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Teach Students to Try New Things

How to Make Green Eggs and Ham with Dr. Seuss

Dec 5, 2008 Jennifer Wagaman

Some students have difficulties being willing to try new things. Learning a lesson from Dr. Seuss may help them be more open to things that they are not familiar with.

This lesson is best used with children who are in preschool or kindergarten. It may also be helpful for use with students with Autism, as students with this disorder are often reluctant to try new things. The objective of this lesson is to teach students that it is OK to try new things.

Introducing the Lesson to Try New Things

When introducing the lesson, start with a simple conversation. Ask the students how many of them have ever tried something new? This will generally elicit an excited response, so go around the room and ask each student to share one thing that he has tried.

Direct Instruction with Dr. Seuss Book

Once each student has shared, get out Dr. Seuss's book Green Eggs and Ham [Random House, 1960]. Before reading, explain to the children that Sam-I-Am is trying to share something new with his friend. Prompt them to make a prediction by asking if they think the friend will try the new thing? Ask what new thing they think he is going to try? How do they know what it is? The title gives us a hint!

After reading the book, ask the students if Sam's friend liked the green eggs and ham? How do they know he liked them? He tells us he likes them in the book. Ask if they think that they would like to try green eggs and ham? Why and why not? Students may be able to tell you that they would like to try them because the friend in the book liked them so they might like it too.

Guided Practice with Green Eggs and Ham

If you have a microwave in your classroom, you can make your own green eggs and ham. Use lunch meat ham and green food coloring in the scrambled eggs. Together discuss what things each one is afraid of trying and why. If you do not have a microwave, or if your students have an egg allergy, skip the snack and just have the discussion.

Independent Practice to Encourage Creativity

Have the students pair up and decide one thing that they are going to try this week. If they are old enough to know how to write, have them write down what thing they are going to try, otherwise have them draw a picture. For homework, they are then assigned the challenge of trying what they decided upon.

After all of the students have successfully tried one new thing for homework, have them draw a picture or write a few sentences about what they did and whether or not they liked it. Then have a sharing time for them to tell the class what new thing they tried and how it went. Close by telling the students that as long as it is safe, it is OK to try new things.

Check out other lesson plan ideas.

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