Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin

Title: Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type

Author: Doreen Cronin

Illustrator: Betsy Lewin

Age Range: 3-7 years old

Grade level: 1^st and 2^nd 

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Element 4: Social Movements and Social Change

Summary:  What if farm animals had a voice that was understood and the power to speak openly and freely about their lives and living conditions? What would they say and would they demand any changes be made? In Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type we find out exactly what these animals are thinking and feeling. To put it simply, they’re feeling cold! Through the power of collective brainstorming and teamwork the animals make a list of demands to ensure they no long shiver at night. Their demands go straight to Farmer Brown and when they’re ignored protest prevails. Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is a simple yet powerful tale of voice and the social changes that can occur when a group of voices come together as one.

SJE Element 4:

How do we as educators ground the concepts of social movements and social change into content that is not only understandable for younger students but also relatable? It’s crucial that our students know the power of their own voice and how teamwork and mutual respect can create real change. Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type introduces these ideas and allows students to think about them and internalize them with rich and purposeful practices. Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin cover concepts such as collective bargaining, unions, protesting, and fairness very simply but also exceptionally comprehensive. Just beginning the thought process is a significant step in the right direction for our students and our classrooms. What’s so exciting about a book such as Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type is the potential for moral and intellectual growth. These ideas can push students to expand their knowledge of social issues, social change, and ultimately making our society a more equal and civil place to be a part of. 

Classroom ideas:

Create a book about other animals who live in different environments and what their possible requests and needs may be. Use Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type as a stepping stone towards bigger ideas and areas. 

Do a group activity to make the ideal farm, where both farmers and animals are complacent with their roles on the farm and work together to ensure everyone is working to their best of their ability. Have students think about all the components of fairness and treating the life around you with care and respect. 

For a field-trip, take students to local farms and examine the health of the animals and the overall condition of the environment.

Additional Resources: 

Click, Clack, Moo Unit - This resource is a very detailed guide into how to full incorporate this text into your classroom. There's an array of helpful tools such as learning objectives, teaching strategies, assessment strategies and printable resources. 

Guides, Activities and Games- This resource has a a ton of fun games and activities that can be died to Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type. These games can be very helpful for rethinking new ideas and interacting with the story itself!