The Magic of Maxwell and his Tail by author Maureen Kanefield
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Parent and Teacher Resources

 

Teaching is very similar to being a writer and an actor. You need to write a script—your lesson plan. You need to make sure that your script—communicates a purpose—your goals for your students. Therefore, practice your script. Don’t come unprepared. Learn your material. Timing and training are compulsory. No one can elicit a positive response from an audience if you haven’t learned your lines and prepared your production. Make sure you set your standards high.  And lastly, make certain you entertain and deliver your message. This is not a dress rehearsal.
Dear Teachers and Parents,
The Magic of Maxwell and His Tail is a great reading resource to reinforce many of the Common Core literacy standards.

Common Core Standards

Kindergarten Common Core Standards
First Grade Common Core Standards
Second Grade Common Core Standards
Third Grade Common Core Standards

 

Some unique lesson plans that are both practical and creative!

 

Fun Activities

Maxwell Coloring Sheet – Click to download
Hats to Color – Click to download
Writing Activity – Click to download

 

 

Challenge Activities

 

Reading and Language
What is the meaning of personification? Find three examples of personification in the story. Writing and Drawing
Maxwell wears many hats, both literally and figuratively, in the story. What other hats would you like Maxwell to wear? Draw Maxwell in this hat. Describe Maxwell’s job or role using information from another source.

Science/Reading and Oral Discussion Challenge
Find information about how mice are used for medical research.
How do you feel about mice being used for this purpose? Support your opinion with at least three facts.

Social Studies
Maxwell dreams that someday he could master art like
what famous Renaissance artist? Name a masterpiece this artist completed.

Math
Find the perimeter of a baseball diamond. Hint: Calculate using 90 feet between each base
**
answer found at the bottom of the page

 

 

 

 

Kids Corner

Fun Facts About Mice
  • A mouse’s hind legs are shorter than their forelegs.
  • Mice are nocturnal.
  • Mice have a keen sense of seeing, hearing, and smelling.
  • Their tails are as long as their bodies.
  • In the wild, they seldom survive for an average of 5 months, but in captivity they are known to live for somewhere around 1-2 years.
  • The male mouse is called a buck.
  • The female mouse is called a doe.
  • Newborn mice, called pups, are blind at birth.
  • Mice sleep more than 12 hours a day.
  • Mice are neat freaks. They organize their homes in sections.
  • Mice can jump up to 18 inches in the air.
  • Mice will feed and take care of young that are not their own.
  • Mice are very intelligent rodents. They are able to wind through mazes quickly and efficiently.
  • Stories about mice date back to ancient times. In Ancient Egypt, cooked mice were said to cure many ills.

 

 


**Add up all of the distances. You are adding 90 plus 90 plus 90 plus 90 or 4s. The final number is 360 feet .

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