Children love to get really involved in stories ... helping to tell stories in any way, acting them out, drawing pictures of characters or scenes! This particular tale - The Three Billy Gots Gruff - is so much fun to really delve into, as the children always come up with different ways to extend it :) Extending a story through discussion, dramatic play, or retelling helps with comprehension - and, it's fun!
Before you read, see what materials you might have that correspond to the story characters or setting. Maybe there are some animal figures laying around or some art materials that could be handy. Blocks are great for scenery - like building bridges for trolls to live under :) Don't organize these, but have them available to be "found" for retelling - when the children feel ownership of a project, they get even more excited!
When you are ready to read, find a repeating line (or two!) that the children can "help"with and practice it before starting to read - they will love having a job! In Three Billy Goats, the kiddos love to play the part of the goats and/or the troll :) Plan on reading it through once, so the storyline is known, and then again, maybe in a dramatic retelling, with children taking parts. Taking a story and pulling it apart to retell it is a great way to make it memorable!
My kiddos always love to use toy figures to act out the story - for days afterward! They have "discovered" figures to use (sometimes a horse figure becomes a goat!), made block bridges, searched for blue paper to make into "water," etc. The hunt for a troll figure is always interesting, as they pore over different versions of the story to see that the troll always looks different, depending on the illustrator! Sometimes a troll drawing contest emerges!
Allowing time for all this to unfold is critical here - for their imaginations to really take hold and spur these different extensions of the literature! Stepping back and just observing is key also, as the children will most likely keep the ball rolling with little support. The last time I did The Three Billy Goats Gruff, we dedicated a table for building on top of, like a stage set, and left it up for a few days. It was a very popular spot!
Paper renditions of the troll and goats can be fun and silly. Looking at a model, then cutting and gluing to try to match it, is a great way to stretch skills like sizing, counting, cutting, etc. Our trolls and goats were all originals :)
Above all, have fun with it!
Before you read, see what materials you might have that correspond to the story characters or setting. Maybe there are some animal figures laying around or some art materials that could be handy. Blocks are great for scenery - like building bridges for trolls to live under :) Don't organize these, but have them available to be "found" for retelling - when the children feel ownership of a project, they get even more excited!
My kiddos always love to use toy figures to act out the story - for days afterward! They have "discovered" figures to use (sometimes a horse figure becomes a goat!), made block bridges, searched for blue paper to make into "water," etc. The hunt for a troll figure is always interesting, as they pore over different versions of the story to see that the troll always looks different, depending on the illustrator! Sometimes a troll drawing contest emerges!
Allowing time for all this to unfold is critical here - for their imaginations to really take hold and spur these different extensions of the literature! Stepping back and just observing is key also, as the children will most likely keep the ball rolling with little support. The last time I did The Three Billy Goats Gruff, we dedicated a table for building on top of, like a stage set, and left it up for a few days. It was a very popular spot!Paper renditions of the troll and goats can be fun and silly. Looking at a model, then cutting and gluing to try to match it, is a great way to stretch skills like sizing, counting, cutting, etc. Our trolls and goats were all originals :)
Above all, have fun with it!
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