Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson is a whimsical rhyming story about a kind-hearted witch and her loyal cat who set off on a journey through the sky. Along the way, they encounter a friendly dog, a bright green bird, and a cheerful frog, each hoping to join them on her broomstick. As the witch’s broom becomes more crowded, they face unexpected challenges and an encounter with a fearsome dragon, leading to an uplifting tale about friendship, kindness, and finding room for everyone.
Check out these fun, easy activities and get the FREE printable!
Activity #1: Paper Bag Puppets
This is an activity you can do with your little ones—”Room on the Broom” paper bag puppets! This is perfect for preschoolers and early elementary kids, especially if they’re fans of Julia Donaldson’s magical story. My kids loved making each character from the book, and I’m sure yours will too!
What You’ll Need:
- Paper bags (one for each character)
- Glue stick and scissors (kid-safe ones if your little humans are helping with the cutting!)
- The FREE printable! (get it here)
Instructions:
- Print and cut each puppet along the dotted line
- Turn the paper bag upside and so that the flap is facing you
- Lift the flap and glue the body of puppet on the bag so the top of the puppet is against the flap where the crease is.
- Glue the head of the puppet to the top of the flap. Make sure the head lines up appropriately with the body so when you open it, it appears like the puppet is talking.
- If you need a little video example here it is: video example
Puppet Show Time!
Once you’ve created all the characters, it’s time for a “Room on the Broom” puppet show!
Encourage your kids to act out the story or make up their own adventures with the characters.
This craft is more than just fun—it’s a great way to work on fine motor skills, creativity, and story-telling. I hope this activity brings as much joy to your family as it did to mine. Happy crafting, and don’t forget to let me know how your little ones’ puppets turn out!
Activity #2: How many on the broom?
Here’s another magical activity to keep them engaged and learning—our Room on the Broom Counting Game! This little activity is perfect for preschoolers and early elementary learners, helping them practice counting, number recognition, and matching skills. Plus, it’s a great way to extend the story into a fun learning experience.
What You’ll Need:
- Printable broom pieces (download and print the attached sheet with broom handles and broom bottoms labeled with numbers and stars. Get it here!)
- Scissors
- Optional: Laminator and Velcro dots (if you want to make it reusable)
Let’s Set It Up:
- Prep the Printables:
Print the sheet of brooms and broom handles. You’ll notice each broom handle has a different number of stars, from one to ten, and each broom bottom has a matching number.
If you’d like to make this a more durable activity, go ahead and laminate the pieces. This is a great option if you want to use it multiple times or even bring it out during Halloween each year!
2. Cut Out the Pieces:
Carefully cut out each broom handle and broom bottom. Each handle has stars, while each bottom has a number and, for older learners, a corresponding number word label (like “one,” “two,” “three”).
If you laminated them, this is where you could add Velcro dots to the broom handles and broom bottoms so they stick together when matched.
Explain the Game to Your Child:
Set up a little “workstation” with the broom handles in one pile and the broom bottoms in another.
The goal is to match each broom handle to the correct broom bottom by counting the stars. For example, the handle with three stars should be matched to the broom bottom with a “3” on it.
For a bit of extra challenge, encourage them to find the word label that matches too—great for those older learners ready to recognize written numbers!
Playtime!
Let your child start by picking a broom handle, counting the stars, and finding the broom bottom that matches.
Cheer them on as they work through each handle and reinforce those counting skills. If they need help, you can count the stars together.
For older kids, try mixing up the word labels and having them match both the numeral and the word to the correct handle. This adds a fun reading element and introduces them to the concept of number words!
Extra Fun Variations:
Timed Challenge: For kids who enjoy a bit of a challenge, time them as they match each piece and see if they can beat their previous time!
Mix and Match: After they complete it, mix up the pieces and have them do it again. Repetition helps reinforce their learning.
Counting Practice: Use each handle as a mini counting exercise. Let them practice saying, “One star, two stars, three stars…” as they count each handle.
This game is a perfect blend of learning and fun, bringing the magic of Room on the Broom right into your home while building early math and literacy skills. I hope this activity brings joy and a little bit of magic to your child’s learning routine. Let me know how it goes—I’m always excited to hear about your little ones’ adventures in learning!
Activity #3: Animal Rescue
If your kids love the part of the story when the witch picks up her animal friends, they’ll absolutely adore this “Rescue the Animals” game. Use the cute printable, featuring the book’s charming characters: the frog, bird, dog, and cat.
What You’ll Need:
- Printable characters (with the cat, frog, dog, and bird—just like the ones in Room on the Broom! Get them here.)
- Scissors (kid-friendly ones are best if your little ones want to help with the cutting)
- Tape or Blu Tack (to hide the characters around the house)
- A little imagination (okay, maybe a lot—this is all about pretend play!)
Prepare the game!
- Print and cut out the characters from the printable (or let your kids join in for some scissor practice).
You’ll have the frog, bird, cat, and dog, ready to be hidden all around the house!
2. Hide the Characters:
Once you’ve got your characters cut out, sneak around and hide them in different spots around your home. Try to get creative—maybe the cat is “stuck” on a chair, or the dog is “lost” under the bed.
If you want to make it extra fun, leave little hints or clues that will lead your kids to each hiding spot.
Set the Scene
Gather your kiddos and tell them they’re about to go on a Room on the Broom adventure! Remind them of how the witch rescues each animal and invites them onto her broom.
Explain that each of the animals is “lost” around the house, and they’re the little witches and wizards who need to find and “rescue” them!
Start the Search
Let the hunt begin! As they find each character, they can “rescue” it and bring it back to a designated area.
If you’ve hidden them in tricky spots, give hints to keep them excited and moving. You can even use the book’s storyline to keep the excitement high: “I wonder if the frog has fallen near a pond… where would that be in our house?”
Celebrate the Rescue
Once they’ve found all the animals, gather together and pretend to “fly” on your broom with all their new friends.
This is a great activity for imaginative play, a little exercise, and reinforcing the story in a hands-on way. My littles had a blast “saving” each of the animals, and I’m sure yours will too! Let me know if you give it a try—I’d love to hear all about your little rescuers’ adventures!
I hope you enjoy these fun activities for this Halloween book. Be sure to get your FREE printable and share!
Have a spooky Halloween with your kids!
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