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Story Activities for 

The Color Monster, a story about emotions

by Anna Llenas

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas teaches abour big emotions in a simple way for young children. In the story, an adorable monster has mixed-up feelings and the author helps to sort them out. Happiness is like the sun, anger is a burning fire, and calm is like the leaves swaying in the wind. Young children may not be able to tell you exactly what they are feeling, but they can use the concepts in this book to help express themselves.  

Here are some activities to use with this great story to promote discussion and understanding. 

 

Before You Read

Introduce the colors and feelings in the story. Talk about different feelings you may have in different situation. For example, ask "Have you ever felt sad? Tell me about it". Then introduce this story about a monster whose feelings are all mixed-up! "He doesn't know how he feels. Let's find out more about Color Monster's feelings."

Color Monsters Feeling Chart - Picture Cards 

 

Vocabulary

Review story vocabulary. Here are some words in the story you may want to define: emotions, jumbled, separate, shines, twinkles, happiness, sadness, lonely, washes over, alone, burns, stamp out, unfair, disappear, fear, afraid, courage, shadows, calm, quiet, swaying, breathe, peace, different. (I would choose just a few.)

Vocabulary Cards for book The Color Monster by Anna Llenas - Picture Cards

AAC Supports

Here are some fringe vocabulary words to point to as you read.  A core + fringe communication book supports shared reading and conversation about the book 

Color Monster Read Along - Communication Boards                                    Communication Book: Core + Fringe - Grid Book

 

Retelling

Use these stick puppets or finger puppets as you retell the story. 

The Color Monster Puppets - Stick Puppets Color Monster Finger Puppets - Stick Puppets

 

Discussion

A visual chart supports discussions of the different feelings in the story. 

Feelings Chart - The Color Monster by Anna Llenas - Chart Table

 

Sort and Describe the Feelings

Use the Play Tools to discuss and sort emotions by color. 

Cut out the pictures and fill the jars with items that represent the different feelings in the story. 

Color Monster Feelings Jars - Large and Small Pictures

Or use pictures of the children's interest to sort on these sorting mats. 

The Color Monster Sorting Jars - One Page Pictures Sort cards by feelingsfor The Color Monster - Picture Cards

 

Role Play Different  Feelings

Spin the spinner or dice and role play / describe the feeling. 

Spinner for The Color Monster by Anna Llenas - Game Spinner The Color Monster Feeling Dice - Custom Dice

 

Writing 

Here are some writing pages to talk about the story. 

Color Monster Coloring Sheets - Coloring Sheet When I felt... Color Monster - Writing Pages

 

Coloring Books 

Here are two sizes of books to color and talk about the feelings from the story. 

The Color Monster Color Book - Books and StoriesThe Color Monster by Anna Llenas - Books and Stories

 

Art

 

Music

Listen to different music. How does it make you feel? 

 

Fine Motor

Practice fine motor and visual-spacial skills as you talk about the Color Monster's feelings. 

Color Monster Lacing Cards - Lacing Cards The Color Monster Feelings - Cutting Links

 

Board Game

Check out this great game by Devir Americas

Or create your own...

The Color Monster Game Board - Game Board 

 

More Fun Activities

Find The Color Monster - Find The Picture The Color Monster Puzzle Cards - Puzzle Cards Color Monster Clothespin Cards - Clothespin Counting Cards I Am Feeling - "I Am Working For" Cards Feelings with actions - Puzzle Cards Where is the monster? - Picture Cards