Sixth-graders at Mill Creek Elementary School posted their ‘good deeds’ to a bulletin board during “The 25 Days of Grinchmas.” (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Applying a twist on a classic cartoon, Mill Creek Elementary School students observed “The 25 Days of Grinchmas” before leaving for their winter break.

Kris Gray, library media specialist at Mill Creek, offered the fun activity centered around Dr. Seuss’ classic book, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” Students participating in “The 25 Days of Grinchmas” focused their thoughts on doing good deeds.

“The book was read and recorded by on one of our sixth-grade students and made available to all teachers for their students,” Gray said.

Beginning on Dec. 1, Gray and the students discussed “good deeds to make our hearts grow three sizes, as the Grinch’s heart did in the book. I challenged each of the students to complete at least three good deeds by Dec. 18,” she said.

Student had many options for good deeds. For example, they could volunteer for a local charity or visit a nursing home and talk with residents. A student could write a poem for someone. At school, a “Grinchmas” deed could be helping a teacher clean up a classroom.

At home, the student could read to a younger sibling, offer to help parents decorate for Christmas or help with folding laundry. Making a greeting card for a hospital patient or a soldier serving overseas was another option.

During the first three weeks of December, students posted their good deeds on a bulletin board dedicated to “Grinchmas. Students’ names were drawn from the bulletin board randomly and awarded prizes,” Gray said.

On the last day of the semester on Dec. 19, Gray mailed all of the students’ good deed postcards to Random House Children’s Books. “This company will, in turn, donate books to our community for every student who completed three good deeds,” Gray said.

The goal for Mill Creek students was to have them focus on giving instead of receiving, she said.

For more information, visit seussville.com.