Created'by'Mary'Blow'©'2016'

Plotting(with(the(Grinch(

by'Mary'Blow'

(

Overview:'You'can'use'many'other'Christmas'books,'but'I'

chose'to'use'How$the$Grinch$Stole$Christmas!$by'Dr.'Seuss'to'

review'elements'of'plot'with'my'students.'

'

(

Materials(

• How$the$Grinch$Stole$Christmas!'by'Dr.'Seuss'

• List'of'discussion'questions'

• Grinch'Gram'Hearts'(reproducible'or'die'cuts)'

'

Before(Reading'

Think'about'and'discuss'the'question:'What'does'it'mean'when'a'person'is'described'as'

'

so'I'asked'a'question,'provided'time'for'think-pair-share,'and'then'students'responded.'

Since'this'is'their'first'experience'with'applying'academic'vocabulary'to'analyzing'a'story,'

they'were'encouraged'to'reference'their'notes'during'the'discussions.''

'

1. Identify'the'exposition'in'the'“How'the'Grinch'Stole'Christmas!”'[The$main$character,$

the$Grinch,$is$introduced.$The$setting$is$Mt.$Crumpit,$just$north$of$Who-ville.$The$main$

conflict$is$that$the$Grinch$hates$Christmas$and$wants$to$stop$it.]'

'

2. Why'is'the'Mt.'Crumpit'setting'important'to'the'development'of'the'plot'or'story.'[It$

anyone$from$visiting.$Despite$being$the$holiday$season,$it$lacks$Christmas$decorations.$

Created'by'Mary'Blow'©'2016'

It$is$snow$covered$and$cold,$a$reflection$of$the$cold,$heartless$Grinch.$In$contrast,$Who-

ville$is$peaceful$and$welcoming.$The$homes$are$decorated$for$Christmas$and$the$people$

are$peacefully$sleeping.$The$settings$combined$are$a$reflection$of$the$characters’$

hearts.]'

'

4. What'types'of'conflicts'are'revealed'in'the'story?'[Man$versus$society$is$revealed$

when$the$Grinch$dislikes$the$tradition$of$celebrating$Christmas$and$wants$to$prevent$

Christmas$from$coming.$Man$versus$self$is$depicted$at$the$end$of$the$story$when$the$

Grinch’s$puzzles$over$the$Whos’$happiness$despite$his$stealing$Christmas.$His$hatred$

'

6. What'other'details'reveal'that'the'Grinch'is'a'mean'character?'[The$Grinch$hates$

Christmas$and$all$the$Whos$down$in$Who-ville.$He$is$described$as$having$a$“sour,$

Grinchy$frown,”$which$suggests$he$is$miserable$all$the$time.$He$breaks$into$the$Whos$

houses$and$steals$their$gifts.$He$lies$to$Cindy-Lou.]$$

'

7. Cindy-Lou'is'a'flat'character,'an'innocent'little'girl.'Why'do'you'think'the'author'

wrote'the'story'with'an'innocent'child'questioning'the'evil'Grinch'as'he'steals'the'

Grinch’s$evilness$or$meanness.]$

does'the'Grinch'learn?'[The$Grinch$learns$that$you$cannot$prevent$Christmas$from$

coming.$He$realizes$that$it$does$not$come$from$a$store.$It$is$found$in$our$hearts,$our$

values,$and$our$beliefs$shared$with$family,$which$is$why$the$Whos$are$singing$despite$

the$lack$of$presents.]$

$

10. The'resolution'or'ending'of'the'story'often'gives'you'a'peek'into'the'future.'What'

can'you'infer'about'the'Grinch’s'future?'[The$Grinch$is$not$only$having$Christmas$

dinner$with$the$Whos,$but$he$is$carving$the$roast$beast,$a$food$he$detests,$but$obviously$

now$enjoys.$We$can$infer$that$he$becomes$a$part$of$the$Who-ville$society$and$becomes$

friends$with$the$Whos.]'

Created'by'Mary'Blow'©'2016'

12. The'Grinch’s'heart'grows'three'sizes'on'Christmas'day.'What'does'this'symbolize?'

(A$person$with$a$big$heart$is$kind,$generous,$and$thoughtful.$The$Grinch’s$growing$

heart$symbolizes$these$positive$characteristics$and$that$he$has$changed.)'

'

Grinch(Grams(Extension(Activity(

their'classmates.''They'learn'that'

words'have'the'power'to'make'

and'white)'to'symbolize'how'the'

Grinch’s'heart'grew'three'sizes.'You'certainly'can'do'this,'but'if'you'want'to'save'class'time,'

download'“Grinch'Gram'Hearts”'to'use'in'your'classroom.''

'

comment,'a'sentence'or'two,'on'the'heart.'As'an'example,'I'created'Grinch'Grams'for'my'

homeroom'students'and'put'them'on'my'hallway'bulletin'board'for'the'holidays.'When'

students'are'finished,'they'give'their'hearts'to'their'classmates.'My'sixth'graders'love'to'

decorate'lockers'on'birthdays'and'holidays,'so'they'jump'on'the'opportunity'to'decorate'

their'lockers'with'the'Grinch'grams.'

• Christmas$Day$in$the$Morning'by'Pearl'S.'Buck,'illustrated'by'Mark'Buehner'

• The$Christmas$Miracle$of$Jonathan$Toomey'by'Susan'Wojciechowski,'illustrated'by'

P.J.'Lynch'

• The$Gift$of$the$Magi'by'O.'Henry,'illustrated'by'P.J.'Lynch'

• The$Little$Match$Girl'by'Hans'Christian'Andersen,'illustrated'by'Rachel'Isadora'

• Owl'Moon'by'Jane'Yolen,'illustrated'by'John'Schoenherr'

• The$Polar$Express'by'Chris'Van'Allsburg'

• Christmas$in$the$Trenches$by'John'McCutcheon,'illustrated'by'Henri'Sorensen'

• Christmas$Tapestry$by'Patricia'Polacco'