Night of the Ninjas (Magic Tree House Book Club)

Night of the Ninjas is the fifth book in the Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne. This book focused more on nature actually than ninjas. During the book Jack and Annie had to use nature, be nature and follow nature as the ninjas do. The host mom had fun with this and found ways for the book club kiddos to use, be and follow nature. We also had a special visit and the kiddos learned some karate moves so they could be true ninjas! It was a fabulously active morning! Stay tuned for books 6-8 in the months to come!

Enjoy the ideas for a
Night of the Ninjas MTH Book Club #5 for
Pre-Kindergartner’s to First Graders and their moms!

Book Discussion
The host mom had the kids give a brief summary about the books. She discussed with them how Jack and Annie learned to use, be and follow nature and told them they would do the same. She also had the kids look around and identify with their senses things in nature that show signs of spring.  

The Stuff

The FUN!

Night of the Ninjas by Mary Pope Osborne

1. Ask kids to tell what happened in the book in the order that it happened from the beginning to the end (sequence of events). In the book – Use Nature: they stuck a stick in the ground and the shadow told them which way was east. Be Nature: Samurai warrior came near them and they pressed against a rock and were still so they would not be seen. Follow Nature: they followed Peanut the mouse to cross the stream over the fallen branch.  2. Ask the kids to look around and share what they see/feel/hear in nature that shows what season you are in. For example it was spring and the kids said feel and see wind, see leaves growing, see grass getting green, hear birds, etc.

 

Use Nature – Sun Dial Clock

The Stuff	The FUN!
Stick Rocks Ball of playdough if can’t shove stick into the ground	1. To make a sundial shove a stick in the ground so it will stand upright by itself.   2. Mark the shadow that the stick makes by putting a rock on the shadow. 3. Every 15 minutes put another rock where the shadow is. Watch how the shadow moves!

Be Nature – Act like Nature

No pics of the kids doing this but found this cute cartoon!

The Stuff	The FUN!
nothing	1.Ask the kids to act like something in nature. Some ideas were a rock, tree, bird, the wind.

Follow Nature – Obstacle Course

The Stuff	The FUN!
Obstacle course items can be many things … pool noodles for hurdles, army crawl 2X4 for balance beam slides, stairs, swings hula hoops for jumping over And whatever else you can think of!	1. Plan an obstacle course! Have fun with this and get creative! 2. Show the kids the course and let them at it. For this book you can have them pretend like they are following Peanut! Check out our Army party for a fun course!

Nature SNACK
The kiddos each had a cup of trail mix and some apple slices!

  

Ninja (Karate) Training
A cousin of the host mom was kind enough to come visit the group and teach the little ninjas some karate moves! 

 

More ideas…

Please BRAINSTORM your ideas/suggestions in the COMMENTS below for the Night of the Ninjas MTH Book Club #5

Happy Reading!
~Sara (and Laura – the host of this month’s book club)