Inspire Curiosity with
Host an
event with
the materials
in this
activity kit !
Most children are curious long before they can even pronounce the word. By the time they are
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three or four years old, they start to question everything around them. Every parent has been
asked, “Why?” Let’s celebrate this natural curiosity by exposing children to all types of books,
conversations, and experiences in the children’s room of the public library, the classroom, a
bookstore, and during family time. The only things needed are books, activities, and room for
children to explore their own curiosity.
Children have an innate love of story, and they gravitate to characters that have the same
curiosity that they do. That is why Curious George is a favorite book for story time, especially
for four- to six-year-olds. George is silly—his curiosity gets him into unusual predicaments,
but somehow he seems to always save the day. And George has been doing this to the delight
of children for generations.
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The Story Time Experience
Best Practices
• Act fast and reserve your Curious George and Man with the Yellow Hat costumes
from Costume Specialists to make your story time come alive! Call 614-464-2145, or
visit [Link]. The costumes are free; you just pay for shipping!
• Remember that 15–20 minutes is the limit that most young children can sit for a
story. If children have been read aloud to at home, or if they are regular attendees at
a story time, then they will learn to sit for a longer period of time.
• Arrange the children on the floor around you so that they feel connected to the book.
• Hold the book so that children will be able to see the pictures as you read.
• Tell them the name of the book.
• Invite response by first showing the illustrations in the book and asking children to
tell the story. This teaches them that pictures tell stories. It also helps them grasp the
concept of sequencing. Then read the book aloud. How well did the children do in
telling the story accurately?
• Encourage response as you read the story. When a hand goes up, allow the child to
respond. Listeners’ comments may guide you toward other books for story time.
• It’schildren
Curious George ® is a registered trademark of HMH Publishing Co. © 2014 All rights reserved.
a good idea to plan an interactive activity that connects to the book. This makes
active participants in the reading experience.
• You should always leave time for children to explore books on the shelves to satisfy
their own curiosity.
• Display other picture books that connect to the story used in story time. Do not limit
children to these books as they explore the library or bookstore. Gathering them
together in a display is simply a way to draw children to books similar to the one that
was read aloud at story time.
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Introducing
BEFORE READING:
• Make a connection to the book by asking readers to share what they think the word
“curious” means. Remind them that they should raise their hand and you will call
on them.
• Ask them to share things they are curious about.
• Tell them that today you are going to read about a very curious monkey. His name
is George.
• Read aloud Curious George, the first book about everyone’s favorite curious monkey.
AFTER READING:
Reinforce story comprehension by asking a series of questions and inviting discussion
about the events in the book:
• How does George meet the man with the yellow hat?
• George travels a very long way. How does being curious get him in trouble?
Curious George ® is a registered trademark of HMH Publishing Co. © 2014 All rights reserved.
• Ask children to share a time when George is happy, sad, embarrassed, and scared.
Then have them show you a happy face, a sad face, a scared face, and an
embarrassed face.
• Ask children to describe the part of the book that makes them laugh the most.
• Display other Curious George books and encourage the children to check one out
of the library to read at home.
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Story Time Activities
Below are several fun activities to try at your story time. Pick the ones that
best suit your audience.
• There are lots of ready-to-use activities, games, and classroom resources on the
Curious George website. Visit [Link]/teachers-resources/
classroom-resources. Click on “What’s Your Subject?” to discover a host of different
themes with corresponding activities.
• Curious George is a very active monkey. Have a Curious George dance party! Play
any recording of fun, energetic music and invite the children to dance like monkeys
around the room.
• Everyone knows that bananas are Curious George’s favorite treat. What other healthy
fruits and vegetables might George eat? Have several pieces of colored construction
paper. Hold up an orange piece of paper and have the children call out the color
and then name as many different fruits and vegetables as they can think of that are
orange. Repeat with red, yellow, blue, green, purple, and brown pieces of paper.
• Learn the alphabet with George. Begin by singing the alphabet song with the group.
