Trolls

* Review News Notes for this story

* Complete the Piggy Backs Web Project for this story, which includes these activities:
o Norway Research Project
o Comprehension Activity
o Writing Activity
o Prepare Open-Faced Sandwiches
o Plastic Canvas or Cross Stitch Activity

* Make a Troll Pencil Topper

* Throughout this story at the bottom of the page, there is activity underground. The entire page is bordered by the outdoor scenery until we check out the bottom and about one-fourth of the way up each side. It shows the underground home of the trolls and a hedgehog that gets inside. Page after page, watch the adventures going on indoors as well as outdoors.

* Students can write story text for the underground story, which is almost a wordless picture book accompanying the main story. They can describe the home, what made them leave, and then the activity of the hedgehog. They are free to write their own ending.

* The story is set in Norway. Locate this country on the map. Note the Nordic designs on the girl's clothing, the skis, the Swiss chalet. Perhaps students can design socks, sweater, or mittens in a similar style.

* Notice that these story trolls have pointed heads with white hair, pointed ears, large feet, and a twisty tail. Their clothing is patched. At the easel, students can create their own version of a troll, or use these same characteristics. For our heritage camp, we used the kids' illustrations to create badges (2.25" pin-backed metal buttons - created with Badge-a-Minit) that featured their 'troll' name.

* This would be a good story to do as a play.

* Write a story about another encounter with these trolls and the way they could be outsmarted another day.

* Make a bridge with Popsicle sticks. Make the goats and troll from the story The Three Billy Goats Gruff out of air-dry or polymer clay.

* Bring in goat's milk for the children to taste. Ask a local farmer to bring some in. (Always check with parents before giving your students any unusual foods.)

* Also ask a local farmer if they would be willing to bring in a goat for the children to see and touch.

* Use printable mask pictures of goats and/or trolls for the kids to color and cut out.

* Make marionettes and stick puppets and use them to retell the story.