I LOVE The Hungry Thing by Jan Slepian and Ann Seidler!

It’s one of
my favorite books to read for phonemic awareness, and it’s an
adorable story kids love. If you don’t have it, Amazon sells it but I
found it cheaper on Scholastic. Here is a link to it:
https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/books/the-hungry-thing-by-ann-seidler/
Or, you can show this YouTube video of the book being read:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlgq0VgpINI

As you’re reading the book, stop often to have kids guess what
the Hungry Thing really wants before turning the page to keep
students engaged.

I love to create a class book based on this book, so I have

enclosed it here for you! I’ve used this in first grade and had to
model and practice a bit before they were able to do it
independently. I suggest writing this frame on the board and
practicing whole group with some of the word cards:
The Hungry Thing asked me for ________________.
So I gave him _______________.

When kids are ready, read the 1st page of the class book (fill in the
lines with your school name and your name), and hand them each
a student page and a food picture card. You can hand them out
strategically to differentiate- shorter words that begin with one
consonant are easier, and words that begin with blends are more
difficult. For students who need more help, circle the letter they
need to change and make the sound of another letter as a
prompt, if necessary.
Remind kids to write the made-up word on the first line and the
real food word on the second line.

When completed, have kids share their first sentences and have
the others guess what the food is before he/she reveals it!
Assemble with the story page first, and the smiling monster page
last. Keep in your library after assembling for students to read!

1
The Hungry Thing
Goes to School
A Class book based on
The Hungry Thing by Jan Slepian

2
 Once upon a time, a Hungry Thing
came to _______________________________.
He wore a sign that said FEED ME! The
students and teachers wanted to help the
Hungry Thing, but they didn’t understand
what he was asking for. The Hungry Thing
asked for waghetti and feetballs, and
fancakes.

Suddenly, it came to the students in

_____________________’s class! The Hungry
Thing was just changing the first sound in
the food words! They gave the Hungry
Thing spaghetti and meatballs, and
pancakes, and the Hungry Thing smiled!

But, the Hungry Thing wanted more!

He asked all of the students for different
foods. Can you figure out what he
wanted?

3
 The Hungry Thing asked me for
_______________________.

So I gave him _______________________.

4
 The Hungry Thing finally smiled,
turned his sign around, and it said…

THANK YOU!

5
ham tuna

milk cake

pie peas
mushrooms pepper

carrot banana

meatballs watermelon
pudding yogurt

donut cookie

lollipop popcorn
noodles bacon

sausage turkey

tomato pear
 bread steak

strawberry shrimp

grapes cheese
 pretzel broccoli

cracker blueberry

croissant chicken
 Use these templates to make your own Hungry Thing with a paper bag!
Use to play rhyming games with the food cards.

Me!
Feed
12
For more reading response activities,
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