I want to share one of the most engaging classic stories I have used with young children. The Three Billy Goats Gruff is a well-known story that teaches several valuable lessons, the unique characters invite the dramatic use of intonation, and the repetition is perfect for young readers. (The following activities would be appropriate for children between the ages 4-10, but you know your child best.)
Before reading, it is a good idea to discuss what a child might already know about the content of the story.
- What do they imagine a scary troll might look like, or act like?
- Do they know different names for goats? (A male goat is a billy goat, the female is called a nanny goat, and a young goat is a called a kid.)
- How does it feel to be hungry? Or scared?
- You could talk about sibling relationships. Look at the artwork on the cover of the book. What details can you see?
It is important to remember that this discussion to share what they already know.
During reading, encourage the following habits:
- making predictions about what will happen next.
- defining new or challenging words using context.
- asking questions.
- joining in when the text is familiar.
- imagining the story, as if it were a movie.
After reading, going deeper within the story is what creates a love of reading.
- share favourite parts of the story, and why?
- share events or characters you did not like, and why?
- talk about the different characters.
- Â Was the Troll being a bully?
- What did the billy goats want? Why?
- Â Do you think the brother goats work together to reach their goal?
- Â Why was it important for the goats to get to the other side of the bridge?
- Â What else could the goats of done to reach their goal?
- talk about the ending of the story.
- Â Did the story end the way you thought it would?
- Â Would you want to change the ending?
- compare this to other familiar stories. (even the movie Trolls)
Have Some Fun:
- Engineer a bridge for small plastic animals to cross. Then use those props to retell the story. This pin from Pinterest does not come with instructions, which is good. Show the picture to your older children. Discuss the details; for example, the difference between the grass on either side of the bridge. Now, the fun is going to be to build the setting for the story. https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/386817055484837571/
- Create puppets to use while retelling the story. This craft that I found on Pinterest would make great puppets! https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/18577417200679663/
- Have family members play the different characters and videotape your production to share with loved ones.
- Compare the classic tale to Listen, My Bridge Is So Cool! the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff, As Told By The Troll, by Nancy Loewen.
- Enjoy the food mentioned in the story! (Fish? Sprouts as grass?)
I used this classis version of the story:
I also suggested using this retold version:
