Who doesn’t love Clifford the Big Red Dog? In my classroom we are preparing to have a birthday party for him. On Monday, September 24, Clifford will turn 50, and all over the country students will be celebrating along with us. On Monday we will read Clifford’s Birthday Party and watch the webcast of Clifford’s birthday celebration. After that, we will complete a sentence frame, "I would give Clifford _______ for his birthday," and illustrate it. We will also be completing a few other activities around the theme of Clifford.

I’ve listed some ideas below to help you get started in planning your classroom celebration.

Reading Activities

Clifford's birthday is a great excuse to revisit many of his books. Here are a few suggestions:

• Clifford to the Rescue
• Clifford’s Day With Dad
• Clifford Goes to Dog School
• Clifford Shares
• Clifford’s First School Day
• Clifford’s Best Friend
• Clifford’s Halloween

Writing Activities

You know what writing prompt we'll be using, but there are many to choose from:

• Answer the question, "If Clifford were your pet, what would you feed him?"
• Create a Clifford party invitation.
• Complete the sentence, "Clifford likes __________."
• Write a story about taking Clifford for a walk.

Math Activities

For a well-rounded event, work some math activities into the mix as well:

• Make a graph based on the question, "Would you want Clifford for a pet?"
• Using one-cup scoopers, estimate how much dog food it takes to fill a bowl.

School Spirit

And of course, a celebration calls for preparation:

• Wear red, paint noses black with face paint, and make Clifford ears using red construction paper stapled into a band with two red ears stapled to the side.
• Decorate your door or classroom with red streamers and balloons.
• Have a Clifford read-in.
• Invite guest readers into the classroom.

If you plan to participate, don't forget to download the webcast event kit. It has coloring pages, lesson plans, and ideas to help you celebrate the big day. Our class is very excited about Clifford’s birthday. We hope you will join us on Monday to celebrate, too.