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Make a Monster Growl Sound Effect
Desmond Pucket (that’s Master of Mayhem to you) has plenty of monstrous mischief up his sleeve. Students can follow along with his adventures as he pulls pranks, tries to win the girl of his dreams, and creates endless monster magic. Middle-grade fans can join in on his fiendish fun with these free monster sound effects. You can pair this activity with any of the devilishly delightful Desmond Pucket books. With minimal materials and maximum fun, your classroom will be full of howls, growls, and spooky sounds in no time!
Not only is this free activity a fun and easy way to interact with a great story, it’s also a quick opportunity to teach your students a little about the science behind sound. Show them how different mouth shapes and breathing methods create unique sounds, and experiment with other materials to create even more beastly bellows. As they work on their ghoulish groans, encourage them to continue reading the series. It shouldn’t be too hard, though. Once they get started, students won’t want to miss out on any of Desmond’s prankster ways. Whatever your students come up with, these free monster sound effects will fill your classroom with fun sounds and excited readers. It’s time to make Desmond Pucket proud!
Make a Phantom Knocker
Grab some string and a ball and show your students how to make their very own phantom knocker. First, introduce middle-graders to the wild ways of Desmond Pucket. Once they become full-fledged fans (trust us, it won’t take long), integrate these free printable prank instructions into your class routine for an afternoon brain-break. This harmless prank will delight and entertain every reader in the room. With your supervision, you’ll have a room full of mischief-makers in no time.
Using just a string and rubber ball, middle-grade fans of the Desmond Pucket series can join the ranks of the legendary prankster himself. While Desmond busies himself with pulling off perfect pranks, getting the perfect girl, and going on the perfect field trip, readers will be busy learning to love reading. The free printable prank instructions are just an added bonus! You can even encourage your students to think of their own prank ideas. The creative potential is endless. Plus, pairing those ideas with the Desmond Pucket books will help readers relate to the mischievous main character.
Full disclosure: This special effect works best with a two-story house.
Make a Light-Up Zombie Head!
All a monster-maker needs is paper mache! Desmond Pucket is the master monster-maker, so you can trust that this zombie paper mache craft is top-notch. Readers will love joining up with Desmond’s middle school mischief. (In fact, some of your students will probably relate to it.) He’s a funny guy with a mind for funny pranks, and crafting a light-up zombie head is right up his alley. Watch your students put their own spin on the zombies. After all, everyone knows there’s no better way to express creative individuality than by designing your own zombie!
With the help of an adult, middle-grade students can have hands-on fun after reading an even more fun book. Desmond’s misadventures range far and wide––from school field trips to trying to win over the girl of his dreams. There’s something in this series for everyone, so your middle-grade students are sure to be fans. Besides, who could help but love a book that provides a free zombie paper mache craft? Although it might get a little messy, the artistic trade-off is most definitely worth it. Plus, it’ll be hilarious to hear all the stories of the ensuing zombie pranks!
Easy-to-Make Fake Blood
Desmond Pucket is notorious for his awesome pranks. Middle-grade readers can follow in his footsteps using this easy-to-make free fake blood recipe. Just three simple materials transform your classroom into a blood bank. Sure, Desmond pulls lots of silly pranks, but he’s just a regular middle schooler. He has a crush, he loves field trips, and he deals with bullies. Even if your students aren’t prankster extraordinaires, they’ll definitely be able to relate to the middle school plight. And hey, this free fake blood recipe gets them one step closer to becoming prank masters like Desmond!
Complete with a note about potential mess (consider yourself warned), these instructions are easy to follow and pair great with any of the books in the Desmond Pucket series. Whether students relate to the unrequited crush, the desire to ride all the rides at the amusement park, or the satisfaction of getting the best of a bully, they’ll all be united in the fun of making fake blood. Prank responsibly!
Desmond’s Perfect Ghost
To know Desmond Pucket is to (exasperatedly) love him. He pulls pranks like no other, and middle-grade students will be laughing along with each one. With each book in the series, Desmond introduces readers to some crazy new idea. Luckily, we have lots of easy-to-follow instructions to help middle-graders recreate the best ones. This free printable ghost craft is just one of many. Take a look at the Phantom Knocker activity to see what we mean.
Funnily enough, creating a phantom knocker pairs pretty well with making the perfect ghost. After all, everyone knows that two pranks are better than one! Using this free printable ghost craft, middle-graders can pull off the ultimate prank. First, students can read any of the books in the Desmond Pucket series for prank-spiration from the Master of Mayhem himself. Then, you can download and print these easy instructions to help them bring their mischief to life––don’t forget to nab the phantom knocker instructions, too. Hands-on activities like these are the perfect way to get even the most reluctant readers excited about books. A prank a day keeps the boredom away!
Unicorn Theater Puppet Show Guide
Middle-grade readers will make fast friends with Phoebe and her unicorn-BFF, Marigold Heavenly Nostrils. The bestselling Phoebe and Her Unicorn series celebrations friendship in the most unlikely of places and pairings. As Phoebe and Marigold learn more about each other, it only deepens the magical bond of friendship between them. Now, with this free puppet show theater guide, you can bring the magic of Unicorn Theater to your classroom or library!
