One example of integrating technology into the early childhood curriculum is a set of activities which were designed around the content of the software program, The Smelly Mystery. Since the program is based on a mystery, children enjoy problem solving and putting clues together to solve the case.

Software Description

Mercer Mayer’s character, Little Monster, is a private eye. Along with his friend, Detective Kerploppus, they try to identify the smelly criminal who is responsible for switching smells during Yally’s slumber party. Who could have done it - Little Monster, Jerry Bombanat, Yally, Little Laff, Ickky, or Erg? Collect clues from each page. Each clue is stored in the Clue Case File. At any time the user can check each suspect’s statistics from the Clue Page. Pages are full of animation, sounds, music, humor, and surprises.

Phrases of words are highlighted as the story is read. This program includes a memory game called, Mugs. Peek at the monster’s mug and then recreate it from memory, selecting the correct eyes, nose, mouth, hair, and ears during a given time frame.

Activity Introduction

After previewing, The Smelly Mystery, preschool children might ask, “What’s a mystery?” Young children construct their own knowledge through interaction with their environment and with others. At the computer center, The Smelly Mystery will allow preschool children to construct, investigate, and problem solve along with Little Monster and Detective Kerploppus to identify the smelly criminal who is responsible for switching smells during Yally’s slumber party.

Materials

Introductory Activity

Computer Activity

Extended Activity

After the group reading activity is completed, have children freely explore The Smelly Mystery program during computer time.

Create a Smelly Mystery Book for the library center. Boot the software program. Use a screen dump program or if you have a Macintosh computer with System 7.1 or higher, you can press Command-Shift-3. You will hear a “Click” similar to the sound a camera makes when it takes a picture. The captured image is saved as a “Picture” on the desktop. Each graphic file is named as “Picture 1,” Picture 2,” and so on. The number of graphics you can capture depends on the memory availability of your computer. The graphics can be printed from Simple Text or placed into a graphic program. Besides printing the pages, print each individual character. Laminate pages and characters. Create a book pocket to store the characters. Bind the book. Glue the female Velcro to the backside of each character. On the suspect page, glue a strip of male Velcro to the page. When reading the story to the children, they can make a prediction on who switched the smells and place the character on the suspect page. Allow children to create their own ending.

Summary

Children will construct, investigate, and problem solve during this activity. There is something new everyday with The Smelly Mystery. At the computer center, don’t be surprised to hear the children ask, “Where’s the clue?” and respond, “In the refrigerator!” or shout “I got a clue.”

Integration Strategies for Curriculum Areas

Emergent Literacy

Gather the children at the computer center for story time. Select “new program” from The Smelly Mystery. Encourage children to assist turning the pages of the story (either with a switch, mouse, or IntelliKeys). During the story, ask questions such as: Where’s the clue? or Who are the suspects?
After the group reading activity is completed, have children freely explore The Smelly Mystery program during computer time.
Create a book, based on the Smelly Mystery. Each child could draw/illustrate/write about who they think switched the smells.
Create a HyperStudio book with the theme of the Smelly Mystery.
Talk about phrases from the program such as: don’t be yellow, mustard; don’t spill the beans; and/or the cheese made me do it.
Map the clues from each page.

View http://www.hyperstudio.com/

Math, Science, and Social Studies

Who did it? Create a rebus chart of the Smelly Mystery characters (Little Monster, Jerry Bombanat, Yally, Little Laff, Ickky, and Erg). Before the story begins have the children place their labeled photo on the rebus chart to guess who they think will switch the smells. Before the end of the story, ask the children again who they think switched the smells. Allow them to change their guess on the rebus chart.

Let the children predict who switches the smells.
Chart the children’s predictions (example at right).
Discuss how ice cubes are made. Make ice cubes in class.
Discuss right and wrong.
Display a variety of food or objects in the classroom.
Discuss different smells, such as flowers from a flower shop, fish from the market, food from the grocery store, or food from a restaurant.
Make a case file of each character.
Discuss the different and similar features of each character.
Compare each suspect’s features.
Graph the children’s predictions using the software program, Graph Club (Tom Snyder).
Print in poster size.
Display results in the classroom.

View http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/
productdetail.asp?PS=GRPGRT

Expressive Arts

"Bean Bags." After viewing the program, The Smelly Mystery, invite the children to draw a picture of who they think switched the smells.

Add different smells to home-made play dough. See if children can identify the different smells. Sculpt characters from smelly play dough.
Draw characters from the program at the easel. Display the children’s Smelly Mystery art work. Have the children reflect about their drawing. Write each child’s reflection and display with drawing.
Capture an image from the software program or use a photo from a digital camera. Print onto T-shirt Transfer Paper. Iron onto T-shirts. Using acrylic paint include the child’s hand print on the shirt.
Make bean bags with iron on transfers of each character from The Smelly Mystery. Select two children to dress up as Little Monster and Detective Kerploppus (simple hats and coats). Ask Little Monster and Detective Kerploppus to leave the classroom. Meanwhile the other children select and hide the bean bag of the character who is the evil smell switcher. When Little Monster and Detective Kerploppus enter the room, they are expected to find the smell switcher (bean bag). They can ask the other children for clues.
Learn various music lyrics from The Smelly Mystery. For example, in the grocery store the ice box raps:
- Ice ice monster, ice ice monster
- If you want the water to freeze
- Turn the thermostat to 32 degrees
- Fahrenheit to zero degrees or
- Centigrade and that was gross
- That’s how ice cubes are made

Family and Community

Print the HyperStudio Smelly Mystery book. Allow children to check out the book to take home to share with the family.

In the classroom newsletter, describe to parents how the children enjoy the new software program, The Smelly Mystery, at the computer center.

Invite a police officer to the classroom to discuss how they solve crimes.
Send some smelly play dough home with each child. Put the play dough in a plastic zipper bag with a note to parents that includes the recipe.

Cooking/Snacks

Serve orange juice and peanut butter with crackers. Talk about how each food item smells. Can they tell the difference?
Make smelly play dough. Recipe: 2 cups flour, 2 Tbs. cooking oil, variety of Kool-Aid (for different smells), 2 Tbs. alum or cream of tartar, 1 cup salt, and 1 cup plus 1 Tbs. boiling water. Mix the Kool-Aid with the hot water before adding to the flour mixture.

Information on The Smelly Mystery: Publisher: GT Interactive Software

System Requirements: Macintosh system 7.1 or later
8 MB RAM
CD-ROM drive
Color Monitor
Mouse

PC 486DDX2-66 (minimum) processor

8 MB RAM
Super VGA display
CD-ROM drive
SoundBlaster
Mouse
(Optional)- External Speaker

	Publisher: GT Interactive Software http://www.infogames.com
	View Smelly Mystery http://www.kidsdomain.com/review/ kdr/smellymystery.html

Review of The Smelly Mystery - Other Integration Examples

	View Thinkin' Things PDf
	View Green Eggs and Ham PDF
	View Just Me and My Mom PDF

Performance Indicators

: Login : Register : Sample Workshops : Resources : Products :
: About : Contact Us : Center for Best Practices : Our Mission : Site Map :

Curriculum Integration

Integration Examples