Here you’ll find a variety of lesson plans, with one for each age group. Feel free to mix and match the activities that work best for your students. There’s also an alternative lesson plan at the end for even more flexibility.
Note the Optional Q&A won't be available until after the live interview with the author.
This page includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you decide to buy through these links, it won’t cost you extra. Thank you!
Pre-K Lesson Plan (Ages 3-4)
Learning Objectives
Identify the importance of trying new ideas when plans do not go as expected
Practice naming different colors and shapes found on costumes
Develop listening skills through active read aloud participation
Materials
Procedure (30 minutes)
(5 mins) Gather in a circle and ask students about their favorite things to dress up as. Facilitator prompts: "What do you like to pretend to be when you play?", "How do you feel when you wear a costume?", "Have you ever tried to make something that looked different than you planned?"
(10 mins) Watch the read along video of "Not So Scary Mary" together as a class.
(15 mins) Provide construction paper and crayons for students to draw their own dream costume, encouraging them to create something unique just like Mary.
Discussion & Extension Questions
What was Mary trying to do at the beginning of the story?
Why was Mary sad about her costumes at first?
How did Mary solve her problem instead of giving up?
What did you think of Mary's final costume idea?
Can you tell me about a time you made something and it turned out differently than you thought?
Kindergarten Lesson Plan - Age 5
Learning Objectives
Recognize that challenges are opportunities for creativity
Describe Mary's emotional journey from frustration to joy
Express personal preferences regarding costumes and creativity
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Introduction discussion about problem solving. Facilitator prompts: "What does it mean to be creative?", "What do you do when a toy breaks or a game doesn't go right?", "Is it okay to change your mind or your plan?", "How do you keep having fun when things are not perfect?"
(10 mins) Watch the read along video of "Not So Scary Mary".
(20 mins) Collaborative crafting: Using cardboard and recyclables, have students work in pairs to design a costume piece that is "not so scary".
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: "What inspired you to write this?", "How did you choose the characters?"
Discussion & Extension Questions
Why did Mary want to look scary?
How did Mary feel when her costumes did not turn out right?
Did Mary give up on her goal to have a scary costume?
What makes Mary's final solution so creative?
How can we be creative when our own plans get messy?
1st Grade Lesson Plan - Age 6
Learning Objectives
Analyze the protagonist's response to adversity
Identify the sequence of events in the narrative
Practice creative writing by inventing a new costume idea
Materials
Book and/or Read Along Video
Procedure (45 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Pre-reading class discussion on flexibility. Facilitator prompts: "How do we handle it when our plans fail?", "Can an accident lead to a better result?", "What does the word "flexible" mean to you?", "How can being "creative" help us solve a problem?"
(10 mins) Watch the read along video of "Not So Scary Mary".
(25 mins) Students write a journal entry titled "My Creative Solution", describing a time they had to adapt to a situation and what they learned.
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: "What inspired you to write this?", "How did you choose the characters?"
Discussion & Extension Questions
What was the main conflict Mary faced in the story?
Why did Mary stop being upset about her costumes?
How did Mary's personality help her solve the costume problem?
What does "Not So Scary" mean in the context of the story?
How did the author show that failing at a plan can be fun?
2nd Grade Lesson Plan - Age 7
Learning Objectives
Evaluate the effectiveness of Mary's problem-solving strategy
Summarize the story arc using key plot points
Reflect on the theme of resilience through creative expression
Materials
Procedure (50 minutes + 20 minutes optional Q&A)
(10 mins) Introduction discussion on the nature of "mistakes". Facilitator prompts: "Are mistakes always bad?", "How can a "wrong" start lead to a "right" finish?", "What is the difference between giving up and trying something new?", "How can we support our friends when they are frustrated?"
(10 mins) Watch the read along video of "Not So Scary Mary".
(30 mins) Small group activity: Create a "Problem-Solver Chart" mapping Mary's problem to her eventual "ingenious" solution.
(20 mins) Watch the author's Q&A interview video. Lead a discussion prompting students to come up with new questions they would like to ask the author. Example questions to start: "What inspired you to write this?", "How did you choose the characters?"
Discussion & Extension Questions
What were the obstacles in Mary's way of finding a costume?
How does Mary's perspective change from the beginning to the end of the book?
Why was it better for Mary to be "not so scary"?
How would the story change if Mary had just given up?
What lesson can we take away from Mary's experiment with her costumes?
Alternative Lesson Plan - Ages 3 - 7
Learning Objectives
Identify and name feelings related to frustration and success
Use imaginative thinking to redesign an object
Connect with others by sharing creative ideas
Materials
Procedure (40 minutes)
(10 mins) Open-ended discussion about trying new things. Facilitator prompts: "What do you do when you are stuck?", "How can you turn a "bad" day into a fun one?", "If you had a trunk full of items, what would you make?", "Why is it fun to be creative?"
(10 mins) Watch the read along video of "Not So Scary Mary".
(20 mins) Create a collage project where students combine random materials into a new creation, mirroring Mary's approach in the book.
Discussion & Extension Questions
What did Mary learn about her costumes?
How did Mary feel when things didn't go right?
What does it mean to "get creative"?
Was Mary's final choice better than her first plan?
Can you describe your own favorite costume you have ever worn?