Seventh grade English/language arts students recently completed an engaging project centered on narrative continuations. Building on the beloved children's book “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” by Laura Numeroff. Students worked collaboratively in small groups to create their own original narrative extensions of the story.
Each group crafted a unique continuation that maintained the circular, cause-and-effect structure that makes Numeroff's work so distinctive. Students had to think critically about character motivation, plot development, and the humorous chain-reaction format that defines the original text.
Students took turns sharing/presenting their narrative continuations with the class while their peers evaluated each presentation using the guidelines we established together.
Through this project, students deepened their understanding of:
• Story structure and narrative flow
• Character consistency and development
• Creative writing and originality
• Presentation skills and public speaking
• Collaborative teamwork and peer assessment
The seventh grade ELA teachers were impressed by the creativity, effort, and enthusiasm our students demonstrated throughout this unit. Their narratives were imaginative, well-structured, and genuinely entertaining!