Clifford's
First Christmas
CHALLENGING WORDS
Christmas
remember
decorations
beautiful
ornament
tucked
investigate
somebody
stocking
pretended
SUMMARY
Follow along as Clifford celebrates his
first Christmas! Clifford helps decorate
the tree, wrap presents, and even
surprises Santa in his own special way.
After Santa's visit, Clifford gets to play
with all the wonderful toys Santa left for
Emily Elizabeth.
--- Conversation Questions--(1)
Retell what happened in the story.
(Answer)
Any logical answer.
(Follow Up)
Name the two main characters in the story.
(2) Name what Clifford hung on the Christmas tree.
(Answer)
A candy cane.
(Follow Up)
What happened when Emily Elizabeth's hand slipped?
(3)
Imagine what would happen if Clifford would have fallen
from the tree.
(Answer)
Any logical answer.
(Follow Up)
Who rescued Clifford?
(4)
Share what happened to Clifford when he went to
investigate.
(Answer)
He fell into Emily Elizabeth's stocking.
(Follow Up)
Describe what her ocking looked like.
(5) Name who found Clifford in the stocking.
(Answer)
Santa Claus.
(Follow Up)
Tell what Santa did with clifford.
(6)
Suppose Santa had gotten mad because Clifford was
awake. What do you think he would or would not have
done?
(Answer)
Any logical answer.
(Follow Up)
Do you think Santa gets mad?
(7) Look on page 20 for what Santa left Clifford for Christmas.
(Answer)
A bone.
(Follow Up)
Name some gifts he left for Emily Elizabeth.
(8)
Compare the presents Emily Elizabeth received to ones you
have received for Christmas.
(Answer)
Any logical comparison.
(Follow Up)
Share which gift you liked best.
(9)
Tell some ways he played with Emily Elizabeth's toys.
(Answer)
He dressed in dolls clothes, rode in her electric car, played
in her dollhouse, was a tunnel for her train, and played
horse for he Thumbelina doll.
(Follow Up)
How big was Clifford inthe story?
(10) Define the word "miniature".
(Answer)
Very small, tiny.
(Follow Up)
Name something else that is tiny.
Activities
1.
Draw a picture of Clifford in Emily Elizabeth's stocking.
write a sentence telling Santa that he has a surprise in the
stocking.
2.
Make a list of the presents Emily Elizabeth received that
Clifford played with.
3.
Make a Christmas card for Clifford.
4.
Write a letter to Santa from Clifford, thanking him for the
big bone he left him.
Introductions
1.
Have a picture of Clifford or a stuffed Clifford dog. As the
children if they think dogs enjoy Christmas. In our story
today, Clifford is celebrating his first Christmas. Let's read
and see if he enjoys it.
2.
Copy the picture from the front of the book and color it.
As the children to predict what the story is about. Let's
read and see if you are right.
3.
Have different unbreakable Christmas ornaments and a
small Clifford toy in a mystery bag. Ask the children to pull
out the objects one at a time and guess what the story
might be about. Ask what they think Clifford's first
Christmas was like. Let's read and find out.
Book Title: Clifford's First Christmas
Author: Norman Bridwell
Illustrator: Norman Bridwell
ISBN: 0-590-48420-6
# of Text Pages: 28
AR: 1.9 LEX: 400
Building Oral Vocabulary
6
rescue
18
deliver
28
imagine
Prediction Questions
5
Guess where Clifford will land.
15 Who do you think will find Clifford?
23 Do you think Clifford can drive the car?
This resource is provided by THE LEARNING CORPS—Barren County Board of Education, an AmeriCorps project funded in part by the
Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service and the Corporation for National and Community Service.