American Girl Rebecca Planner

8/16/2019 American Girl Rebecca Planner

1/10

All About

Event Kit

A lively girl with

a dramatic flair

growing up in

New York City

Copyright © 2011 by American Girl . All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of Amer

®


2/10

®

Celebrate Rebecca Rubin! This easy-to-use planner provides everything you’ll need

to host an engaging event that’s all about Rebecca. Growing up on the Lower East Side

of New York City, Rebecca loves her family’s traditions and wants to please her parents,

but she also wants to fit in with American customs. Girls will be inspired by

the games, puzzles, and activities we’ve included for your store’s use.

• Instructions for reproducibles that girls can do

after the main activities or take home:

• Cousin Max’s Acting Advice

• Coney Island Cross Grid

• Streets of New York Maze

Event Kit Components

All About Rebecca Event Kit

Getting Started

• You can host a Rebecca event any time, but you may want to celebrate Rebecca on or near the dates and holidays that

correspond to her stories:

April 4 Rebecca’s birthday

Labor Day Takes place the first Monday in September to pay tribute to working men and women

Hanukkah The eight-day celebration of Hanukkah begins in late November or in December.

• Read through the planner and choose the mix of activities that suits your store and customers and the time you have

available. Do the pre-event preparations as noted.

• Place signage in your children’s section or near the cash register to promote the event. Post a sign-up sheet in your

store and encourage girls to bring friends.

• Advertise the event with announcements in your store’s newsletter, on your website, and in your local newspaper.

You can also distribute event information to local schools, libraries, and Girl Scout troops.

• Make 30 copies of each of the reproducibles you plan to use. Have pencils or pens available.

• Consider merchandising Rebecca’s six-book series and mysteries in or near the areas where you’re hosting the event.

• Tips on what to do before your event, along with information

about games and puzzles participants will enjoy:

• Icebreaker Activity

• Messenger Pigeon Relay

• Dreidel Craft and Game

• Coney Island Penny Pitcher Game

• Silent-Movie Charades


3/10

®

Here’s a selection of activities you can use to celebrate Rebecca and her stories. Create an event with the mix of

activities that suits your customers’ interests and the space, time, and staff you have available.

Icebreaker Activity

Start your event with an icebreaker activity that will introduce Rebecca and help girls get toknow one another.

Talking Prompt:

Rebecca dreams of being a movie actress someday. If her favorite book, Rebecca of

Sunnybrook Farm, were to be made into a movie, she would probably be thrilled to play the

title character, Rebecca. What is your favorite book? Has it been made into a movie? If you

could be in the movie, which character would you like to play?

Activities, Puzzles & Games

Instructions:

1. Read the talking prompt shown above.

2. Go around the room and ask each girl to introduce herself by giving her first name, the

name of her favorite book, and the character she would like to play if she were cast in the

movie. Start by introducing yourself and naming your favorite book and the character you

would like to play.


4/10

®

Messenger Pigeon Relay

Talking Prompt:

Rebecca’s neighbor Mr. Rossi raised pigeons on the rooftops of their building and trained them

to carry messages. Pigeons have an amazing sense of direction and can find their way back to

their home coop, even after being released hundreds of miles away!

Today you’re going to have a relay race to deliver messages, just like Mr. Rossi’s amazing

pigeons.

Supplies:

• Scrap paper

• 4–6 envelopes

• 4–6 chairs or boxes

• Pens or pencils

Pre-event Preparation:Using masking tape, mark 4 to 5 starting lines with enough room between them for girls to

move around. Position a chair or box about 12 to 15 feet in front of each starting line. Then

write funny phrases or tongue twisters on 5 separate sheets of paper. Here are some sugges-

tions to get you started:

• How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

• How many yaks would a yak pack pack if a yak pack could pack yaks?

• If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where’s the peck of pickled peppers Peter

Piper picked?

Assembly Instructions:

1. Divide participants into teams of equal numbers, and ask each team to line up behind

their starting line.


3. Give the first person in each line the option to select one of your prewritten funny

phrases or to write her own on a piece of scrap paper. Then ask these players to fold up

the messages and place them in the envelopes.

4. To play, the first player has to balance the envelope on her head and carefully deliver

it to the “mailbox” (the box or chair) at the finish line without using her hands. If the

envelope falls off her head, she must stop and put it back on her head and continue until

she reaches the mailbox.


