The Teacher from the Black Lagoon

It's the first day of school and all are nervous. When a boy falls asleep in class he has a wild and vivid dream about his new teacher Mrs. Green. In his nightmare, Mrs. Green is a monster with a tail and smoke coming out of her nostrils. The boy is relieved to wake up and find that the real Mrs. Green is as sweet as can be.

To buy this book, click here or on the book cover.

Enrichment Activities
Internet Resources
Books by Mike Thaler

Enrichment Activities

• Character Comparison
  Use a Venn diagram to compare and contrast the two Mrs. Greens. Students can draw a character in each side of the diagram and fill the rest of the space with words that describe each person.
  
  
• Design a New Book Cover
  After reading the book, have students design a new book cover. Remind them to keep in mind the characters, setting, and plot.
  
  
• Guest Speaker
  Invite a retired teacher to come and speak with your class about what it is like to teach. Students can ask questions that relate directly to the story, such as,"Do you get nervous on the first day of school?", or "What was your favorite thing about being a teacher?"
  
  Papier-Mâché Puppets and Masks
• Have students create a papier-mâché puppet or mask of one of the characters in The Teacher from the Black Lagoon. Then have students act out the story in groups.
  
  
• Story Setting
  Students will use the Story Setting sheet to describe the different settings that appear in The Teacher from the Black Lagoon.
  

Internet Resources

Mike Thaler Website
Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate
A brief biography of the author, plus a list of his books.
http://www.mikethaler.com/