Student Activities for Stuart Little
Essential Questions For Stuart Little
- How should we treat people who are different than us?
- What does it mean to be a true friend?
- Would you rather be ordinary or extraordinary?
A Quick Synopsis of Stuart Little
Stuart Little was born, just two inches high, to a family of humans and looked very much like a mouse! Despite his differences, Mr. and Mrs. Little named him Stuart, and decide to love him like any other child. Stuart’s size quickly becomes quite helpful for things like finding precious rings that fall down the drain and fixing sticky piano keys. His parents and brother, George, take care to be sensitive about the fact that he is a mouse, even banning songs like “three blind mice” from being sung in their household.
Stuart’s life is full of adventure and he has quite a few run-ins with Snowbell, the household cat. One day, while attempting to show Snowbell how fit he is, Stuart gets himself wrapped up in a window shade. Snowbell decides to let the family think Stuart has escaped into a mouse hole by placing his hat and cane at the entrance. The Little family frantically begins searching for Stuart with no luck. When they have all but given up, George opens the shade to let in some light, and sure enough, Stuart rolls out.
As Stuart grows up, he continues to have grand adventures, making his way around on New York City buses, and sailing toy sailboats in the pond in Central Park. After coming down with bronchitis, Stuart meets a new friend – Margalo the bird. Mrs. Little found her on a windowsill, and thinking she was dead, brought her into the house. The two animals soon become the dearest of friends. Stuart and Margalo each manage to save the others’ life as their adventures continue.
Adventure turns into trouble when Snowbell’s friend, the Angora cat, decides to hunt Margalo. After receiving a warning note from a kind pigeon who overheard the cat’s scheming, Margalo decides the safest option is to flee the Little house, but doesn’t speak a word of her plan for fear of her life. Stuart is completely distraught to find his friend missing and decides it is his destiny to go find her.
After a visit to his friend, the dentist, Stuart is off to the country in a toy car just his size. He takes a job as a substitute teacher for a short time and then ventures on to a town called Ames Crossing where he meets a girl just his size named Harriet. They go on a date before Stuart heads further north. As the story comes to an end, Stuart has not yet found Margalo. It is left up to the reader’s imagination, but we know Stuart feels like he’s headed in the right direction as the sun shines down on him.
How Tos about Stuart Little By E.B. White
Use creative discussion starters to deepen understanding of Stuart Little
Kick off with a thought-provoking question. Invite students to share how they would feel if they were Stuart or Margalo. This sets the stage for empathy and lively conversation.
Connect themes to real-life situations for meaningful reflection
Ask students to relate Stuart's adventures to their own experiences. Encourage them to recall a time they helped a friend or overcame a challenge. This helps build personal connections to the story.
Facilitate small group role-play to spark engagement
Assign roles such as Stuart, Margalo, or Snowbell. Let students act out a scene that explores friendship or problem-solving. Role-play makes learning active and fun.
Guide students in creating ‘what if’ scenarios for critical thinking
Encourage students to imagine alternate endings or new adventures for Stuart. Ask, ‘What if Stuart never found Margalo?’ or ‘What if he met a new friend?’ This inspires creativity and deeper analysis.
Wrap up with a reflective writing prompt for lasting impact
Invite students to write about what being extraordinary means to them. Connect this to Stuart’s journey and encourage them to share their ideas. Reflection helps reinforce the story’s themes.
Frequently Asked Questions about Stuart Little By E.B. White
What are some easy lesson ideas for teaching Stuart Little in elementary school?
Some easy lesson ideas for teaching Stuart Little include character analysis activities, creating story maps, exploring themes like friendship and acceptance, and hands-on projects such as writing alternate endings or making dioramas of key scenes.
How can Stuart Little help students learn about treating people who are different?
Stuart Little teaches students to respect and include those who are different through its characters and plot. Classroom discussions and activities can focus on empathy, acceptance, and celebrating unique qualities, using Stuart’s story as a starting point.
What are the main themes in Stuart Little and how can teachers highlight them?
The main themes in Stuart Little are friendship, adventure, and acceptance. Teachers can highlight these by prompting group discussions, assigning reflective writing, and connecting the story's events to students' own lives.
What activities can help students understand the character of Stuart Little?
Activities like role-playing, drawing character webs, and comparing Stuart’s traits to students’ own help students understand Stuart Little’s personality and decisions. Encourage students to express why Stuart is extraordinary.
How do teachers use Stuart Little to encourage creative writing in the classroom?
Teachers use Stuart Little to spark creative writing by asking students to imagine Stuart’s next adventure, write diary entries from his perspective, or invent new characters and challenges he could face.
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