Folded Story Book

What you need

• three sheets of paper
• masking tape for the spine
• crayons
• a soft toy to be the hero, if they want one

How to do it

1. Fold the paper in half together and tape along the fold to make a little book.
2. Ask your child who the story is about and what happens first, and let them draw it on the first page.
3. Write down what they say under the picture, word for word, and read it back to them.
4. Do the same for each page: what happens next, then how it ends. Finish with a cover and a letter or two of their name.

Why it matters

Their own words, written down and read back, show them that a story can be kept on paper and read again.

What they're learning

Telling a story

First, next, at the end: holding a story together across pages.

Drawing for a reason

Each picture shows a part of the story.

Words on paper

Hearing their own words read back from the page.

What to look for

Notice them reading the book back to you, turning the pages and telling the story from the pictures.

A tip

Write exactly what they say, even the odd bits. It's their story, and hearing it read back the same way is the point.

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