5/10

®

5. Once she has delivered the message to the box, she should hurry back to her group

and tag Player 2. When Player 2 is tagged, she should hurry to the box or chair and

retrieve the message. Then she should balance the envelope on her head and deliver it to

Player 3 without using her hands.

6. Player 3 places the envelope on her head and redelivers the message to the mailbox.

7. The game continues until the last person in line has placed the envelope on her head anddelivered it to the mailbox or to Player 1. (This will differ depending on the number

of girls on each team.) Once the last person in line has finished delivering the message on

her head, she should tear open the envelope and read the message out loud.

8. The first team to complete their deliveries and read the message in their envelope wins.


6/10

®

Dreidel Game1.Give each playerfourtokens (such as individuallywrappedpieces of candy,pennies,orerasers). Then place fivetokens in themiddle.

2.To play,each playertakes aturn spinning thedreidel.If thedreidellands with the.. .

Nun facing up,theplayerdoes nothing.

Gimmel facing up,theplayertakes theall of thetokens from thepilein the middle.

Hay facing up,theplayertakes half of thetokens from thepilein themiddle.

Shin facing up,theplayerputs oneof his orhertokens intothepile in themiddle.

3.The gameis overwhen oneplayerwins allof thetokens.

N u n

G i m

m e l H a y

S h i n

®

Rebecca Rubin

For more aboutRebecca,visitamericangirl.com. 8Copyright © 2011byAmericanGirl. Allrightsreserved.AllAmericanGirlmarksare trademarksof AmericanGirl.

™

Dreidel Craft and Game

Talking Prompt:

In Candlelight for Rebecca, Rebecca celebrates a week-long Jewish holiday called Hanukkah

to remember when Jewish people long ago fought a king’s army so that they could worship

in their own temple. Rebecca’s family celebrates each night of the holiday by gathering for

dinner, lighting candles, singing songs, and playing with a toy called a “dreidel.”Dreidels are like spinning tops with four sides. Each side has a different Hebrew letter: nun,

gimmel, hay, and shin. Together, these letters stand for the phrase Nes Gadol Haya Sham

(nehs gah-DOHL HAI-ah sham), which means “A great miracle happened there.” Individually,

each letter tells you what to do.

Supplies:

• Enough copies of the dreidel handout ( AG_R_Dreidel.pdf ) for each girl to have one

• Markers, crayons, or colored pencils • Children’s scissors

• Glue sticks• Enough sharpened pencils for each girl to have one• Several packages of individually wrapped candies (such as mints or caramels—nut-free,

please) or a large collection of small objects, such as pennies or paper clips

Assembly Instructions:

1. Divide participants into teams of 4 to 6 girls.


3. Give each girl a pencil and a dreidel template. Instruct girls to cut out their dreidels and

the small square next to the dreidel. If you have time, ask the girls to color the small

squares and both sides of their paper dreidels.

4. When the girls are finished cutting out their dreidels and small squares, tell them to be very

careful as they punch their pencils through the hole at the center of the dreidel and slide

the paper halfway down the pencil. Then ask them to remove the pencil from the paper

gently.

5. Instruct the girls to glue the small square in the center of the dreidel. Then they

should carefully punch their pencil through the hole in the center of the glued square and

slide the paper halfway down the pencil. (Note: this extra layer strengthens the hole so

that their dreidels will last longer.) Ask the girls to remove the pencil from the paper gently

once again.

6. Tell the girls to follow along as you demonstrate how to fold the dreidel. Turn the

dreidel over so that the printed side is down. Fold each corner in toward the hole in

the center, with the Hebrew letters facing out. Then ask the girls to slide the pencil

through the hole again so that the folded corners point in the direction opposite the

pencil tip.

7. Now the girls are ready to play the game.

AG_R_Dreidel.pdf


7/10

®

Game Instructions:

1. Give each girl 4 pieces of individually wrapped candy (nut-free); then place 5 candies

in the middle of each group of girls. Remind the girls not to eat their candies yet.

2. To play, each girl should take a turn spinning her paper dreidel.

If her dreidel lands with the Nun facing up, she does nothing.

If her dreidel lands with the Gimmel facing up, she takes all the pieces of candy

from the pile in the middle.

If her dreidel lands with the Hay facing up, she takes half the candies from the pile

in the middle. (If there is an odd number of candies, the player takes half the pile plus

one. If there are 5 candies, for example, the player takes 3.)

