After reading "Tumbleweed Stew," make a list of characters. Ask for volunteers or assign a child to each role. Make scripts and costumes for each child. Discuss how to bring the different animals to life. For example, Jack Rabbit was a sly and slippery character who tricked the other animals into giving him food to eat. The child acting out the character of Jack could look to the audience and wink every time he tricks a character. The child Jack should mimic his character and hop around like a rabbit.
By telling the other animals that his tumbleweed stew is missing something, Jack is able to manipulate the other animals into donating ingredients which in the end makes a tasty stew. Discuss with the children the pitfalls of manipulation and the value in asking friends to pitch in to accomplish a goal. Make a list of items needed to make a classroom stew and send the list home with the kids. Ask each child to bring an item from the list. Make the base to a stew by browning your meat and creating a thick stock. Taste the meaty mixture before randomly calling a child's name. Tell that child the stew is missing something and ask them to add their donation to the pot. Repeat the process until each child has added something to the pot. When the stew finishes cooking, ladle it into bowls and eat as a group.
After reading "Tumbleweed Stew," read "The Little Red Hen" and "Stone Soup." Discuss the similarities and differences between the books. Ask the children which character they think handled the situation best and why. For example, the little red hen worked hard and made her own food while Jack in "Tumbleweed Stew" and the strangers in "Stone Soup" tricked others into providing food. Ask the children how the books are similar and how they are different. Tell kids that versions of the stories are told in different cultures around the world which means people face the same issues regardless of where they live.
As a group, rewrite "Tumbleweed Stew." Discuss alternative ways the book could have ended. For example, instead of the all the other animals contributing to the meal, some get angry as they watch one another give the rabbit food. At the end of the book, one of the animals points out that they have been deceived and the animals tell Jack he cannot have any of the food. Or write it so Jack is planning a party and for food each animal is asked to bring an addition to a pot of stew.