Teach with the Curious George Book and Movie
Use Both Print and Technology to Focus on Comprehension Skills
Jun 14, 2009
It's time to search the shelves and dust off the Curious George series. This timeless classic has been reintroduced to young children with the help of the film brought to life by Universal Studios and Imagine Entertainment. The gentle, colorful animation helps make the curious monkey more modern and lovable.
Children will be delighted with his antics, and teachers will embrace a family movie that does not rely heavily on graphics and action likened to video games, adult humor, or innuendos. The soundtrack features original songs by Jack Johnson, which are upbeat yet soothing and round out the relaxing atmosphere.
Comparing Book and Movie
The movie tells the story of Ted (voiced by Will Ferrell), the infamous man with the yellow hat, traveling all the way to Africa to search for the lost Shrine of Zagawa that will save his boss, Mr. Bloomsberry (voiced by Dick Van Dyke), and the museum where he works from financial ruin. After more than sixty years of reading about the monkey filled with wonder and amazement, the movie gives a different background on how George actually came to live in the city.
The movie features many scenes familiar to Curious George readers, such as George playing with the yellow hat and George floating over the city with a bunch of balloons. It also incorporates scenes from other books in the series. For instance, George breaks a dinosaur exhibit and flies in a rocket, reminiscent of Curious George Gets a Medal. And, the ever-inquisitive monkey rides on top of taxis through the city and paints murals on apartment walls as he does in Curious George Takes A Job.
The film captures all of George's innocent fascination with objects that are new to him. And, just like in the book, the man with the yellow hat adores him and always comes to the rescue of this whimsical character. Unlike the book, the movie's plot does not merely focus on the monkey's curiosity and the tumultuous results of his actions. Instead, it revolves around the man with the yellow hat and features several seemingly unnecessary subplots such as a love interest (voiced by Drew Barrymore) for Ted and a competition between Ted and the boss's son for the father's affections.
Curiosity and Inquiry
Although the movie takes on a story of its own, many children will be introduced to this character for the first time and will identify with George and understand his constant questioning of how things work. Teachers can use the interest in this character, sparked by the movie, as a springboard to introduce the Curious George series in the classroom in several ways.
First, they could make a list of things that George was curious about and follow it with a list of things their students are curious about. What better way to start a child-directed inquiry-based project? Next, teachers could use the results of George's actions as a reinforcement of the fact that rules are meant to keep everyone safe. They could discuss these rules and logical consequences.
Teaching Reading Comprehension Skills
After reading several books from the series, children will be able to take their understanding deeper. Teachers will be able to focus on the comprehension skills of making connections, predicting, and questioning. Going further, students could conduct an author study and research H.A. and Margaret Rey and their story, reading The Journey That Saved Curious George [Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2005].
A technological aspect could be introduced to the unit by using the Curious George DVD website and the Curious George page at the Houghton Mifflin website. Both are age-appropriate and contain a wealth of interesting information.
Whether using the movie or reintroducing the books, a teacher can't go wrong in the classroom using this cute monkey and his charming, childlike qualities for language arts lessons.
