At a Glance
May is the literacy celebration month. The child becomes an author — writing, illustrating, and sharing their own book. All the reading and letter work leads to this creative milestone.
Story mapping turns reading comprehension into an active process — identifying character, setting, and problem in a familiar book prepares the child to build the same structure in their own.
- 💭 Why do you think every story needs a problem — what would happen to a story without one?
- 💭 What is the most powerful story you've ever heard, and why do you think it stayed with you?
- 💭 Why do you think humans have been telling stories for thousands and thousands of years?
- 💭 If you could step inside any book and live in that world for a day, which would you choose?
Pick any activity from Core Experiences or Skill Builders below.
Month Overview
May is the literacy celebration month. The child becomes an author — writing, illustrating, and sharing their own book. All the reading and letter work leads to this creative milestone.
Letter Y–Z review, story structure, authorship
This month the child doesn't just read stories — they write and illustrate one. Beginning, middle, end. Character. Problem. Solution.
Story problems, number sentences to 20, addition and subtraction
Maths lives inside stories: 'There were 7 birds. 3 flew away. How many are left?' This curriculum month makes maths narrative.
Finding your voice, illustration as storytelling, sharing creative work
Publishing a book — even a stapled, hand-drawn one — is one of the most empowering experiences in early childhood.
May is the literacy payoff month. Everything built so far — the name recognition, the letters, the phonemic awareness — comes together here. The book doesn't have to be long or perfect. It has to be theirs.
This month's 20 experiences are designed for 3–5 learning sessions per week over 4 weeks. Adjust pacing based on your child's engagement and your family schedule.
↓ Setup & Planning — readiness, materials, zones & daily rhythmWeekly Plan
Story mapping turns reading comprehension into an active process — identifying character, setting, and problem in a familiar book prepares the child to build the same structure in their own.
Choose 1–2 familiar picture books for the story map activity; find letter Y materials; prepare a blank story map template (beginning, middle, end boxes); gather sorting materials for story elements.
Retell a familiar story at bedtime from memory; ask 'How does the story begin? How does it end?'
- Re-read a favourite picture book together, pausing to point out the character, setting, and problem.
- Draw the main character from a story and describe what they look like, sound like, and what they like to do.
- Act out the beginning of a story using just movements and sounds — no words — and see if the child can guess which book it is.
- 💭 Why do you think every story needs a problem — what would happen to a story without one?
- 💭 What is the most powerful story you've ever heard, and why do you think it stayed with you?
- 💭 Why do you think humans have been telling stories for thousands and thousands of years?
- 💭 If you could step inside any book and live in that world for a day, which would you choose?
If your child is beginning to notice story structure in books you didn't plan — identifying the problem, wondering about the ending — their comprehension is sophisticated and growing.
Planning before writing makes the writing better — the book plan scaffolds the whole project, and story maths problems show how numbers live inside narratives too.
Prepare blank book planning pages (title, character, setting, problem, solution); find letter Z materials; gather illustration materials (pencils, crayons, watercolours); have story maths problems ready.
Talk about the planned book at dinner — who is the character, what is their problem?; look at picture books together for illustration style inspiration.
- Flip through the book plan and talk about which part of the story the child is most excited to write.
- Help the child draw their main character on a large paper and add words describing who they are.
- Tell the child's story aloud together, page by page, before any words are written.
- 💭 Where do you think stories come from — how do writers get their ideas?
- 💭 Why do illustrators choose the colours they use — do pictures have feelings?
- 💭 What is the most important sentence in your whole book — the one everything else depends on?
- 💭 If your main character could whisper something to you while you write, what do you think they'd say?
If your child's story has characters they care about, even if the plot is simple, they're writing from authentic creative investment. That produces better readers and writers than technically correct but emotionally flat work.
This is the creative heart of the month — writing, editing, and designing a cover are all one process, and the child's engagement with their own story makes every skill more meaningful.
Set out the book planning pages from Week 2; review letter cards W–Z; prepare a simple editing checklist (character, problem, ending); gather materials for the cover design.
Share the book draft with one trusted reader (family friend, grandparent); ask for one thing they loved about the story.
- Add one more sentence or illustration to the book — just one — and celebrate the work done so far.
- Read the book draft aloud together slowly and mark with a sticky note any place that feels unclear or needs fixing.
- Draw or paint a picture for one page of the book, focusing on colours that match the feeling of the story.
- 💭 What is harder — writing the words or drawing the pictures when you're telling the same story?
- 💭 How do you think the illustrators in your favourite books decide what to put on each page?
- 💭 What would your story look like if it had no words at all — only pictures?
- 💭 How do you decide what NOT to put in your story — what do you choose to leave out?
If your child is willing to revise their writing — even one word or one sentence — without distress, that editing instinct is a significant literacy milestone. Most adults find it hard too.
The Author's Chair is the culmination of five months of reading and writing — sitting in it and reading to a real audience turns the child's work into something genuinely published.
Bind or assemble the finished book (staple, tape, or fold); prepare the author's chair spot (a special seat); set up a simple family reading circle; prepare the year celebration.
Read the finished book to another person; ask 'What would you write about next?'
- Read the finished book aloud one more time together, as if hearing it for the very first time.
- Choose one family member or friend to be the first reader and sit together while they read the book aloud.
- Help the child sign their name as the author on the cover and create a simple author photo or drawing.
- 💭 How does it feel to share something you made yourself — is it different from sharing something you were given?
- 💭 Why do you think stories matter — what would the world be missing without them?
- 💭 If children everywhere read your book, what do you hope they would feel?
- 💭 What story do you want to tell next — what is waiting inside you to come out?
If your child's finished book is messy, illustrated in ways that don't match the text, or shorter than planned, it is still a real book and a real achievement. Display it somewhere they can see it.
Core Learning Experiences
Story Map
Use a story map to plan: Who is the character? Where do they live? What is the problem? How is it solved? How does it end?
You Will Need
- Story map template (5 sections: character, setting, problem, events, solution)
- Pencils and coloured pencils
Instructions
Set Up
Read a familiar picture book first. Map it together as a model before the child creates their own.
Layer 1 · Essential
Map a familiar story together. Name the character, setting, and problem.
Layer 2 · Build
Plan an original story using the map template. Draw and label each section.
Layer 3 · Extend
Write full sentences in each section of the map. Use the map to write a complete first draft.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Map a familiar story together — caregiver guides, child responds
- Focus on just character and problem — skip setting and solution if needed
- Draw pictures in each section rather than writing
Ages 4–5
- Map a familiar story independently and name all five elements
- Plan an original story using three sections: character, problem, solution
- Draw and label each section
Ages 5–6
- Use the map to write a complete first draft
- Identify what makes the problem interesting or the character sympathetic
- Revise the map after writing: did the story follow the plan?
What to Say
- Wonder "What is the most important moment in this story — the moment everything changes?"