Then sing the song again and this time ask readers to stand up when the first letter of
their name is sung (e.g., A – Ann; B – Bobby; C – Christopher, D – Delia, etc.) Sing
the song a third time, and ask students to skip to the rhythm of the song.
• Inbooks
Curious George Visits the Zoo, our curious friend meets lots of animals. Display
with pictures of animals that George might see at the zoo. Have each child
choose a favorite one and demonstrate the way the animal moves. Play a recording
of “Carnival of the Animals” and have the children move to the music. Serve animal
crackers as a snack.
• Have
Curious George ® is a registered trademark of HMH Publishing Co. © 2014 All rights reserved.
readers color a picture on a placemat for George to use when he is eating with
the man with the yellow hat. Pass out pieces of construction paper and markers
or crayons and ask the children to draw a picture predicting what George will be
curious about next. Will he be curious about something he sees at a pet store, a
football camp, or a scout meeting? The possibilities are endless with Curious George!
• Curious George loves to dress up for Halloween. Invite children to come to story
time in costume.
• Pass out construction paper and markers or crayons and invite the children to make
cards for Curious George for an upcoming holiday. Use the cards to decorate a
display of holiday-themed books.
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Let's Draw Curious George!
Let's learn how to draw Step 1 Start with George's eyes.
Curious George!
Step 2 Next comes George's face. Step 3 Then draw George's nose.
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[Link]
Let's Draw Curious George!
Add the top of George's head.
Step 4 Give George a big smile! Step 5 Do you think George is
starting to look like George?
George's eyebrows and fur
Step 6 outline come next!
Step 7 Don't forget George's ear!
It'se!
don
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[Link]
Curiosity Card
FOLD
Send this card to a special friend! Cut on the dotted line
below. With the plain white side of the paper facing you, FOLD
fold as indicated to create your card.
CUT HERE
Your friend,
What makes you curious?
Today I am curious about
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Hello!
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Finger Puppets
Cut out the puppets below and tape together at the colored bands. Slip the bands over fingers
and use the puppets to tell a story about Curious George!
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[Link]
[Link]
More Finger Puppets
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Matching
Draw a line to connect the two pictures that go together. The first one is done for you!
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[Link]
Connect the Dots
1 It’s a windy day. Connect the dots
9 in order from 1–14. What will
2 George do today?
10
8
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4
11
12
5
13
6
14
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Connect the Dots
George loves to draw. Connect the dots from 1–43.
What furry friend does George create? 8
7
6 9
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1 2
5 10
3
43
4 11
39 42
38
40 12
41
37
13
14
36
15
35
16
34
17
33
18
32 27 26
28 19
25 21 20
31
22
24
30 29
23
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Picnic Time!
George and the man with the yellow hat are having a picnic. Color the items from the picnic
basket and then number them 1–4 in the order in which George should eat them. What should
George eat first? Second? Third? What can he enjoy all during his meal? Put #4 next to that one!
Juice
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[Link]
Maze
George is on a nature hike and wants
to collect leaves. Can you help him?
START
FINISH
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[Link]
Maze
George wants to take a bike ride.
Can you help him find his way to the pond?
START
FINISH
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[Link]
Bookmarks
Use crayons or markers to color the bookmarks below. Cut them
out and use them to keep your place in your favorite books!
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Mask
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Print this page on
white card stock.
Color George, then cut Be sure to
out his head. Glue a popsicle cut out eye
stick to the back. You now have holes so you
can see!
your Curious George mask!
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I'm Curious About . . .
Draw a picture in the box below of something you’re curious
about. Share your idea with friends. Find books to
help you satisfy your curiosity about this idea.
Curious George ® is a registered trademark of HMH Publishing Co. © 2014 All rights reserved.
[Link]
I'm Curious About . . .
In the space below, write about something you’re curious
about. Share your idea with friends. Find books to help you
satisfy your curiosity about this idea.
Curious George ® is a registered trademark of HMH Publishing Co. © 2014 All rights reserved.
[Link]
