MaiStoryBook Library

MaiStoryBook: The Pigeon Will Ride the Rollercoaster! + *My Roller Coaster Design* Craft

by MaiStoryBook

Our favorite pigeon is back for a wild ride ~ featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

*The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster* by Mo Willems

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “The Pigeon Will Ride the Roller Coaster” to start on your own reading adventure! ~*

Book Synopsis/ Review

Pigeon just learned about roller coasters, and is *aquiver with anticipation* to ride one! He is ready with his ticket, is mentally prepared for the rush of emotions that comes with riding a wild roller coaster. But what happens when the roller coaster isn’t quite as wild as expected?

Once again, Mo Willems has crafted read aloud gold. Pigeon is as expressive as ever with his antics and dramatic declarations. I also appreciate that social emotional learning can be incorporated as Pigeon shares his own wide range of feelings about riding the roller coaster. This book also provides multiple opportunities for movement activities as readers use their fingers or bodies to mimic the roller coaster tracks (watch MaiStoryBook’s interactive read aloud video below for an example)

Vocabulary

  • aquiver (p. 2) shaking or trembling
  • anticipation (p. 2) waiting for or expecting something to happen
  • exemplary (p. 9) the very best
  • thrilling (p. 17) super exciting
  • suspected (p. 23) just what you thought

Main Themes/ Ideas

  • Find joy in all experiences, even if they are different than expected.
  • Some things are worth waiting for.

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “The Pigeon Will Ride the Bus” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!


Subscribe: MaiStoryBook Youtube Channel for more *interactive* read aloud videos!

*My Roller Coaster Design* Pigeon Craft

Pigeon imagines the mist wild roller coaster with loops and drops and incredible speed. He also anticipates what he will need to do to ride the roller coaster. Now it’s your turn to design a roller coaster! Perhaps think up a roller coaster that you think Pigeon would love~ or design one that you would want to ride. Throw in as many, or as few, upside down loops and steep drops as you want. Will your roller coaster be like the one Pigeon imagined, or the one he actually went on at the end of the story? Also, consider what riders will need to ride your roller coaster: A ticket, a certain height requirement, will they need to wait in a line? Share your roller coaster designs with MaiStoryBook’s Pigeon Roller Coaster Craft Template. Check it out below!

Materials

Directions

  • Choose Black-and-White of Color Templates

LAYER 1

  • Choose a Layer 1 Cover Template. This Template  is the front cover of the craft.
  • (There are 2 templates per page- you only need 1 for the craft. Thus, printing 1 sheet will give you cover templates for 2 crafts)
  • There are 2  Versions with different headings: “ _____ Will Ride the Roller Coaster” or “____’s Roller Coaster”
  • Print and Cut out the Layer 1. Color if you chose Black-and-White
  • Write your name in the blank space to personalize the craft. Ex, “__Maya__ Will Ride the Roller Coaster”

LAYER 2

  • Choose a Layer 2 Template. This layer goes right underneath the Front Cover Template. There are 6 differentiated options.
  • (There are 2 templates per page- you only need 1 for the craft. Thus, printing 1 sheet will give you cover templates for 2 crafts)
  • 3 options include sentence prompts with picture or written response options.
  • Share what someone would need to ride your roller coaster ( a ticket, to wait in line, to be a certain height, etc.) If you chose the black and white version, color it in
  • Share what riders will feel after riding the roller coaster (just like how Pigeon has so many feelings in the story). You can either draw the feelings/expressions in the circles, or write how people will feel.
  • 3 Free Response Options: Write/Draw your own responses with the 3 differentiated options with lines for writing or blank space for drawing.
  • Print out and Cut out your templates. Fill in your responses and color if you chose black-and-white.

LAYER 3 TEMPLATE

  • Choose a Layer 3 Template: Blank space for drawing only, or with lines to draw and describe your design.
  • Print out and cut the Layer 3 Template with the Pigeon. In the blank space, draw your roller coaster design. (Reference the book and see how Pigeon imagines the roller coaster with all the loops and hills)
  • Will your roller coaster have a bunch of tall drops and loops, or be calm and stay low to the ground.
  • You can draw the roller coaster design in this space on the Layer 3 template only, or use the open flaps of the other layers to draw a longer roller coaster

CONNECT THE CRAFT

  • To connect all the layers, glue Layer 1 and Layer 2 to the Layer 3 Template on the corresponding labeled gray-glue sides.
  • Glue on Layer 2 first, attaching it on the right side of the Layer 3 Pigeon template, and then Glue Layer 1 on the left side of the Layer 3 Pigeon Template. This Layer 1 will fold over Layer 2 (see sample photos + Preview video on original TPT listing)
  • Lift the Layer 1 flap to reveal your response on Layer 2 about what you need for your roller coaster and the feelings
  • Then Lift Layer 2 to reveal your roller coaster design.

Enjoy Your *My Roller Coaster Design* Pigeon Craft

  • Take turns sharing your designs with classmates. Ask classmates if they would ride your roller coaster.
  • Take a poll and graph how many people would ride your roller coaster and how many would not.
  • Use your roller coaster design as a blueprint to construct a model of the roller roller coaster with craft materials.
  • Share your craft with friends and family and ask them how they would design a roller coaster.
  • Reread the story with your Pigeon Craft, and use the roller coaster car craft to act out riding the wild roller coaster that Pigeon imagines.
  • Display the crafts for a fun Pigeon Display.

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*~ I hope you are enjoying plenty of reading adventures this year, Mai Friends! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email to share your own *My Roller Coaster Design* Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear about what you’re reading and learning!~*

Enjoy More Read Aloud Videos Here!

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*

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