- Open Question "Where does the story happen? What do we know about the setting from the pictures?"
- Compare "How does the beginning of the story connect to its ending?"
Ways to go further
Map a second story and compare its structure — do all stories follow the same shape?
Write one sentence for each section of the map to retell the story in the child's own words.
Tell a story about a real event from the child's own life and map it together.
Stories on screen have the same structure as books — setting, problem, solution.
- "Where does this story happen?"
- "What's the problem the character needs to solve?"
Daily events have natural narrative structure — beginning, middle, and end.
- "What happened first?"
- "And how did it end?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child understand that a story needs a problem to be interesting?
- Can they distinguish character from setting from plot?
- Is their original story idea connected to something real in their life?
your child can tell you what happened at the beginning and the end of the story.
My Own Book
Write and illustrate a 4-page original picture book. This is the month's culminating work. Every child, at every level, can complete this.
You Will Need
- 4-page blank book (8 sheets folded and stapled)
- Story map from Experience 1
- Illustration supplies
Instructions
Set Up
Use the story map as a guide. One page per story section: beginning, problem, events, ending.
Layer 1 · Essential
Dictate the story to a caregiver. Draw one illustration per page. Add a title.
Layer 2 · Build
Copy or write one sentence per page using phonetic spelling. Illustrate each page in detail.
Layer 3 · Extend
Write 2–3 sentences per page independently. Add a dedication page, author bio, and back-cover blurb.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Dictate the full story while the caregiver writes — child draws all illustrations
- One sentence per page is enough — simplicity is strength
- Focus on a clear beginning and ending even if the middle is brief
Ages 4–5
- Write one sentence per page using phonetic spelling
- Add detail to each illustration that extends the text
- Read the draft aloud to check: does it sound right?
Ages 5–6
- Write 2–3 sentences per page with increasing independence
- Add a dedication page and author bio
- Present the completed book to an audience
What to Say
- Open Question "What story do you want to tell? Where will it begin?"
- Wonder "What would make a reader want to keep turning the pages?"
- Compare "How does your book compare to one of your favourite picture books?"
Ways to go further
Make a wordless picture book — tell the entire story only through illustrations.
Make a second copy and gift it to someone — a grandparent, a friend, or a neighbour.
Share the finished book with a real audience and watch the child experience themselves as an author.
Studying real books helps the child understand craft, structure, and intentional choices.
- "What does the author do on the first page to pull you in?"
- "How does the illustrator show what the character is feeling?"
A bedtime story told by the child — made up on the spot — builds narrative confidence.
- "What story will you tell tonight?"
- "How will you make it exciting or surprising?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child have a clear narrative structure in mind?
- How do their illustrations relate to the text — do they extend or repeat it?
- What does their story reveal about their inner world?
Write or dictate one page of the book in your heritage language. A bilingual book made by your child is a powerful artefact — it tells them that both languages are real and worthy.
Author Study
Study one picture book author across three days: read their books, notice their style, and learn one fact about them. This builds literary awareness.
You Will Need
- 3 books by one author
- Simple author fact card
Instructions
Set Up
Choose an accessible author: Eric Carle, Mo Willems, Mem Fox, or similar.
Layer 1 · Essential
Read two books by the author. Find one thing the same in both.
Layer 2 · Build
Compare illustration styles, vocabulary, and themes across three books.
Layer 3 · Extend
Write a 'review' of one book: title, author, favourite part, and recommendation.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Read one book by the author and find one thing you like about it
- Look at the illustrations: what do you notice?
- Focus on enjoyment — analysis comes later
Ages 4–5
- Read two books and find one thing they have in common
- Compare the illustrations across the two books
- Ask: what does the author seem to care about most?
Ages 5–6
- Read three books and write a comparison statement
- Identify the author's signature style: funny? gentle? surprising?
- Write a one-sentence 'review' to recommend the author to someone else
What to Say
- Compare "What do all this author's books have in common?"
- Wonder "Why do you think this author keeps writing about this topic or type of character?"
- Extend "If you could ask the author one question, what would it be?"
Ways to go further
Write a letter to the author sharing what you liked most about their work.
Make a display that groups the author's books by theme, character, or setting.
Look up whether the author has any videos or talks online — watching them brings the study to life.
Libraries make it easy to find all of one author's books gathered in one place.
- "Can you find another book by this same author?"
- "What section would their books be shelved in?"
Revisiting familiar authors builds reading confidence, pleasure, and critical thinking.
- "Have we read anything else by this person before?"
- "Do you remember what you thought of it the first time?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Is the child developing preferences — authors or styles they are drawn to?
- Do they notice craft elements: word choice, illustration style, humour?
- Are they beginning to read 'like a writer' — noticing how stories are made?
Story Math
Each morning, solve one story-based math problem. The context makes abstract number sentences meaningful.
You Will Need
- Story problem cards (teacher-written) or spontaneous problems
- Counters or objects for solving
Instructions
Set Up
Write or tell the problem. Have counters available for physical solving.
Layer 1 · Essential
Act out the problem with objects. Count the answer.
Layer 2 · Build
Draw the problem, write the number sentence: 7 − 3 = 4.
Layer 3 · Extend
Write your own story problem for a caregiver to solve.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Act out the problem using real objects — count the answer together
- Keep numbers within 5 for emerging learners
- Use familiar characters from current read-alouds in the problem
Ages 4–5
- Draw the problem, then write the number sentence
- Solve addition and subtraction problems to 10
- Ask: how did you figure that out?
Ages 5–6
- Write your own story problem for a caregiver to solve
- Use numbers within 20
- Use the problem in a sentence: 'There were... then... so now...'
What to Say
- Open Question "If the bunny had three carrots and found two more, how many does she have now?"
- Extend "Can you make up your own maths story using these animals or objects?"
- Wonder "How is the maths in the story the same as writing a number sentence?"
Ways to go further
Use drawings instead of objects — draw a maths story and then solve it.
Record the story problem as a number sentence: "3 + 2 = 5, just like in our story."
Create maths stories from real events: "We had five bananas, we ate two — how many are left?"
Any story can become a maths story with one well-placed question.
- "How many characters are in this book right now?"
- "If two more joined them, how many would there be?"
Toys and figurines are ready-made characters for maths story problems.
- "How many dinosaurs are on your team?"
- "If three more arrived from the jungle, how many in total?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child choose to count on, count all, or recall instantly?
- Can they translate a story problem to a number sentence?
- Are they beginning to write their own?
Author's Chair Sharing
The child sits in the Author's Chair to read their completed book to an audience. This is publication day.
You Will Need
- Completed book
- The author's chair (any special chair)
- Optional: a small audience — family members, another child
Instructions
Set Up
Set up the chair before the session. Treat this as a real event: introduce the author, clap after.
Layer 1 · Essential
Read the book aloud. Show illustrations to the audience.
