The Mitten 2026 Preparations

The Mitten 

One winter day each year, the Oak children shine extra bright, their parents smile with pride, and the sound of clapping can be heard throughout the school. The reason? It’s the annual performance of *The Mitten*!

The *Mitten* tradition began with my first class at HHAI. The children told me they would like to put on a show. As a class, we looked for books that had many characters and decided upon *The Mitten* by Jan Brett. Thanks to the Pre-K class of 2015, *The Mitten* has now become an annual event and one that I look forward to each year.

The actual *Mitten* show is very short, but the preparation, discovery, and research leading up to showtime are where the meaningful learning occurs. The story is read daily, allowing for a deeper understanding of character, setting, and story structure. Puppets, costumes, story stones, story cards, and stuffed animals from the story are added to the learning centers, giving children opportunities to act out the story during free play.

Each child chooses the character they would like to represent in the show. The characters in the story include a variety of animals, a boy named Nicki, and his grandma. This year, the children decided to add a grandpa to the story. After choosing their character, each child researches that character using books, videos, computers, and personal interviews. During the research process, each child creates a poster to share what they have learned. Each child also chooses and creates a project based on their character to communicate and deepen their learning. This year’s projects were created using painting, drawing, sewing, sculpting, hammering, and lots of hard work.

In addition to learning about the story of *The Mitten*, the children also assist with preparations for the show. They create tickets, poster advertisements, and programs. Through the creation of these materials, the children practice writing and improve fine motor strength. They prepare and count money for theater customers, and in the process learn about economics and strengthen their counting skills. Drawing and painting scenery is another task they complete to prepare for the show.

On the day of the performance, each child has a job in the theater. The children greet guests, sell tickets, and hand out programs. These jobs allow them to practice manners and communication skills with the guests (Oak parents).

From the introduction of the book until the children take their final bow on show day, the classroom is filled with enthusiasm. It is always a magical time and one that past Oak students often remember fondly!