If her dreidel lands with the Shin facing up, she puts one of her candies into the pile

in the middle.

3 . The game is over when one girl wins all of the candies or small objects. (Have extra candy

available for those girls who don’t win any in the game.)

Note: Depending on how much time you have, you may choose to have girls create and

color the dreidels and then take them home to play the game. Alternatively, you could ask

the girls to create the dreidel and play the game at your event, and suggest that they color

the dreidels at home.


8/10

®

Coney Island Penny Pitcher GameTalking Prompt:

In Changes for Rebecca, Papa takes the Rubin family to Coney Island to enjoy a day at the

famous Steeplechase amusement park. Rebecca rides the mechanical racehorses and the

gigantic Ferris wheel, goes through the fun house, and tries her hand at a throwing game.

Now we’ll have our own Coney Island fun with a game called “Penny Pitcher”!

Supplies:

• 16 –24 medium-sized disposable paper cups • 30 small objects, such as pennies, pencil-top erasers, large paper clips, or pieces of

individually wrapped candies (such as mints or caramels—nut-free, please)

Pre-event Preparation:

Place 5 masking tape X’s in a line on the floor of the event area, each about 5 feet apart.

Instructions:

1. Divide the girls into groups of 4 to 6. Ask the groups to stand in parallel lines, with the

first girl in line standing on one of the masking tape X’s. Give each girl one eraser or other

small object.


3. In front of each group’s X, place 4 cups in a line about a foot apart, with the first cup

located about 2 feet away from the X.

4. To play, each girl takes a turn trying to throw her penny into the first cup. If her penny

doesn’t land in the cup, she must retrieve the penny and go to the back of the line to try

again at her next turn. When she successfully lands her penny in the first cup, she should

retrieve it and move to the back of the line. At her next turn, she should try to throw her

penny into the second cup, etc. The first girl in each group to successfully throw her penny

into the fourth cup wins.


9/10

®

Silent-Movie CharadesTalking Prompt:

In Rebecca’s time, movie actors couldn’t use words because movies were silent. Instead, actors

used dramatic facial expressions and gestures to show what was happening.

Today we’ll practice being silent-movie stars in a game of charades.

Pre-event Preparation:

1. Download the Silent-Movie Charades action slips ( AG_R_Charades.pdf ).

2. Cut out the action slips along the dotted lines. When you are finished you will have 30 slips.

3. Determine how many slips you will need by the number of girls in attendance. Each girl will

receive one slip.

4. Put all the slips into a small box or bag and mix them up.

Instructions:1. Read the talking prompt above.

2. To warm up the girls for this activity, demonstrate some examples of silent actions, and ask

the girls to practice with some acting directions you provide (e.g., swimming, hitting a base-

ball, reading a book, etc.). Remind them that they have to stay silent while they are

performing the actions.

3. Ask girls to break into groups of 4 to 6 girls. (You may have fewer groups or more girls

per group, depending on the number of participants.)

4. Bring the box/bag with the action slips to each group, and ask the girls to pick out one slip

each. Remind them not to share what is on their slip with anyone else.

5. Instruct the girls to take turns in their groups acting out the action that is on their slip

while the other girls in their group try to figure out what they’re doing. If you have time,

have groups switch action slips for another round or two.

P et a p up py o r ki tt en . R oc k a ba by . Lick an ice creamcone.

Washyourhair. Write aletter. Drink throughastraw.

S mel l s o me thi ng yummy. Talk o n the te lep hone . Knit orcrochet.

P lay t he pi an o. L ig ht a can dl e. Blow out acandle.

Read abook. Open the curtainsandlook out the window.

Sneeze (silently!).

I’mso surprised!I’mexcited!I’msleepy.

I’m in love. I’m mad! I’m scared.

B ru sh yo ur tee th . S we ep th e fl oor. Ta st e so me th in g ic ky.

I’mfeeling sick.I’mconfused.I’mbored.

I’mworried.I’msad.I’mhappy!

Silent-Movie Charades

®

Rebecca Rubin

For more aboutRebecca,visitamericangirl.com. 8Copyright © 2011byAmericanGirl. Allrightsreserved.AllAmericanGirlmarksare trademarksof AmericanGirl.

™

AG_R_Charades.pdf


10/10

®

Streets of New York

MazeRebeccaloves tohelpPapa attheshoestore. Tosave

money,Papaand Rebeccawalkthe long wayhomefromthestoreinstead of taking thetrolley.Can you helpthem

findtheirway through thebusystreets of New York?

