PETE’S A PIZZA - Scholastic

1 pete S A PIZZABy William Steig (HarperCollins)Themes: Humor/Family RelationshipsGrade Level: Pre-K 1 Running Time: 6 minutesSUMMARYWhen a rainy day forces pete to stay inside, pete sparents come up with a brilliant idea! They kneadthe dough, apply the oil, sprinkle on flour, addtomatoes and pepperoni and turn pete into thefunniest PIZZA ever! This is a loving tribute toinventive parents. OBJECTIVES. Children will learn about family relationships. Children will enjoy using their imaginations. Children will explore feelingsBEFORE VIEWING ACTIVITIESS hare the book pete s a Pizzawith children. Thenask: How was pete feeling in the beginning of the story? Why do you think pete s father decided to make a PIZZA out of pete ? What did pete s father use for tomato sauce?

2 Oil? Flour? Cheese? Pepperoni? . How did pete feel about being made into a PIZZA ? How do you think pete felt at the end of the story?Encourage children to describe different kinds ofpizzas. As children talk, have them describe thetastes, look, smells, and textures of the differentingredients they have enjoyed on pizzas. Then playa game of "What s On My PIZZA ?" Start the gameby saying: "I m having a PIZZA that has somethinground, red, and spicy-tasting on it. What kind ofpizza am I having?" After children identify thepizza (pepperoni), have children in the group taketurns describing, without identifying, different pizzas to the group and see if they can name children pretend to make a child in the classinto a doughnut. Have children "stretch and moldthe child" into a circle shape, sprinkle sugar (usepowder) on the "doughnut", and pop the doughnutinto the pretend frying pan.

3 Later, have childrentake turns making hamburgers, hot dogs, and pretzels out of one with children about the ways in which pete sparents worked to help make pete feel better. Thenask: How do your family members help you when you feel sad? What things do you do to help your family members feel happy? What do you most enjoy doing with your family? How would you describe your family to a friend?AFTER VIEWING ACTIVITIES Talk about what makes this story funny. Have children share the funniest joke, story, riddle theyever heard with the group. Recommend picturebooks that offer humorous tales to children. Discussthe ways humor can be used to help us feel betterwhen we are sad, ill, or a classroom PIZZA party. Help children createhats to wear to the party by making cone shapesfrom construction paper.

4 Have children attach redconstruction paper circles to the hats to representpepperoni hats; long, thin strips of white paper torepresent cheese hats; white construction paper cutinto spiral shapes to represent onion hats. As children enjoy their PIZZA , have them consider whatingredient they would like to be if they had tochoose between cheese, pepperoni, mushroom,onion, or any other PIZZA topping. Encourage themto describe why they chose this particular topping. Talk with children about the different things pete sparents might have done to change pete s have several children in the group pretend tobe the mother, father, and child in a family. Havethe "child" pretend to be sad. Encourage childrenportraying the mother and father to demonstratehow, as parents, they might make the child feel better.

5 As children perform, emphasize to the groupthat it is not necessary to offer material things tohelp people feel better, but that showing kindnessand caring can go a long way toward brighteningsomeone s videos about families available from WestonWoods include:ELIZABETI S DOLLby Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen,ill. by Christy HaleNOISY NORAby Rosemary WellsOWENby Kevin HenkesTHE PAPERBOYby Dav PilkeyTHE RAINBABIESby Laura Kraus Melmed, Jim LaMarchePETE S A PIZZACALL 1-800-243-5020 TO ORDER THESE AND OTHER WESTON WOODS VIDEOS!This guide may be photocopied for free distribution without restriction