Layer 2 · Build
Read and take one question from the audience.
Layer 3 · Extend
Give a brief 'author talk': what is your book about? What was hardest to write? What are you most proud of?
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Read the book aloud to one trusted person — caregiver is the whole audience
- Show each illustration as you read the page
- Accept any level of reading: pointing to pictures, dictating from memory
Ages 4–5
- Read to a small audience of two or three people
- Take one question from the audience
- Practise reading aloud once before the real sharing
Ages 5–6
- Read to a larger group and give a brief author talk
- Answer three audience questions about the book
- Sign copies if multiple printings were made
What to Say
- Open Question "What do you most want the audience to notice about your writing?"
- Soothe "How did it feel to share your work with someone else listening?"
- Compare "What did you find hardest about presenting? What felt easy or natural?"
Ways to go further
Record a video of the child reading their book — watch it back together and celebrate it.
Invite a family member or friend to be part of the next author's chair audience.
Start a family reading night where each person shares something they've written or read.
Sharing at the library, at a gathering, or with a new person builds the habit of voice.
- "Would you like to share your book with [person]?"
- "How could you introduce your story to them?"
Being a generous, attentive audience member is part of the author's chair skill set.
- "What one thing could you say to the reader that would encourage them?"
- "What did you enjoy most about their book?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child show pride in their work during the sharing?
- How do they handle questions — do they have answers ready?
- Does the experience motivate them to want to make another book?
Introduce the sharing ritual in your heritage language. The phrase 'I wrote a story' in the family's language is a small but powerful marker of bilingual authorship.
Each child reads or tells their story from the Author's Chair. The audience gives one 'warm' response — something they liked.
Making a Story Basket
The child gathers a small collection of objects — a feather, a button, a tiny toy animal, a shell, a piece of ribbon — and arranges them in a basket or on a tray as an open-ended storytelling invitation. Every choice is deliberate: what goes in, how it is arranged, and what story it might start. The Story Basket lives in the learning space all week as a creative provocation.
You Will Need
- A small basket, tray, or wooden bowl
- 5–8 small objects from around the home (natural objects, toys, household items)
- A cloth or small piece of felt to line the basket
Instructions
Set Up
Walk around the home with the child and say: we are going on a treasure hunt for objects that could begin a story. Each thing you choose should make you wonder — what could happen with this?
Layer 1 · Essential
Collect objects together and arrange them in the basket. Hold each one and ask: if this were a character in a story, who would it be? Let the child begin a story out loud using two objects.
Layer 2 · Build
The child arranges the basket independently and tells a short story using three of the objects. You listen without directing — just reflect back what you heard.
Layer 3 · Extend
The child creates the basket, writes or dictates a story opening using three objects, and presents the basket to a family member as an invitation: use these to tell your own story.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Two objects is enough — a small animal and a stone, and what happens next?
- The collecting is as important as the arranging — let it be slow
- Their story does not need a beginning, middle, and end yet; any narrative thread is perfect
Ages 5–6
- Label each object with a sticky note role (hero, place, problem, helper)
- Write the story opening in the learning journal
- Leave the basket for a sibling or parent and ask them to tell a story with it
What to Say
- Wonder "If this feather could talk, what would it say about where it has been?"
- Open Question "Which object do you think will cause the most trouble in the story? Why?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child choose objects with intention, or grab anything nearby?
- Is their storytelling developing structure — is there a something happening?
Story Science: Life-Cycle Investigation
Children explore the life cycle of a familiar creature (butterfly, frog, or bean plant) through picture books, sequencing cards, and a simple observation tray — filling May's science strand with living-systems thinking.
You Will Need
- Life-cycle sequencing cards (4–6 cards)
- Picture book showing a life cycle (e.g. a butterfly or frog story)
- Small tray with natural items: dry bean, soil, leaf, cocoon picture
- Drawing paper and crayons
Instructions
Set Up
Lay sequencing cards face-down in a row. Arrange the nature tray nearby. Have the picture book bookmarked at the life-cycle spread.
Layer 1 · Essential
Read the picture book together, pausing at each stage. Turn over one sequencing card at a time: 'What do you notice? Where does this come in the story?' Arrange cards in order together, narrating each stage.
Layer 2 · Build
Ask the child to re-tell the life cycle using the cards as prompts. Introduce vocabulary: egg, larva/tadpole, chrysalis/frogspawn, adult. Handle items on the tray: 'This dry bean could become — what?'
Layer 3 · Extend
Invite the child to draw their own four-frame life-cycle diagram and label or dictate one word per stage. Prompt: 'If you could be any stage, which would you choose? Why?'
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Use only 3 sequencing cards (beginning, middle, end)
- Focus on naming and pointing rather than ordering independently
Ages 4–5
- Order all cards independently after hearing the story once
- Match tray objects to the correct card
Ages 5–6
- Draw and label the four stages without the cards as prompts
- Explain one life cycle to a family member from memory
What to Say
- Opening "Every living thing has a story — it changes and grows. What's the first part of this creature's story?"
- Wonder "What do you think happens next?"
- Connection "How is this creature's life like yours? How is it different?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Can the child sequence at least 3 stages correctly?
- Does the child use new vocabulary (egg, larva, adult) spontaneously?
- What comparisons or questions does the child generate?
Oral Storytelling with a Story Map
Children create a simple hand-drawn 'story map' — a beginning, middle, and end pathway — then tell an original story aloud, building narrative structure and oral language confidence aligned with early literacy standards.
You Will Need
- Large paper (A3 or similar)
- Crayons or markers
- Optional: small world figures or toy animals as story props
Instructions
Set Up
Fold paper into thirds to suggest beginning, middle, end. Have props in a basket nearby. Model drawing a simple 3-scene map of a familiar story first.
Layer 1 · Essential
Show your model story map and tell its story using the three sections. Then open a blank sheet: 'Now it's your turn. Tell me about your character — who is in your story?' Draw a simple character together in the first box.
Layer 2 · Build
Guide the child through all three sections: 'What happens at the start? Then what goes wrong or gets interesting? How does it end?' Child draws and narrates as they go. Reflect back their language: 'So first… then… and finally…'
Layer 3 · Extend
The child tells their complete story from the map while you record it as dictation. Read it back together. Invite them to share it with a family member or perform it with props.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Draw the story together; child narrates while caregiver scribes
- Accept a one-event story — celebrate any narrative attempt
Ages 4–5
- Child draws independently in at least two boxes
- Uses 'and then' or 'because' to connect events
Ages 5–6
- Includes a problem and resolution in the middle and end
- Retells the story from memory in sequence without looking at the map
What to Say
- Opening "Every great story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Let's make one together."
- Wonder "Who is your character? What do they love to do?"
- Scaffold "Something interesting happens in the middle — what could go wrong or be surprising?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child produce a sequence of at least two events?
- What narrative language do they use (then, because, suddenly, finally)?