Start

Finish

F i n i s h

S t a r t

®

Rebecca Rubin

For more aboutRebecca,visitamericangirl.com.

8Copyright © 2011byAmericanGirl. Allrightsreserved.

AllAmericanGirlmarksa re trademarksof AmericanGirl.

A n s w e r :

™

Coney IslandCross GridRebeccahadquite an adventurewith herfamilyat

ConeyIsland!Listedbelow aresomeof thethings shesaw.Fiteach wordintothecross grid.Startwith the9-,10-,

and13-letterwords. Thereʼs onlyone placeeach of

thosewords willfit.Then fillin therestof thepuzzle.

5 Letters

OCEANGAMES

9 Letters

RACETRACK

6 Letters

CLOWNSPRIZES

10 Letters

ROSE GARDEN

7 Letters

HOTDOGSTICKETS

11 Letters

FERRIS WHEEL

KEWPIE DOLLS

8 Letters

CAROUSELFUN HOUSEICE CREAMSEAGULLSLEMONADE

13 Letters

ROLLERCOASTER

®

Rebecca Rubin

For more aboutRebecca,visitamericangirl.com. 8Copyright © 2011byAmericanGirl. Allrightsreserved.AllAmericanGirlmarks are trademarksof AmericanGirl.

L

E

M

O

N

A

D

E

R

I

S

W

H

E

E

L

F

E

R

H

O

T

D

O

G

S

I

C

E

C

R

E

A

M

P

I

E

D

O

L

L

S

K

E

W

G

A

M

E

S

T K C E S T

G A L U L

P

S S

I Z S E

R O S U L C

C N A

R C R C T A K

R O C A T S R R O L L

F U H N U S E

C L O N

E G E A D R N R O

A n s w e r :

™

Thefirsttime RebeccametCousin Max,hegave hersomeadviceshewouldnever forget.

Whatwas it? Tofindout,cross outeveryB,J,S,andZ.

Then writetheremaining lettersin thespaces below.Writethemin orderfrom lefttoright and

topto bottom.

I Z S S F Z Y J S J Z B O Z B

U S Z J B J S M Z J A Z B S J

B K Z E B S T Z S B Z H S E Z

M S B S L J Z A B S J U B G B

Z H J B S Y O S U Z B B R Z J

A S B U Z D Z I S J Z S E S N

S C J E S B S W Z I Z L J L L

Z O V Z E B Z Y J Z O Z S U Z

Cousin Max’sActing Advice

®For more aboutRebecca,visitamericangirl.com. 8Copyright © 2011byAmericanGirl. Allrightsreserved.AllAmericanGirlmarks are trademarksof AmericanGirl.

Rebecca Rubin

____ ____ ________ ____ ________ ____ ____

____ ________ ____ ________ ____ ________

________ ________ ________ ________ ________ ________

________ ________ ________ ____ ____ ________ ____

™

8Questions or comments? Call 800-845-000 5, visit americangirl.com, or write to Customer Service, American Girl, 8400 Fairway Place, Middleton, WI 53562.

Copyright © 2011 by American Girl. All rights reserved. All American Girl marks are trademarks of American Girl.

Cousin Max’s Acting AdviceCross out the letters to discover the words of wisdom Cousin Max shared with Rebecca.

Coney Island Cross Grid

There’s only one place in the cross grid for each of the listed words naming some of the exciting

things Rebecca saw at Coney Island’s Steeplechase amusement park.

Streets of New York Maze

Help Rebecca and Papa find their way home from the shoe store through the busy streets of

New York City.

AG_R_ConeyCrossgrid.pdf

Event Guidelines:

• This event kit is recommended for girls ages 8 and up. Adult supervision of the activitiesis recommended.

• Remember that materials may be reproduced only for use with an in-storeAmerican Girl event.

• This event is designed to be free of charge. Please make every effort toaccommodate all girls who are interested in this program.

• All the materials you use for crafts and games should be age-graded as 8+.

AG_R_NYMaze.pdf

Make copies of these puzzles to pass out during the event. If girls finish an activity before the rest of the group,

these puzzles will keep them occupied. You can also send the puzzles home with the girls. Each reproducible includes

directions.

AG_R_ ActingAdvice.pdf

Reproducible Puzzles

Documents

American Girl Rebecca Planner