How to Teach “Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?”

The book "Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?" by Dr. Seuss is a great book for the preschool classroom. You can use these preschool activities for the book “Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You?” before, during, and after reading.

Tell the children that you are going to make a noise, and that they should identify what object makes that noise. Then choose some common noises from the book, such as “tick tock,” “knock knock,” “moo moo,” or “choo choo.” As the children guess correctly, congratulate them on their listening skills. Then ask them to take turns making some other common noises (e.g., baa baa, neigh, pop), and have the rest of the children identify the animal or object that might make that noise. Explain to the children that you will now be reading a book about Mr. Brown, who is very good at making noises. He even makes noises for things like a frying pan or rain! Encourage students to try to guess what Mr. Brown will choose for some of the uncommon noises in the book.

Read the book with students, making sure to keep the rhythm moving. When the book asks “Mr. Brown can do it, how about you?” or similar questions, let the children respond by making the noise in question. When you reach the page about the butterfly, lower your voice and speak very softly to emphasize the uniqueness of the page.

On the board, brainstorm things that might make interesting noises, such as a leaky faucet, a snowball hitting a wall, a boot stepping in a puddle, a washing machine, or a car’s windshield wipers. Then have students work in small groups to come up with a sound that each of the objects might make. Have them share the sounds with the class.

Have a volunteer come to the front of the classroom. Whisper a description of a noise into her ear, such as “a fire engine” or “a helicopter.” Have her make the sound that she thinks the object makes, and encourage the rest of the class to guess what the object is.

This book can be a great way to get kids moving, talking, and laughing together. Use these activities to bring the book, Mr. Brown Can Moo to life!