- Does the child show enthusiasm for sharing their story?
Tell the story in your heritage language first, then retell it in English — or mix them freely. Code-switching in storytelling is a natural bilingual strategy, not a mistake.
Dramatic Play: Market Day
Children set up and run a pretend market stall, practising counting, one-to-one correspondence, social roles, and community vocabulary — a rich cross-strand experience grounded in Reggio Emilia's 100 Languages approach and financial literacy warm-up.
You Will Need
- Toy or real fruit and vegetables, or cut-out pictures
- Small baskets or bags for shopping
- Play money or number cards (1–5)
- Simple price signs (1, 2, 3 dots or numerals)
- A table or blanket to set up as a stall
Instructions
Set Up
Arrange items on the stall with simple price signs. Prepare a small basket for the shopper. Brief the child on roles: 'You can be the seller or the shopper — we can swap!'
Layer 1 · Essential
Take turns being the seller and shopper. Model the exchange: 'I'd like two apples please.' Count together: 'One, two — that will be two coins.' Hand over play money, receive the goods. Keep the play warm and playful.
Layer 2 · Build
Introduce a simple problem: 'I only have one coin but the price is two — what can we do?' Explore child's suggestions. Introduce vocabulary: price, cost, exchange, enough/not enough. Count the total items sold at the end.
Layer 3 · Extend
Child runs the stall independently while caregiver shops. Child sets their own prices, counts change, and can re-stock the stall. Record the day's 'sales' on a simple tally chart together.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Use prices of 1 only — just a 1-for-1 exchange
- Focus on the social script: greeting, asking, thanking
Ages 4–5
- Use prices 1–3; child counts out the correct coins
- Introduces at least one item description to the shopper
Ages 5–6
- Child manages prices up to 5, handles 'not enough' scenarios
- Creates a sign or tally record for the stall
What to Say
- Role-play opening "Welcome to our market! What would you like to buy today?"
- Mathematical scaffold "How many is that? Let's count the coins together."
- Wonder "What would make someone want to visit our stall?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child count out correct quantities of 1–5?
- What social language does the child use in role play?
- How does the child handle a problem (e.g. not enough money)?
One child is the market seller, the other is the customer. Swap roles halfway through.
Preparing a Simple Snack Independently
Children prepare a simple snack from start to finish — washing hands, gathering ingredients, spreading or assembling, and serving — building independence, fine motor control, and real-world sequencing skills.
You Will Need
- Bread, rice crackers, or cucumber rounds
- Soft spread (cream cheese, nut-free butter, hummus)
- Spreading knife (child-safe)
- Small plate and napkin
- Bowl of water and towel for hand washing
Instructions
Set Up
Set out ingredients in small bowls on a low table. Place the spreading knife on the plate. Everything at child height. Wash hands together first.
Layer 1 · Essential
Talk through each step before doing it: 'First we wash our hands, then we choose our base, then we spread.' Do the first step together — model spreading slowly and deliberately. Invite the child to take over.
Layer 2 · Build
Child completes all steps with minimal prompting. Encourage slow, deliberate spreading from edge to edge. Name the steps aloud together: 'What comes next?'
Layer 3 · Extend
Child prepares two portions — one for themselves, one for a caregiver or sibling. Child decides on the presentation and serves it on a plate with a napkin.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Caregiver holds the base while child spreads
- One or two steps only; focus on the spreading action
Ages 5–6
- Child completes all steps independently and cleans up after
- Child can explain the steps to someone else
What to Say
- Orientation "Real cooks take their time. Let's do each step carefully."
- Practical prompt "What do we need to do before we touch the food?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- How does the child handle the spreading knife — grip, pressure, control?
- Does the child sequence the steps without prompting?
- What pride or satisfaction does the child show in the finished snack?
Caring for a Classroom Plant or Pet
Children take responsibility for a living thing — watering a plant, feeding a classroom fish, or caring for a small animal — developing nurturing habits, attentiveness, and the foundational ethic of environmental stewardship.
You Will Need
- A classroom plant (indoor pot plant, herb, or seedling)
- OR a small aquarium/terrarium with a fish or snail
- Small watering can or dropper
- Care chart (drawn together: water, check, observe)
Instructions
Set Up
Create a simple care chart together with drawn symbols: a water droplet (water today?), an eye (observe the plant/animal), a sun (near light?). Post it near the living thing.
Layer 1 · Essential
Do the care routine together the first time, narrating each step: 'We check the soil — is it dry? Yes, so we give it a small drink.' Follow the care chart step by step. Let the child hold and pour the watering can.
Layer 2 · Build
Child follows the chart independently. Caregiver observes and reflects: 'You remembered to check the soil before watering — that's what a careful gardener does.' Discuss what the plant or animal needs to stay healthy.
Layer 3 · Extend
Child takes full ownership of the routine daily for one week, marking the chart themselves. At week's end, discuss: 'Did the plant grow or change? What did our care do?'
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Focus on one step only: either watering or observing
- Caregiver guides hand for pouring to avoid spillage
Ages 5–6
- Child manages the full routine and records observations on the care chart
- Explains to a caregiver why the plant needs each type of care
What to Say
- Responsibility prompt "This plant is counting on us. How will we know if it needs water?"
- Observation "What do you notice about it today compared to last time?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child approach the task with care and attention?
- What does the child notice about growth or change over time?
- Does the child initiate the care routine without being asked?
End-of-Month Portfolio Sort
Children gather their month's drawings, activities, and creations, choose their favourites, and organise them into a simple learning portfolio — building self-reflection, organisational skills, and pride in their own learning journey.
You Will Need
- A folder, scrapbook, or large envelope labelled with the child's name
- The month's collected work and drawings
- Sticky notes or small labels for captions
- Pencil or crayon for labelling
Instructions
Set Up
Spread all the month's work on a low table. Have the folder ready. Model picking up one piece and thinking aloud: 'I remember making this — it's my favourite because…'
Layer 1 · Essential
Look through the work together, naming each piece: 'This is your life-cycle drawing from Story Science. This is your market-day sign.' Ask the child to point to the one they like most. Place that one in the folder together.
Layer 2 · Build
Child selects 3–5 pieces to keep in the portfolio. For each, ask: 'Why did you choose this one?' Scribe their words as a caption on a sticky note. Child places each piece in the folder themselves.
Layer 3 · Extend
Child writes or dictates a one-sentence reflection on their favourite piece: 'My favourite is… because…' Child can share the portfolio with a family member and explain their choices.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Choose together — caregiver narrates what the child did for each piece
- One piece in the folder is enough
Ages 5–6
- Child organises the portfolio in the order they want and explains why
- Writes or copies their name and the month on the folder cover
What to Say
- Affirmation "This is your learning story from this month. You made all of this."
- Reflection "Which piece makes you most proud? Why?"
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- What criteria does the child use to choose their favourites?
