Adventuremice: Mice on the Ice

by Philip Reeve & Sarah McIntyre

Pedro the mouse is an explorer looking for adventure, and he finds it when he joins the Adventuremice on a mission to the freezing cold mountains. Together, this courageous team must navigate icy challenges and help a friend in need.

Big Idea

Even the smallest individuals can accomplish great things through teamwork and bravery.

Discussion Questions

1.What makes Pedro a good adventurer?
2.Why is it important for the mice to work together on the ice?
3.How do the authors use the setting of the ice to create a challenge?
4.What would you pack if you were going on an adventure like the mice?
5.How does the team handle fear when things get difficult?

Classroom Activities

Map the Mission

Students draw a map of the Adventuremice's journey across the ice, marking key locations and obstacles they encountered.

Map the Mission

Students draw a map of the Adventuremice's journey across the ice, marking key locations and obstacles they encountered.

Lesson Plan

⏱ 45 minutes📦 Large chart paper, markers, crayons, pencils.

Learning Goals

Identify key plot points in a sequence
Practice spatial awareness in visual storytelling
Understand the role of setting in an adventure story

Activity Steps

1.Review the journey taken by Pedro and the mice.
2.Brainstorm the major obstacles faced on the ice.
3.Sketch a map including labels for start, finish, and dangers.
4.Add illustrations of the characters at specific points.
5.Share maps with peers to explain the journey.

Standards Connections

RL.K-5.3
W.K-5.3
SL.K-5.1

Pace-Write-Read Study with Pace-Write It!

Adventuremice introduces young readers to the structural necessity of cause and effect in narrative writing. By pairing visual cues with simple text, the authors demonstrate how pacing relies on immediate transitions between action and reaction, keeping the reader engaged through constant motion. Students learn that writing isn't just about describing a place, but about moving characters through it to reveal their personalities. This creates a rhythmic flow that mirrors the physical movement of the characters across the page.

Element	How to notice or teach it in the novel
Pacing	Use quick, punchy sentences to speed up the action scenes on the ice.
Plot	Ensure every obstacle encountered contributes directly to the climax of the story.
Prosody	Practice reading dialogue with expressive tones that reflect the cold, windy environment.
Word	Incorporate sensory words related to temperature and texture to build the world.
Voice & Worldview	Write from a 'small' perspective to highlight the massive scale of the characters' challenges.

Pace-Write It!

Students spend 20 minutes writing a one-page 'mini-adventure' where they must overcome one simple physical obstacle in a new location.