Notre Dame Learning Center, Rochester NY

For the month of April, Notre Dame Learning Center’s book club dove into a classic that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves: Alice in Wonderland. Students read a shortened adaptation of the story and were fully immersed in Alice’s world through themed snacks that brought the story to life. They ate cookies shaped like playing card suits with some labeled “Eat Me” like the cake that makes Alice grow, and drank bottles of Kool-Aid tagged “Drink Me” like the potion that makes her shrink. These little details helped transform reading into an interactive experience.

To go along with the story, students also created their own pocket watches inspired by the White Rabbit, complete with hands that actually move. Not only was this a fun craft, but it also doubled as a hands-on way to practice telling time. Each student added their own creative touch by decorating the outside of their watch.

After finishing the book, the group celebrated with a pizza party and watched the Alice in Wonderland movie. It was a fun way to wrap up the month, while also reinforcing the idea that the stories in books can be just as exciting as the stories they see on the screen. The April book club offered students a chance to engage with a classic piece of literature in a creative and memorable way- reminding them that these timeless stories still have plenty of magic to offer.