- Does the child show recall of the activities or learning behind the work?
- How does the child respond to reviewing their own growth?
Story Mapping
After reading a familiar story, draw a story map together: beginning, middle, end. Place characters, settings, and key events in sequence on a large piece of paper. This visual tool makes story structure tangible and builds narrative comprehension.
You Will Need
- A well-known picture book
- Large paper or card
- Coloured pencils or markers
Instructions
Set Up
Read the book first. Then say: we are going to draw the whole story on one page. Where does it start? Draw a path or road from left to right as the story's journey.
Layer 1 · Essential
Map the story together: draw the beginning scene at the left, the key middle event in the centre, the ending at the right. Add character drawings along the path.
Layer 2 · Build
The child adds details to the map independently: what happened just before the ending? Were there any smaller events we missed?
Layer 3 · Extend
The child creates a story map for a story they invent themselves, placing characters and events in sequence and telling the story from the map.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Map just three scenes: start, problem, happy ending
- Draw the characters together rather than expecting the child to draw alone
- Focus on retelling rather than adding new structure
Ages 5–6
- Add story vocabulary labels: setting, character, problem, solution
- Compare two different stories' maps: what is similar? What differs?
- Map a story they have made up themselves
What to Say
- Wonder If this story had a different ending, how would everything before it have to change?
- Open Question Where in this story does the character feel most afraid? Most happy? How do you know?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Can the child sequence story events without looking at the book?
- Do they distinguish between major events (plot) and minor details?
Sharpening Pencils
Teach the child to use a hand-held pencil sharpener: hold the pencil steady, insert into the sharpener, turn away from the body with controlled rotations, check the point, collect the shavings, and empty the sharpener into the bin. A precise, satisfying skill that builds fine motor control and tool respect.
You Will Need
- A child-friendly hand-held pencil sharpener
- 3-4 dull pencils
- A small dish to catch shavings
- A bin nearby
Instructions
Set Up
Demonstrate first: hold the pencil with one hand, turn the sharpener with the other in smooth rotations. The sound tells you it is working. Stop when the pencil emerges from the hole easily.
Layer 1 · Essential
Sharpen together: you hold the pencil, the child turns the sharpener. Then swap. Collect shavings in a dish. Empty the sharpener chamber into the bin.
Layer 2 · Build
The child sharpens independently. You observe: count the rotations needed, notice the point. Is it sharp enough to draw a fine line?
Layer 3 · Extend
The child checks pencil sharpness before every drawing session and sharpens any dull ones independently, emptying shavings each time.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Use a larger barrel sharpener which is easier to grip and turn
- Focus on the turning action; you hold the pencil steady
- Three to four pencils is plenty for one session
Ages 5–6
- Sharpen to a specific point: fine for writing, slightly blunter for shading
- Arrange pencils in order of colour after sharpening
- Maintain the pencil sharpener by emptying it regularly
What to Say
- Open Question How do you know when a pencil is sharp enough? What does the drawing tell you?
- Wonder All these shavings were once part of the pencil. Where did the wood come from originally?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Is the child using controlled rotations or rushing and snapping the pencil tip?
- Do they empty the sharpener without being asked?
Puppet Show Performance
Make simple sock or paper-bag puppets and perform a short story for an audience (a toy, a sibling, a caregiver). The child creates characters, plans a beginning and end, practises once, then performs. This develops narrative thinking, voice modulation, and performance confidence.
You Will Need
- Old socks or paper bags
- Felt-tip markers
- Wool or fabric scraps for hair
- Glue or tape
- A table or chair as a stage
Instructions
Set Up
Make one puppet each. Give yours a name and a personality trait. Ask: what will your puppet be like? Brave? Silly? Shy? Then plan: what story will they be in together?
Layer 1 · Essential
Plan the story together: who are the characters, what is the problem, how does it end? Practise once quietly. Then perform for a stuffed animal audience.
Layer 2 · Build
The child writes (or dictates) a simple script: three lines per puppet. Practise once. Perform to a real audience and take a bow.
Layer 3 · Extend
The child creates puppets, writes a story, rehearses independently, and performs a complete show with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- The performance can be completely improvised; no script needed
- Focus on giving the puppet a voice and moving it while speaking
- A two-puppet show with one simple problem is perfect
Ages 5–6
- Create a programme (draw the character names on a folded paper)
- Add sound effects or music between scenes
- Ask the audience a question at the end: what do you think happened next?
What to Say
- Wonder How is a puppet different from an actor? What can a puppet do that a person cannot?
- Open Question If your puppet could have any superpower, what would it choose and why?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child sustain the puppet's character voice or slip back into their own?
- Can they manage both the story and the physical puppetry at once?
Binding a Handmade Book
Children fold, collate, and staple sheets of paper to create a blank book of their own — the physical vessel for their original story. Making the book before writing in it gives the authorship experience weight and permanence. A child who holds a book they made is already a different kind of writer.
You Will Need
- 4–6 sheets of blank A4 paper (or A3 folded in half)
- A stapler (or needle and thread for a sewn binding)
- Coloured card for the cover
- Scissors and pencil
- Optional: a bone folder or the back of a spoon for crisp folds
Instructions
Set Up
Fold each sheet in half and nest them inside each other — this is the signature. Show the child: the fold is the spine. Demonstrate where the staples go: two, evenly spaced, along the fold.
Layer 1 · Essential
Fold each sheet together, one at a time. Stack and nest them into a booklet. Staple together along the fold. Trim the edges if uneven. Write the title on the cover together.
Layer 2 · Build
The child folds and collates independently, checking that pages line up before stapling. They design the cover — title, author name, and an illustration — independently.
Layer 3 · Extend
The child creates a more refined binding — a card cover, decorated spine, and a dedication page inside the front cover. Treats the finished object with care, as a real book.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Pre-fold the pages; the child's job is collating and cover decoration
- Help with the stapler (it requires some strength)
- The cover art is the main creative act for this age
Ages 5–6
- Fold and collate independently, checking alignment
- Number the pages before writing begins
- Try a simple sewn binding using a needle, thread, and three holes along the spine
What to Say
- Wonder Now that you've made the book, what do you want the first page to look like?
- Open Question Real authors hold their finished book for the first time just like this. How does it feel?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child treat the finished book differently from loose paper?
- Does making the physical object increase their motivation to write in it?
Inventing a Story Character
Design an original story character: give them a name, an appearance, a personality, a want, and a fear. Draw the character from multiple angles. Then invent one problem they face and how they might solve it. This deepens narrative thinking and character empathy.
You Will Need
- Paper (multiple sheets)
- Pencils and coloured pencils
- A character profile sheet (blank boxes: name, looks like, wants, afraid of, special skill)
Instructions
Set Up
Show the character profile sheet. Fill in a silly example together: a snail named Gerald who wants to win a running race but is afraid of salt. Laugh together. Now it is their turn.
