Buy or make some green play dough. To make your own, mix 1 tablespoon cream of tartar, 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 1 cup salt, 2 cups of flour and 5 to 10 drops of green food coloring in a large bowl. Add small amounts of water until the mixture sticks together without being tacky. A medium to dark green color is best for this so add more food coloring if needed. Give each child a piece of green play dough to shape into a monster. Collect Mr. Potatohead pieces and let the kids use them to decorate their original play dough monsters.
Give each child a toilet paper roll. You will also need green paint, googly eyes, buttons, Chenille sticks, ribbon and any craft scraps that the kids can use. Tell the kids to paint the toilet paper tube green and allow it to dry. Then they can glue on any items they want to make their own green monster.
The kids can create and eat their own monster with this activity. Give each child a plain sugar cookie, a tablespoon of white frosting, green food coloring, M&Ms, red licorice ropes, scissors, a plastic knife, paper plate and paper towel. Mix the food coloring into the frosting and divide the ingredients out equally onto the paper plates. Cut the red licorice pieces into 1- and 2-inch sections. Tell the kids to spread the frosting with the knives and decorate with the candies. They can eat the creations or take them home to show their parents.
Give each child an 11-by-18 inch piece of construction paper and some crayons or markers. Have them think about what they would do if they had a monster of their own. Have them draw what they would do with their monster. At the end of this activity, have each child come up and discuss what the picture is about.
Incorporate science after this story. You will need paper cups, soil, grass seeds, markers and some water. Have each child decorate a paper cup with the face of a monster. Then have them measure out enough soil to fill the cup. Have them sprinkle a pinch of grass seeds on the top and cover the seeds with a little bit of soil. Give the children a small amount of water to pour into the cup. Place all "monster" cups on a tray near the window. Every day or so have the children view the progress of the monster's hair growth. Send it home after two to four weeks. The kids can cut the "hair" of the monster and should be reminded to water it regularly.