‘A Cricket In Times Square’ Inspires Students’ Creativity

Students at Sandy Hook Elementary School are currently in the middle of their “One School, One Read” program, in which students in grades 1 through 4, as well as their families, all read the same book together.

This year, Sandy Hook School is reading George Selden’s A Cricket in Times Square.

The classic children’s novel tells the story of Chester, a cricket, who arrives in early 20th Century Manhattan from his native Connecticut via a picnic basket.

The tiny insect considers himself blessed when he quickly makes three good friends: a little boy named Mario, whose parents run the newsstand; a fast-talking Broadway mouse called Tucker; and Tucker’s pal, Harry Cat.

Between escapades all over New York City, the four somehow manage to bring success to the almost bankrupt newsstand.

The book has inspired numerous themes and class activities, and Courtney Martin’s third grade class has its own pet cricket, named Chester.

“We got him from a pet store,” said Ms Martin. “The students love him!”

Sandy Hook School Chester is kept in a small container with a “tunnel,” made out of a toilet paper cardboard tube for play, and he is feed potato and other treats.

In Teri Callahan’s second grade class, the children tied the recent Chinese New Year with Chester’s adventure through Chinatown. The students made colorful Chinese lanterns and learned about Chinese astrology.

“Most of the students in our class were born in the Year of the Oxen,” said Ms Callahan. This year, 2005, is the Year of the Rooster.

The students also connected the book’s journalistic theme with an activity in which they created news headlines for the book’s climactic event, a fire at the newsstand inadvertently caused by Tucker the mouse!

“The kids have really been moving through the book well, and really enjoying it,” said Ms Callahan. “They can’t wait to see what will happen next.”