Layer 1 · Essential
Fill in the profile together with the child's ideas. You draw the character as they describe it. Ask: what does their voice sound like? What do they eat for breakfast?
Layer 2 · Build
The child fills in their own profile independently and draws the character themselves. You listen to any narration and ask: what would your character do if they found a mysterious door?
Layer 3 · Extend
The child creates a full character profile independently, draws the character in two different poses, and dictates or writes a short story featuring this character facing their fear.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Focus on just three details: name, what they look like, what they love
- Draw the character together with the child guiding the choices
- The character does not need a problem yet; existence is enough
Ages 5–6
- Design two characters who are friends but disagree about something
- Give the character a specific skill that matches their flaw (afraid of heights but can fly)
- Write the character's name in a speech bubble with something they might say
What to Say
- Wonder Where do you think characters in books come from? Did the author invent them or find them?
- Open Question If your character met a very scary situation, what would they do first?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child invest emotional detail in their character, or keep them generic?
- Do they generate story ideas spontaneously once the character exists?
Caring for the Author's Corner
Children set up and maintain a dedicated writing and illustrating space — sharpening pencils, organising art materials, arranging paper, and making the space beautiful and ready. A good author knows that the right environment is part of the work. This experience makes care of the creative workspace a deliberate, satisfying act.
You Will Need
- Pencils and a hand-held sharpener
- Coloured pencils, crayons, or watercolours
- Paper (blank, lined, and graph — sorted into separate piles)
- A small container or pencil cup
- Optional: a special object (a stone, a small plant, a favourite toy) to place in the author's corner
Instructions
Set Up
Clear the workspace completely first — everything off. Then rebuild it together: what does a good writing space need? Let the child decide the arrangement. Your role is to ask questions, not to set it up for them.
Layer 1 · Essential
Sharpen three pencils together. Sort art materials into their containers. Arrange the space so everything has a clear place. Choose one special object to keep in the corner.
Layer 2 · Build
The child organises the full workspace independently — sorting, sharpening, arranging. They decide what belongs here and what doesn't. The space should feel ready for a real author.
Layer 3 · Extend
The child creates a simple label or sign for their author's corner and writes a short list of what belongs there. They take responsibility for resetting it at the end of each session independently.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Focus on one action — sharpening pencils or sorting crayons by colour
- Let them choose where to place their special object
- The act of arranging (even imperfectly) is the whole skill
Ages 5–6
- Create a written checklist of what the author's corner needs
- Label each container or section of the workspace
- Make it a weekly habit to reset the space at the start of each writing session
What to Say
- Wonder If a famous author came to use your writing corner, what would you want them to find there?
- Open Question Does having a special space for writing make you want to write more?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child treat the space with more care after setting it up themselves?
- Do they begin to reset it independently at the end of writing sessions?
Retelling a Story Aloud
After a familiar book is read, the child retells the whole story from memory in their own words to a real or toy audience. No book. No prompts unless they are stuck. This builds oral narrative skill, memory, and confidence in sustained speech.
You Will Need
- A very familiar picture book (read multiple times)
- A small audience: toy, sibling, caregiver
- Optional: the story map from Week 1 as a reference
Instructions
Set Up
Close the book. Tell the child: now you are the storyteller. The audience does not know the story. You have to tell the whole thing so they understand. Ready?
Layer 1 · Essential
The child tells the story with the story map available as reference. You are the audience: listen, nod, react. Offer: what happened after that? only if they get truly stuck.
Layer 2 · Build
The child tells the story from memory without the map. You listen as the audience. After the story, give genuine feedback: I did not know the part about the fox. Tell me more.
Layer 3 · Extend
The child tells the story to a new audience (a visiting adult, a sibling who has not heard it) without any support from you. They manage the beginning, all key events, and the ending.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Retell just three events: beginning, problem, ending
- The story map can stay open as a support throughout
- You can retell alongside them for the first attempt
Ages 5–6
- Include character voices and dramatic pauses
- Add one detail that was not in the original book
- Ask the audience a question at the end of the retelling
What to Say
- Wonder How is telling a story different from reading one? What do you have to do that the book does not?
- Open Question If you told this story to someone from another country, what would you have to explain that we already know?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child include cause-and-effect connections (because, so, then)?
- Do they adjust their pace and voice for different parts of the story?
Organising a Personal Space
Help the child organise a personal space they own: their art supply area, their bookshelf, their bedside table, or their toy box. They decide the system (books by colour, art supplies by type), implement it, and maintain it. This builds agency over personal environment and decision-making.
You Will Need
- The child's chosen personal space
- Labels (drawn or written)
- Small containers or trays if needed
Instructions
Set Up
Ask: what would make this space easier for you to use? Let the child identify the problem before proposing solutions. Your role is to support their system, not impose one.
Layer 1 · Essential
Organise together using the child's ideas. You ask: where would this go in your system? They decide. You implement. Label together if helpful.
Layer 2 · Build
The child reorganises their space independently. You observe and ask at the end: how will you find what you need? Walk me through your system.
Layer 3 · Extend
The child maintains their organised space over the following two weeks, noticing when it becomes disorganised and restoring the system without prompting.
Adjust for Your Child
Ages 3–4
- Organise just one shelf or one container
- The system can be very simple: books here, toys there
- Focus on putting things back correctly rather than creating categories
Ages 5–6
- Create a written or drawn label for every container
- Design the system before starting, then evaluate it after two days
- Identify what is not working and adjust the system
What to Say
- Wonder If your best friend came to use this space, could they find what they needed without asking you?
- Open Question What is the hardest thing to put away? Why do you think that one keeps ending up in the wrong place?
What to Observe ↓ Log in Progress Tracker
- Does the child own the system or copy yours?
- Do they notice when the space is out of order and restore it without being asked?
Skill Builders
Short, low-prep activities that reinforce what your child is learning this month. Slot them in between core experiences or use them on lighter days.
Week 1 4 activities
Explore Letter Y through tracing, songs, and spotting the letter in familiar words and objects.
Use a simple story to set up addition and subtraction problems — for example, 'there were 8 animals, then 3 walked away'. Solve using objects or drawings.
Work on Story Elements Sort to practise putting ideas into words and building narrative structure.
Share Read Like a Writer together, building vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of stories.
Week 2 3 activities
Explore Letter Z through tracing, songs, and spotting the letter in familiar words and objects.
Write addition and subtraction number sentences (equations) for problems up to 20, using numbers and symbols to record thinking.
Share Read Draft Aloud together, building vocabulary, comprehension, and a love of stories.
Week 3 5 activities
Practise addition and subtraction within 20 using objects, fingers, a number line, or drawings — building fluency and confidence with both operations.
Revisit letters Y and Z, with a quick catch-up round for W and X from the previous curriculum month. Use matching games and quick-fire review to reinforce the full W–Z range before the Final Alphabet Review.
