Storybook Learning: Curious George by H. A. Rey and Margret Rey

This post contains affiliate links please see the Disclosure and Privacy Policy page for full disclosures here.

We love incorporating Curious George activities into our read-aloud time at home! Many times, C will ask to hear a book on the computer or TV. So if you don’t have your own copy of the original Curious George by H. A. Rey and Marget Rey, here is a read aloud of the original Curious George by Read to Me Dad on Youtube: https://youtu.be/Vax8vQhqz2I

These activities were inspired by the activities found in Curriculum Using Children’s Picture Books by Kelly Gunzenhauser and Sherrill B. Flora.

Activities

Map Skills

Using a map, atlas or globe, show your child where Africa is located, where New York is located (this is where George ends up) and where you live. Discuss with your child how you would travel to Africa from your home. You can also discuss the different animals in Africa and how they are different to here. Explore.org has some great webcams from Africa. We have seen elephants, giraffes, and zebras over there through the webcams. It is pretty cool. Check out our African Animals Spotlight post here!

Build Your Own Stall

This activity is for older children that might be ready to talk about money. I always want to leave the disclaimer that if your child is still sticking things in his or her mouth, this might not be the activity for you. In the story, George visits a balloon stall, in this activity you will explain what a balloon stall is as well as teach money concepts. Create your own stall at home. It could be a balloon stall, or a toy stall, or a stuffed animal stall, etc.

On note cards write how much the items cost and tie the amount to the item. Using play money (you can find some to print online if you don’t have any), have your child buy the items they want. Practice figuring out correct change. Another idea could be to check out our Grocery Store Dramatic Play kit to teach money.

Sink vs. Float (STEM)

In the book, curious George uses balloons to fly and in one of the activities we will learn about floating and sinking but with water. Have your child find different toys or objects that they think might float. Help the child weigh the object on a kitchen scale and graph it (if you want). Then put the item into a bucket of water see if it floats or sinks. Discuss that if it is light it will float up but if it weighs too much (compare to weight from scale).

Clues When Reading

If you have your own copy of the book or any of the Curious George books, show your child where the author uses all caps to emphasize statements. You can discuss the difference between uppercase and lower case letters with sorting letters with a packet from Little Love learning or you can use any letter magnets or flashcards that you have to sort uppercase vs. lowercase letters. Your child can match up uppercase letters to their lowercase partners.

Emotional Learning

Another one of my favorite activities is to have your child look through the book or the video and find the different emotions that curious George experiences. Talk about the differences in the emotions. If you have a mirror, you can have your child make the faces that go along with different emotions and even have them draw those emotions on their own.

Balancing Like George

George walks on telephone wires in the book. Have your child find something to balance on and pretend to be George walking on the wires. This can be a line drawn outside or a stick or the seam on your hardwood floor or a tape measure etc. You can add extra things for them to do on the wire such as turn around, turn to the side, walk sideways, etc.

Animal Exploration

You can also move like the animals from the zoo. You can use the printable from Little Love Learning here or make up your own. Also you can see us using Pattern blocks in our African Activities. These would go great with the Curious George book.