Unit 4 Skills Building: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Skills Building: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (PK-5)

Written by William Joyce and illustrated by William Joyce and Joe Bluhm

Pre Reading Questions

What are all the ways you use to communicate with others?
Is communication ever difficult for you? When? Why or why not?
What kind of things have been communicated to you through books?
If you had to communicate with someone only through a book, what would you write about and what would you say?

Post Reading Questions

How do you think Mr. Lessmore felt when everything became jumbled in his life, even his book?
Why do you think the book that the lady in the sky gave Mr. Morris led him to a library full of more books and stories?
Why do you think the second time Mr. Morris wrote his life story was more successful than the first time?
Why do you think Mr. Morris left his book before he flew away?

Creative Enrichment Activity: Flying Book (Pre-K-5)

Overview: In the book The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, we read about the way we can use books to communicate and tell our own stories. Today, you will create your own fantastic flying book about your life.

Materials

● Construction paper
● Standard printer paper paper
● Book wing template printed on card stock. Download template.
● Patterned washi tape or colored masking tape
● Yarn, string, or ribbon (approximately 2 feet of yarn per student)
● Markers for decorating
● Stapler
● Hole puncher
● Glue dots, tape, or glue sticks

Duration: 45 minutes (for staff: 5-minute pre-activity setup, 15-minute prep)

● 5 minutes: Introduce the activity using the book and examples.
● 10 minutes: Assemble the book
● 10 minutes: Write or draw in the book pages
● 10 minutes: Decorate and add the book wings
● 5 minutes: Clean up
● 5 minutes: Reflect

Instructions

Staff prep: cut the construction paper into quarters, resulting in four, 4″ x 6″ rectangles. Each student needs one rectangle for their book cover. Then, cut the printer paper into quarters creating four rectangles. Each student needs two white rectangles. Cut out the wings for younger students.
Introduce the activity using the book and the examples.
Let students choose one construction paper rectangle and two printer paper rectangles.
Fold the two white paper rectangles into the construction paper cover and staple it twice. (Note: Staff may need to help students with this step.)
Punch a hole at the top of the book, about 1″ away from the spine.
Run a piece of washi tape or color masking tape down each side of the book to create a spine.
Students should write and draw in the book. They can write their life stories, things they like, family, etc. but it should be about themselves and not made up!
Cut out and decorate the book wings. (These should be pre-cut for younger students.)
Glue or tape the wings to the book.
Run the piece of yarn through the inside of the book and through the hole-punch; tie at the top.
Clean up the materials.
Enjoy your flying book!
Reflect as a group.

Reflection Questions

Share your book with a neighbor.
Why do you think it is important to communicate with others and tell our own stories?
How did it feel to write about yourself?
How was your book similar or different from your neighbor’s book?
How can you share important things about yourself with people you know?

Skills Building: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore (PK-5)

Creative Enrichment Activity: Flying Book (Pre-K-5)

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