Would You Eat Green Eggs and Ham? A Fun Preschool Book & Cooking Activity

Some traditions are just too fun to let go—especially when they bring back so many great memories! Back when I was a classroom teacher, my mom would come to my class every year on Dr. Seuss’s birthday to help me read Green Eggs and Ham and cook up a batch of (very green) eggs with my students. 

The kids always got such a kick out of the story, laughing at the rhymes and debating whether they’d actually try the green eggs. (And yes, we did this in my third grade class.  Even “big kids” love it!) It was one of my favorite classroom traditions, and having my mom be a part of it made it even more special.

Fast forward a few years, and now we’ve brought the tradition back—but with a fun twist! Instead of my classroom, my mom and I now visit my daughter’s class each year to do the same Green Eggs and Ham activity with her and her little friends. It’s such a full-circle moment watching my daughter experience the same joy my students did, and I love that my mom is still right there with us, making it even more memorable.

In this post, I’ll share how we brought Green Eggs and Ham to life in the classroom, plus some fun ways you can try this activity with your own kids or students!

DISCLOSURE: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING I GET A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE THROUGH MY LINKS, AT NO COST TO YOU. PLEASE READ MY TERMS OF USE POLICY FOR MORE INFO.

Different Events & Themes to Make Green Eggs and Ham For

Every year, we make green eggs and ham on Dr. Seuss’s birthday (March 2nd).  However, there are plenty of other opportunities throughout the year that would be perfect for making green eggs and ham!  Here are some ideas:

• Read Across America Week (First Week of March) – A literacy-focused celebration.
• National Nutrition Month (March) – Encourages kids to try new foods in a fun way.
• April Fool’s Day (April 1st) – A silly, surprising way to make breakfast fun.
• Back-to-School Icebreaker Activity (August/September) – Encourages kids to be open to new experiences.
• Opposite Day (January 25th or any classroom-selected date) – Since green eggs are unexpected, it’s a perfect match.
• Farm-Themed or Food-Themed Learning Units – Connects literacy with food and where it comes from.
• Color-Themed Days – A fun way to celebrate learning about the color green.
• Letter G Week (Preschool Letter Learning) – “G” for “Green” and “G” for “Goat” (a character in the book).
• Book-Inspired Summer Camp or Library Storytime – A great interactive book activity.

Preparing for the Visit

Since we’ve done this activity so many times before, my mom and I pretty much have it down to a science! But if you’re trying it for the first time, here’s how we got everything ready for our visit to my daughter’s preschool class.

Picking the Perfect Book
Obviously, Green Eggs and Ham was the go-to choice for this activity. It’s silly, engaging, and has that fun message about trying new things—perfect for preschoolers! Plus, Dr. Seuss’s rhymes make it easy to read aloud in a way that keeps kids entertained.

Gathering Supplies
For the cooking part, we kept things super simple:
✔️ Eggs
✔️ Green food coloring
✔️ Sliced ham
✔️ A griddle (since it’s easier than using the classroom stove) – my mom brings one just like this one from home
✔️ A mixing bowl and whisk
✔️ Small plates and forks for serving

Since we were making this in a classroom, I checked with the teacher ahead of time to make sure there weren’t any food allergies to be aware of. I also confirmed that it would be okay to plug in our electric griddle. Always a good idea when cooking with little ones!

Planning an Interactive Read-Aloud
Preschoolers love a good story, especially when they can get involved! Before reading, we asked the kids:

• “Have you ever tried green eggs before?” (Cue giggles and ‘Ew!’ faces.)
• “What do you think—will Sam like them in the end?”
• “Would YOU eat green eggs and ham?”

This got them thinking and engaged right from the start! And with everything prepped, we were all set for a morning of Seusstastic fun!

Reading Green Eggs and Ham with the Class

As per tradition, my mom took the lead on reading Green Eggs and Ham—and let’s just say, she’s a pro. She knows exactly when to pause, make her voice extra dramatic, and build suspense before the big moment when Sam finally tries the green eggs.

Preschoolers, of course, had plenty to say. Before my mom even started, one kid blurted out, “I don’t like green eggs and ham!” Another added, “I would NEVER eat that.” 

If you’re new to reading aloud to a group of preschoolers, here are a few ideas to make it even more fun:

• Use silly voices – You could give Sam-I-Am an excited, bouncy voice and the grumpy character a deep, grumbly one.
• Change up the speed – Try reading faster when Sam was listing all the places to eat green eggs and ham and slowing way down for the big reveal.
• Get the kids involved – Encourage them to chant the repeated lines and guess what might happen next.
• Make big gestures – Acting out the story made it even more fun (especially pretending to balance on a goat or eat on a boat!).