Work on Edit Together to practise putting ideas into words and building narrative structure.
Consolidate key skills through Add Detail, reinforcing learning from earlier in the month.
Design the cover for the class book, combining literacy and creative thinking.
Week 4 3 activities
Revisit the letters covered so far with Full Alphabet Review, using matching games and quick-fire review.
Celebrate the year's writing by sharing Library Display — a proud moment connecting print to audience.
Mark the end of the learning period with Year Celebration — reflecting on growth and celebrating effort.
Maths in Everyday Life
Number sense doesn't need a table — it lives in daily routines. Try a few of these this month:
- Story maths: 'There were 5 birds in the tree. 2 flew away. How many are left?' Use the month's story characters.
- Market Day: set prices (1p, 2p, 5p), count coins, make change — maths with real purpose.
- Book making: how many pages? Number them. Count the words on each page — quantity in context.
- Character counting: how many characters are in your story? Draw them and count.
- Sequencing: lay out the story cards and count the events — ordinal language (first, second, last).
- Bedtime story maths: 'How many pages is the book we read tonight? If we read 3 pages a night, how many nights would it take?'
- Character counting: 'How many characters are in your story? What if 2 more joined — how many then?'
- Market Day maths: 'If your book costs 5p and someone pays with 10p, how much change do they get?'
If Your Child…
This is one of the most common moments in home learning. It almost never means the child dislikes learning — it usually means transition is hard.
The child's nervous system is still in a previous activity or needs more predictability about what comes next.
- Give a two-minute warning before the learning session starts.
- Offer one small choice: “Do you want to start with the bears or the name art?”
- Begin the activity yourself — quietly, visibly — without asking them to join.
If nothing works, read a picture book together instead. One warm read-aloud counts as a complete session.
If resistance is strong every day for more than a week, look at the time of day and the length of sessions — both may need adjusting.
A child who moves on after five minutes isn’t failing — they may have absorbed more than you realise.
The activity may be at the wrong layer (try simpler), or the child’s focus window is shorter than the plan assumes.
- Drop to Layer 1 immediately — one clear, achievable step.
- Add movement: count bears while standing up, trace letters on the floor.
- Follow the child into what they moved toward — there’s often learning there too.
Three focused minutes on the core of an activity counts. Let them stop with success rather than push to failure.
If a child consistently disengages from a specific activity type, note it and try a different category for a week.
Frustration often appears right at the edge of a child’s capability — which is exactly where growth happens.
The task is at the right difficulty but the child lacks a strategy to get unstuck, or they’re tired.
- Name it calmly: “That part is tricky. Let’s try together.”
- Break the task into one smaller step and do it with them.
- Celebrate the attempt, not the outcome: “You kept trying — that’s what matters.”
Offer the Layer 1 version or switch to a sensory or creative task to restore confidence before finishing.
If frustration escalates to the point of distress, stop without comment and return to the activity another day.
A meltdown during learning time is not about the learning. It is a communication that the child’s nervous system needs something. Your job right now is not to teach — it is to help them feel safe.
Hunger, tiredness, sensory overload, unresolved earlier stress, or a transition that felt too abrupt.
- Stop the activity immediately and do not try to finish. Lower your own voice and slow your body — your calm is the scaffold.
- Name what you see without asking: “You look really upset right now. I’m here.” Naming the feeling regulates it — asking about it often escalates it.
- Validate without fixing: “That was really frustrating — it’s okay to feel that way.” If there is a limit to hold, hold it calmly and separately: “You can be angry. We can’t throw things.”
Once the storm passes, reconnect before resuming — a hug, a snack, or a few minutes of free choice. Do not return to the activity in the same session. Repair comes first; the curriculum can always wait.
Learning is done for today. Return only when the child is genuinely settled — not when it feels like they should be ready.
A child who breezes through Layer 1 is ready for more depth — and that’s a good sign.
The suggested layer underestimates this particular child’s current level.
- Move directly to Layer 2 or Layer 3 mid-session.
- Add a challenge: “Can you find another letter? Can you count higher?”
- Ask extension questions: “What would happen if…?” or “Can you show me a different way?”
Let them lead the extension themselves — open-ended materials invite natural challenge.
If a child consistently finds every activity too easy, they may be ready for the following month’s content alongside the current one.
A child struggling with Layer 1 is telling you something useful — the current level is a growth edge, not a failure.
The activity assumes readiness the child hasn’t yet reached, which is completely normal and very common.
- Strip back to the single simplest step in Layer 1.
- Do it alongside them, narrating as you go: “I’m going to sort the red ones.”
- Celebrate any participation without correction.
Come back to this activity in two weeks. A month’s growth can transform a struggle into a success.
If a skill area feels consistently out of reach, note it in your tracker notes and trust the spiralling structure — it will return in a later month.
Siblings disrupting focused time is one of the most common home learning realities. It doesn’t mean the session failed.
The other child needs connection, is bored, or doesn’t have a clear role during learning time.
- Give the sibling a parallel activity: sorting objects, colouring, playing with the same materials differently.
- Create a brief helper role: hold the materials bag, pass the crayons.
- Use a visual cue — a special mat or spot — that signals focus time.
Accept that this session is collaborative. Even a messy shared activity builds learning and relationship.
If sibling dynamics consistently derail sessions, shift to individual one-on-one time during nap, screen time, or quiet rest.
No materials? No problem. Every activity in this guide has a household substitute, and improvisation is a teaching skill.
Materials haven’t arrived, were used up, or the activity was chosen spontaneously.
- Check the Materials table for listed substitutes.
- Use whatever is on hand: pasta for bears, a plate for a sorting mat, a marker and paper for any writing activity.
- Frame the substitution positively: “Let’s be creative and use what we have.”
Move to a no-materials activity: read-aloud, conversation, movement, or a wonder question from this month’s list.
You don’t need to stop. There is almost always a version of any activity that needs nothing but curiosity.
Five focused minutes beats thirty distracted ones. Short is not the same as small.
Unexpected schedule change, family need, or the day simply didn’t cooperate.
- Pick one single element of the activity — one layer, one question, one material.
- Do it fully and with complete presence.
- End it cleanly: “We did something real today.”
A wonder question from this month, asked at the dinner table or on a walk, counts as a complete learning moment.
There’s no minimum. Any engaged interaction with curiosity, language, or materials is learning.
You don’t have to perform enthusiasm to support learning. Calm presence is its own kind of teaching.
You’re human. Some days are harder than others, and children pick up on the energy shift.
- Choose the Low-Energy Day option from this month’s Daily Rhythm section.
- Read one picture book aloud, slowly, and ask one genuine question.
- Set out materials and let the child explore independently while you rest nearby.
A quiet day alongside your child — no agenda, just present — has genuine developmental value. Connection is curriculum.
If you’re unwell or in crisis, today is not a learning day. That’s a complete and responsible decision.
