magnets attach, and have children
             paste on googly eyes, horns, teeth and the other trappings of a
             funny monster.
          f. On the back of the bookmark, have children write “Take a bite out
             of a good book!” and demonstrate how to use it with a book.

Suggested Books:

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Your Pal Mo Willems Presents Leonardo the Terrible Monster by Mo Willems

The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone

Go Away, Big Green Monster by Ed Emberley

Suggested Videos/DVDs:

Monsters, Inc.
The Muppet Show
Shrek




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