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The Berenstain Bears Go on a Ghost Walk



Last updated Friday, September 26, 2008

Author: Stan & Jan Berenstain
Illustrator: Stan & Jan Berenstain
Date of Publication: 2005
ISBN: 0060573996
Grade Level: 1st    (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Oct. 2008

Synopsis: From Amazon.com
Papa Bear loves Halloween, so he's thrilled when he's put in charge of the Bear Country School's Ghost Walk. He has everything he needs to make ita really spooky night –– cobwebs, jack–o'–lanterns, and monsters, such as Frankenbear and Grizzula. But will Papa Bear learn the hard way that one bear's fun is another bear's nightmare? Boo!

Note to readers:
•  Vocabulary: Innards, misshapen, glopped, dagger, sword, fake, nightmare, gloppy, creepy, spook

Discussion topics for before reading:
•  Are the Berenstain Bears wearing their normal clothes?
•  Does your school have a Halloween party?
•  Do you like scary costumes or regular ones?
•  What do you think a ghost walk is?
•  Have you seen grown-ups dress up in costumes?

Discussion topics for during/after reading:
•  During:
•  Have you ever carved a pumpkin?
•  Have you ever felt the seeds and goo from inside a pumpkin?
•  Is it nice to scare people?
•  Do you know what a hayride is?
•  Do grown-ups ever get scared? After:
•  What do you want to be for Halloween?
•  Can you make a scary laugh? (Let’s hear it.)

Craft ideas:
•  Ghost and Jack-o-Lantern tic-tac-toe. Using black paper, glue narrow strips to make a three-by-three grid (alternatively draw the grid on lighter paper). Make five small ghosts (cutting them out) and five small pumpkins or jack-o-lanterns. Teach them how to play tic-tac-toe. Suggestion: pre-cut the ghosts and pumpkins.
•  Make a Halloween mask (get yarn from the special box in advance).

*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions. You can use them, but you don't have to use them. You can expand upon them, or add your own twist. Remember, though, that the focus of your time should not be on the development and execution of a craft; the focus should be on the read-aloud and the enjoyment of the book!