Mess during sensory and creative activities is a signal of deep engagement — it means something real is happening.
The activity generates physical disorder that feels like cognitive overload for the caregiver.
- Contain the mess before starting: a tray, a tablecloth, an outdoor space.
- Tell yourself: “I can clean this up in five minutes.”
- Let the child finish what they started — stopping mid-engagement teaches them that exploration isn’t safe.
Move to a no-mess version: the same concepts applied through books, conversation, or movement.
Some activities need to wait until you have the capacity for clean-up. That’s a practical decision, not a failure.
Disruption is one of the best teachers. How you respond to it is a curriculum in itself.
Planned outdoor activities, outings, or routines are interrupted by weather, illness, or unexpected events.
- Move the activity indoors using the listed substitutes.
- If the disruption is significant, acknowledge it: “Our plan changed. Let’s figure out something good anyway.”
- Use the disruption as content: talk about weather, seasons, how things change.
Rainy days are ideal for reading, creative work, or sensory play. Treat the change as an unexpected gift.
There’s no disruption large enough to make the whole day a loss. One small intentional moment resets everything.
Repetition is not boredom — it is consolidation. A child who returns to the same activity is deepening their mastery.
The child has found something that feels satisfying, competent, or interesting to explore more deeply.
- Let them repeat it. Follow their lead completely.
- Quietly layer in a small variation: a different colour, a new word, a slightly harder prompt.
- Observe what they do differently the second or third time — that’s where the growth is.
There’s no fallback needed. Repetition is the mechanism of learning, not a problem to solve.
If the same activity is requested for many sessions in a row, you may gently introduce a parallel activity alongside it — never instead of it.
May's book project sometimes brings up a child's self-doubt — 'I can't write,' 'it's not good enough.' When this happens, redirect to the process rather than the product. Every mark on the page is a decision. Every story is theirs. The finished book doesn't have to be impressive; it has to be finished.
This Month Specifically
Child says 'I don't know what to write'
Ask three questions: 'What do you love? What scares you? What is funny to you?' Every answer is a story.
Writing is illegible
Provide a scribe for the text while the child provides all the ideas. Authorship is about composition, not penmanship.
Book is very short
Four pages is a complete book. Don't add for the sake of length. Quality and intention matter more.
Child is shy about the author's chair
Start with just the two of you as audience. Add one more person when the child is ready.
Readiness
Every child can make a book. The form adapts to every level.
- Retells a familiar story in order
- Dictates a sentence to a caregiver
- Draws with intentional representation
Skill arc focus:
- Recognises most letters A–X; learning Y and Z to complete the alphabet
- Adds and subtracts small amounts using objects or fingers; beginning story maths
- Retells a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end
- Writes or copies simple words with support; creates illustrations that match a chosen story
- Writes independently using phonetic spelling
- Structures a simple story with beginning, middle, and end
- Creates illustrations that extend the text
Skill arc focus:
- Working toward full alphabet recognition and fluency; ready for alphabet review
- Writes number sentences to 20 (e.g. 8 + 5 = 13); adds and subtracts within 20
What To Gather
May's primary materials are paper, staples, and imagination.
Monthly Box
Items specific to this month — tick each as you gather it.
Skill Arc Materials
Specific to your skill position this month — gather these for the letter and maths work.
Standard Kit
Reusable items used across multiple months — most families already have these. See the Year-Round Basics list.
Books
Picture books chosen to enrich this month's theme — read one a week, or return to favourites as often as you like.
- The Dot and Ish by Peter H. Reynolds — courage, art, and self-expression
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and others by Mo Willems — humour, voice, and character
- Koala Lou and Possum Magic by Mem Fox — Australia, love, and quiet emotion
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle — simple structure, bold illustration
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak — imagination, big emotions, and homecoming
- Non-Fiction Pick: How a Book Is Made by Aliki — a behind-the-scenes look at the publishing process, perfect for the authorship theme
Set the Stage
Learning Zones
Morning Circle
Begin each morning with a story problem: 'There were 6 rabbits. 2 hopped away. How many are left?' Math and literacy together.
Reading Nook
Add published books by authors the child has studied. Add the child's own finished books here too — they belong.
Creation Table
Set up a dedicated writing and illustration space with blank books, pencils, erasers, and art supplies.
Discovery Station
Create an 'author study' display: one author, several books, and a fact or photo about them.
Skill arc adjustments for your position:
- Morning Circle: Complete the letter display with Y and Z cards — and consider displaying the full A–Z in sequence as a visual milestone. Add a story maths prompt card for the morning: write one simple problem (e.g. '5 birds + 3 birds = ?') to solve together before the day begins.
- Creation Table: Place number sentence strips alongside the writing and illustration materials — maths lives inside stories this month. Children can write '8 – 3 = 5' as part of a story page rather than as a separate exercise.
🏠 Learning in a Small Space
- The Story Map needs only one large sheet of paper — stick it to the floor if the table is too small.
- Author's Chair is a single chair given a name — any chair in any room becomes the chair.
- Market Day props can be whatever is already in the kitchen: tins, packets, a small basket.
- My Own Book is four sheets of paper folded and stapled — stores flat in a folder when done.
Music Suggestions
- May's authorship theme pairs beautifully with songs that have a strong narrative arc — folk songs, ballads, and story-songs all model how music and story intertwine
- During writing and illustration sessions, play quiet instrumental music to support sustained creative focus
- Publication Day (Author's Chair) deserves a special piece of music — let the child choose their own "author's theme" to play when they sit in the chair
Rabbit Trail
What story, character, or imaginary world is your child living in right now? May's entire theme is imagination — whatever they're obsessed with IS the curriculum.
- If they're deep in a favourite book series or show, write a sequel, a prequel, or a new character into that world — My Own Book uses their existing story as the scaffold.
- If they keep acting out a specific scenario (going to the shop, being a doctor, cooking dinner), that scenario is Market Day — set it up formally and let it run.
- If they've invented a character or creature, give it a story map: where does it live, what does it want, what gets in its way? This is the Story Map experience built around their imagination.
Daily Rhythm
Match the session length to your day — everything else stays the same.
- Morning Circle + Story Problem
- Writing/Illustration Work
- Read-Aloud (author study)
- Story Math Practice
- Author Sharing (Friday)
- Closing Ritual Reflect on the session, tidy up, celebrate one win
- Story Problem
- Book Work (one page)
- Read-Aloud A picture book connected to the week's theme
These are not learning activities — and that is the point.
- Meals & snacks together
- Outdoor free play
- Rest or nap time
- Screen time (if used)
- Errands, chores, and everyday life
Progress Tracker & Reflection
This tracker is for your own quiet observation — not a report card. Mark what you notice. Three levels are available for each milestone: Exploring (just starting to engage), Growing (doing it with some support), and Flying (doing it confidently and independently). There is no wrong answer. Every child moves at their own pace.
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