Readings: Fiction and Non-Fiction

READINGS
Fiction and non-fiction
(R, Y1, Y2)

For Reception, Y1 and Y2 children I begin with a very brief talk about myself, then read from one of my age- and interest-related books.

Reception and Y1

Overview
In this session I read a picture-book farmyard story called The Very Sleepy Pig. There's a fun surprise at the end of the reading.

Size of group
Works best with a small group - ideally fewer than 30.

Duration
About 30 minutes.

Location
In their classroom.

Ideas for follow-up activites

Independent work: Retell the story in words and pictures.
Role-play: Re-enact the story using children's own words.
Discussion: What happens next to Sleepy Pig? (The story ends at the start of his day - what does he go on to do?)

Galleries of children's work
Click to see examples of work (opens in a new window):
Reception work based on Sleepy Pig story

Y1 and Y2

Overview
For Y1 and Y2 I offer a biography reading. The class votes for which KS1 biography they would like me to read to them. See below for the KS1 biographies I usually bring with me.

Size of group
Works best with a small group - ideally fewer than 30.

Duration
About 45 minutes.

Location
In their classroom.

Ideas for follow-up activites

Independent work : Children retell the biography in their own words and pictures.
Paired / partner work : 'My Friend' - children find out about their friends and make biographies of them.
Discussion : Understand the difference between biography and autobiography.

KS1 biographies in the Tell Me About series (published by Evans Brothers)