Reading with preschoolers is never just reading—it’s a full-on experience, and my mom made it extra fun as always!

Making Green Eggs and Ham

After the story, it was time for the fun part: cooking! We kept it super simple, but the kids were so excited to see if the green eggs would actually taste good. Here’s how we made it happen:

Step 1: Gather the Ingredients
We kept it easy: eggs, sliced ham, and a few drops of green food coloring.

Step 2: Get the Kids Involved
Before we even started, we asked the kids, “How do you think we could make the eggs green?”. Some were unsure, others were ready to try it no matter what, and a few were already making faces just at the idea of it. We gave each child a chance to crack an egg (with help, of course!) and drop a few drops of green food coloring into the bowl. They were fascinated to see the white eggs turn bright green!

Step 3: Cooking Time
We used a griddle to cook the eggs, which was much easier than using a stove in the classroom. As the eggs cooked, we talked about how we had turned them green (a nice science connection!). You can heat the ham, but over the years we’ve learned that you don’t necessarily have to. That’s up to you.

Step 4: Time to Taste
Once everything was ready, we served up small portions of green eggs and ham to the kids. Some were hesitant, but the brave ones took a bite and declared, “Hey, these are actually pretty good!” We had a lot of giggles and a few surprised faces as kids tasted their green eggs, and even some of the more skeptical ones gave them a second try.

The best part? The excitement in the room when the kids realized they liked the food they thought was “weird” at first. It was such a fun, hands-on way to bring the book to life!

Extra Activities & Extensions

If you’re planning your own Green Eggs and Ham adventure, here are a few fun ideas to make the day even more special!

1. Green Eggs and Ham Art
Let the kids get creative with some green egg art! You could have them color or paint pictures of green eggs (maybe even add a few quirky drawings of Sam-I-Am). You could also try making a simple green egg collage with cut-out paper shapes. Bonus: this activity could be a great way to talk about colors and shapes while tying in the book’s theme.

2. Green Food Taste Test
Why stop at green eggs? Set up a green food taste test with other fun green snacks. You could try things like green apples, cucumbers, green grapes, or even green jello! Let the kids rate their favorite “green” foods on a chart and talk about what makes certain foods green (and which ones are “green” in a fun way!).

3. Rhyming Games
One of the best parts of Green Eggs and Ham is the fun rhyming words, so why not turn that into a game? You could make a rhyming chart together, where you write down words from the book and have the kids come up with other words that rhyme. For example, “ham” and “jam” or “goat” and “boat”—the possibilities are endless!

4. “I Do Not Like” Chart
Inspired by Sam-I-Am, create a chart where the kids can share things they don’t like (or maybe some that they do like). You can make this interactive by having them draw pictures or share their thoughts with the group. You could also tie it to a discussion about trying new things and being open to different experiences.

5. Green Eggs and Ham Dance Party
After all that “tasting,” why not burn off some energy with a little dance party? Create a fun “green eggs” song with the kids (it can be silly and simple) and have a mini dance-off. It’ll get the kids moving while keeping the excitement going after the activity!

6. Green Eggs and Ham Cooking Challenge
For older kids, turn it into a cooking challenge! Set up a “build your own green eggs and ham” station with a variety of toppings or mix-ins for the eggs (like cheese, peppers, or herbs). Let the kids experiment and try out different combos—who knows, they might come up with a “green egg” recipe you never imagined!

These extra activities can really help tie everything together and make the day even more memorable. You can pick one (or a few) to add your own personal touch to the Green Eggs and Ham celebration. The goal is to keep it fun and engaging, just like Dr. Seuss intended!

Check these out!

If you liked this fun activity-and-book pairing, you’re going to love these other ideas!

• Disguise a Turkey Craft & Book – Another great book-and-activity combo!
• 15+ Genius Party Ideas for Kids – Lots more creative activity ideas, perfect for birthdays or fun classroom events.
• The Best Easy Slime Recipe for Kids – If you’re looking for other hands-on, messy activities, slime-making is a fun option.
• The Easiest and Best Shark Craft for Kids – Another fun and craft idea to do with little ones.
• How to Make Homemade Play Dough– More hands-on, sensory play fun!

This activity is so fun for bringing a beloved book to life, and it’s one of my favorite traditions.  You can make green eggs and ham at home or in your classroom, and if you do, I’d LOVE to hear about it!  Comment below or message me on Instagram and tell me – did your little one like green eggs and ham?