So, it has been a couple of weeks since I’ve written, mostly because I have been busy creating.
And… as promised I have posted my Little Red Riding Hood and Jack and the Beanstalk resources!
Here are the resources I use to teach retell, character traits, and even throw in a little math fact practice to keep my students excited and learning as we read Jack and the Beanstalk.
1.Oral Response/ Retell!
One of the first things we do after reading the story is make a retelling mat! I have included pieces that are in color for the resource as well as black and white. I usually use the black and white version with my students, and create a version with the color pieces (as shown here) to add to our retell center. We discuss setting and characters (the setting belongs on the mat and the characters belong on sticks!). Then students practice retelling the story to a couple of partners. When we are finished, I put the model along with the book in the retelling center for students to use during literacy center time as the year goes on.
2.Written Response
Once we have practiced orally retelling the story, students can keep their mats handy to write a summary/ retell of the story in a small retelling book. This version has guiding pictures , but I offer a blank page version in the resource as well. I have also included these vocabulary and character cards (this is just a sample) to support student writing. I usually display them on the board for students to use as a resource as they are writing. The resource also includes full page written retell or summary responses so you can choose the version that’s best for your students.
3.Other Supporting/ extension activities
Depending on my group of students, I usually choose 1-2 additional follow up activities.
Some of the ones included are
*Character web and writing pages
*compare characters using a Venn
* Compare different versions of the story
*Write a Magic Bean Story
4. Connect a math game!
Nothing excites my students more than when one of their afternoon math centers connects to a story we’ve read! This one is definitely a favorite. You can play it as a roll and color game, or you can play it as a bump game!
Looking for Little Red Riding Hood story activities?
This resource is also jam packed with some fun follow ups as well!
One of the reasons I am so excited about them is the extension activities. Sometimes, practicing those common skills, such as ABC order, Narrative writing, or a addition is so much more exciting and engaging when it relates to the literacy topic. I have also included different version of retelling/ summarizing and comparing versions of the story (another first grade favorite thing to do!).