Using this guide (and whatever supplies you have available), you can create your own sock puppet show starring Marigold and her sister, Florence. Have students bring old socks from home––a quick lesson in recycling, anyone? Then, with your help, they can bring the fantastical protagonists to life. Encourage them to get artistic; see how they design their stages and assure them that creativity is key. Phoebe and Marigold definitely don’t hesitate to express themselves, and your students shouldn’t, either! Our free puppet show theater is the foundation of this activity, but letting middle-graders branch out is a surefire way to have fun.
But if they need more inspiration, don’t worry. We have an incredibly fun and entertaining example of our own. Show your students before you begin this craft, and then let their imaginations run wild!
How to Draw Expressions
Dana Simpson, author of the widely-celebrated Phoebe and Her Unicorn series, has provided an easy-to-follow guide on how to draw expressions. Middle-grade students will quickly be able to relate to Phoebe’s unlikely friendship with a mythical creature. After all, what childhood friendship DOESN’T feel a little magical? After they’ve read a few books and gone on a few adventures with Phoebe and Marigold, you can introduce them to the behind-the-scenes methods of drawing and creating comics.
Communicating emotions with facial expressions is something everyone learns from a young age. However, it’s a totally different story to try and draw them. Luckily, our how to draw expressions guide walks readers through it step-by-step. Not only is this a fun way to get creative, it’s also the perfect opportunity to chat with your students about how we communicate our feelings to others. Phoebe can tell when Marigold is sad when she sees her ears drooping. Marigold knows Phoebe is surprised when her eyes get reeeeally wide. It’s important for your students to be able to recognize those feelings in themselves and in others, so this activity can be the perfect introduction into that conversation. Plus, who wouldn’t love the chance to draw a laughing unicorn?!
How to Draw Phoebe
Phoebe and Her Unicorn is a beautifully-illustrated series about friendship. (Even if that friendship is between a slightly awkward girl and a mildly vain unicorn.) Middle-grade readers will find something to love in each and every book, and will become huge fans of Phoebe and Marigold in no time. In fact, they’ll likely become big enough fans that they’ll jump at the chance to recreate their favorite characters. Luckily, this free character drawing guide walks them through it! With simple instructions from the creator, Dana Simpson, herself, Phoebe fans can bring her to life themselves.
All you need are some pencils and paper, and you can let your students go crazy with artistic flair. Phoebe and Marigold would appreciate a unique approach to art, trust us. Once they’ve mastered Phoebe, encourage them to draw other characters from the book. We have a few guides to help with those endeavors. Take a look at Create Your Own Cartoon, How to Draw Phoebe and Friends, and even Dana Simpson’s Cartooning Guide. No matter which creative project you choose to do with your students, they’re guaranteed to have a great time! Starting with this free character drawing guide is the perfect way to get students excited about reading and art.
How to Draw Marigold
Phoebe and Her Unicorn is, above all else, a series about friendship. Phoebe, a socially awkward girl, and Marigold, a slightly stuck-up unicorn, overcome the odds to become BFFs. Middle-grade readers will relate to the deep bond of friendship between the two, and will love reading about their zany antics. Once their love for the series has been established, invite students to bring Marigold to life with their own hands! By following the six simple steps of this free unicorn drawing guide, Marigold doppelgängers will be filling your classroom in no time.
While you’re at it, encourage students to put their own spin on their mythical pals. You might see green unicorns, horns on the back instead of the head, or even some sparkly wings! Dana Simpson’s free unicorn drawing guide will get students started, but it’s even more fun to see what kind of flair they add to their creations. After their drawings are complete, instruct the artists to give their unicorns names, back stories, and a human-BFF of their own. This will turn into a whole lesson on creative writing before you can say “Marigold Heavenly Nostrils!” And, if your middle-graders want to keep the drawing fun going, we have even more Phoebe and Her Unicorn activities. For starters, this free unicorn drawing guide goes great with our How to Draw Phoebe activity.
How to Make an Origami Horse
Phoebe and Her Unicorn is the bestselling brain child of Dana Simpson. Focusing on Phoebe, an awkward young girl, and Marigold, her magical unicorn-BFF, each book in the delightful series showcases the importance of fun and friendship. We all wish we could befriend a mythical creature, but creating a pet pal from scratch is the next best thing! Middle-graders will love the chance to flex their crafting skills while making their way through all the books in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series. With this free origami horse guide, readers can make Marigold’s distant relative come to life with paper.
Complete with illustrations and seven easy steps to follow, learning origami has never been more achievable. You can even incorporate a brief lesson on the cultural history of the art form. You can nurture an appreciation of cultural differences while having a blast. After all, Phoebe and Marigold are two very different personalities who still manage to be close as can be. They’re always having the silliest time together, and each new book in the series presents another set of comedic situations. However you use this free origami horse guide, it presents an easy, fun opportunity for artistic expression AND education.
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