15 Activities Inspired by Where the Wild Things Are

Help your students release and embrace their inner wild thing with activities designed to encourage self-expression, honesty, and creative exploration. This novel turned into a movie has many themes and concepts that can be used in the classroom to help students feel unique and understood. From monster masks, to story predicting, and dance parties, we have all the fun activities you need to “let the wild rumpus begin”!

1. Wild Feelings

We all feel a bit wild and crazy sometimes, and your students are no exception. The classroom can be a safe place for students to express and explore how they feel and relate to their peers.

Learn More: Sonya Snyder

2. Max’s Book Nook

Create a library corner in your classroom decorated with wild things swinging in trees and King Max. Fill the space with inspiring books, cushions, and you’ll find your students spending more quiet time reading in the wild!

Learn More: Emma Fowler

3. Book Predictions

This activity works if your students have not seen or read the story before. Show them the cover of the book/title and ask them to bring the story to life in their own words using their imagination.

Learn More: Teaching Ideas

4. Paper Bag Puppets

This fun wild things-themed activity uses paper bags, craft fur, and creative power to bring the wild things and Max to life. After your kiddos make their puppets you can have them get into groups and put on a puppet show!

Learn More: Good House Guest

5. Read-Aloud Time

Where the wild things are is one of our favorite books to read aloud in the classroom. It has fantasy, adventure, and inner exploration. Get a copy for the classroom and have your students pass it around and read a page each.

Learn More: YouTube

6. Family Life and Relationships Discussion

The author and illustrator Maurice Sendak does a great job in describing the challenges children face at home and how they can grow healthy relationships and communication. After reading as a class, give some prompts to facilitate open and honest discussion among your students.

Learn More: Where The Wild Things Are Official Website

7. Story Mapping

Story mapping is a fun and collaborative follow-up activity once you’ve read the book as a class. Give each group of students a piece of paper and have them draw out the sequence of the story in pictures of what they find most important.

Learn More: Tes

8. Time For a Rumpus!

After your students have read and discussed the book completing some study activities, it’s time to get wild and crazy! Decorate your classroom with some hilarious monster feet, crowns, other things from the story, and have a dance party.

Learn More: Traci M

9. Monster Foot Fun

This simple and adorable craft will have your kids clomping around like the little monsters they are! Trace and cut out the feet and use velcro or string to tie them on.

Learn More: Alpha Mom

10. A Crown For a King

There are so many craft ideas for making a crown fit for a king like Max. You can use construction paper, cardboard, felt, or all three! You’ll need some craft glue, and gold paint to give it a regal look.

Learn More: Organized Homeschooler

11. Feelings Faces

We experience so many feelings and emotions every day it can be hard for children to process them all. You can cut out a bunch of shapes and let your students mix and match to create different emotive monster faces.

Learn More: Still Playing School

12. Wild Things Masks

This craft activity transforms your little ones into wild things and kings with a few art supplies and the power of imagination. Cut holes in paper bags, grab some paints, and get crafting!

Learn More: Red Ted Art

13. Feed Your Inner Wild Thing!

This active family fun monster treat is just wild enough to eat. It uses chocolate, cheese, apples, and…spaghetti! Your kids will love assembling and munching down on their own edible wild things.

Learn More: I Can Teach My Child

14. Cartoon Monster Drawing

This motor activity can be done on the computer or on paper. The tutorial shows step by step how to bring a cartoon character to life, and this one is going to be wild!

Learn More: YouTube

15. Wild Things Role Play

This fun preschool activity gets your little readers engaged in a hands-on and interactive way. Print out little versions of the main characters and give one to each of your students. Read the book as a class with each student reading the part of their character.

Learn More: PreK Partner