Hilda McGilda's Tools for Teachers:
Hilda McGilda, The Witch Who Was Too Pretty is a delightful new fairytale for all ages that teaches an important life lesson while asking the following questions:
1.) What is friendship?
2.) What is magic and what makes you magical?
3.) What is more important: being what you are supposed to be, or being who you really are?
Using zany rhyme, hilarious expressions and whimsical illustrations,
Hilda McGilda lends itself to improving language, writing, sequencing,
art skills and even cooking in a fun, imaginative way.
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Sequencing skills
1.) Type the words from pages 14 in the book when Hilda McGilda "transforms" (that's a magical word for "changes") from a dumpy old witch into a pretty witch. Cut apart each line and give them to the students to glue back in order. They could then draw a picture to go along with the words and all the changes ("transformations") that happen to poor Hilda McGilda.
2.) Have the students predict what is going to happen next in the story based on the illustrations.
3.) Go through the book again with the students, but this time without using the words. Have the students tell the story by using the illustrations for help. Write down the story as the class "reads" it. How important are the illustrations in a picture storybook?
Daily Journal Writing
Monday - What makes you magical? (Teachers, be ready for anything here! SMILE)
Tuesday - If you could be any character in the story, who would you want to be and why?
Wednesday - Why do you think Hilda McGilda couldn't stand to be pretty for one minute longer?
Thursday - What is your favorite colorful (that's a magical word for "silly") Hilda McGilda expression?
Examples are:
"Gazooks!"
"Great balls of fire!"
"Jumping Jehoshaphat!"
"Hullabaloo!"
"Egads!"
"Divine!"
"Ghastly horrors!"
"Oh my stars!"
"What in the moon?"
"Crim-i-ny!"
Why do you think Hilda and her friends use them? Write your own colorful expression.
Remember: colorful means "silly," not swearing! Even witches know that swearing is a "no-no!"
Friday - Try to create your own fairytale using words that rhyme.
Comprehension
Look at the pictures in the storybook and be prepared to retell the story. What kind of emotions are being displayed by each character? Notice Spook's expressions. Connect events in the story to life. How would you feel if your entire life "transformed" overnight?
Story Map
Title:
Settings:
Characters:
Problem:
Solution:
1.) List five questions you would like to ask the characters. Be sure to include Spook! In fact, what makes
Spook a character?
2.) What are the three tension building sections of the story? What is the turning point, or "climax" of the
story?
3.) How do the character in the story try to solve their problem?
4.) What is the conclusion of the story? Do you think it is the right conclusion? Why or why not?
After taking the story apart, have the students create a continuing adventure story for Hilda McGilda and her friends. What happens to Hilda McGilda next? Do she and Spook experience more adventures? What is special about Hilda McGilda's cave? What happened to Hilda McHilda to make her such an extraordinary witch before the beginning of the story?
Cooking With Hilda McGilda (Read to Perform a Task)
For an extra fun activity, have the class tell you what they think Bubbling Brew tastes like. Make a "safe" version of Bubbling Brew in your classroom:
Bubbling Brew for Mortals:
ice cubes
punch bowl
1 large bottle of 100% purple grape juice
1/2 bottle of 7-Up
wooden spoon
1 small bottle of club soda
ladle and cups
Step 1.) In a large punch bowl place ice.
Step 2.) Pour in all of the grape juice carefully so it doesn't splatter!
Step 3.) Slowly add in 1/2 of a large bottle of 7-Up
Step 4.) Stir, stir, stir.
Step 5.) Carefully pour in a small bottle of club soda. Watch the bubbles form!!!
Step 6.) Stir, stir, stir.
Step 7.) Ladle a small scoopful into a cup and sip.
Watch out for the bubbles! They'll tickle your nose!
Non-magical Cherries Jubilee:
small ice-cream bowl
ice-cream scoop
can opener
soup-size tablespoon
1 large carton of vanilla ice-cream
1 can of cherry pie filling
1 cannister of whipped cream
1 jar marachino cherries
teaspoon
Step 1.) Place 1 scoop of ice-cream in a bowl.
Step 2.) Carefully open the can of cherry pie-filling with the can-opener. (Teacher may assist)
Step 3.) Spoon 1 or 2 tablespoonfuls of cherry pie filling over the ice-cream.
Step 4.) Shake the whipped cream can and carefully spray 1 dollop on top of the cherries.
Step 5.) Stick one marachino cherry on top and grab your spoon.
Yummy for the tummy!
