A Very Small Protest

Reading together

This story is designed for shared reading in Year 4. It is not a formally assessed independent reading level. An adult can model fluent reading, revisit sentences and invite children to join in. Read at the child’s pace. Children can listen, point, gesture, sign or join in with familiar words. Joining in is optional.

Before reading

Look at the title and cover. Introduce the characters and setting. Explore these five words with pictures, actions and familiar examples: headquarters, barrier, protest, unnecessarily, replace. Invite a prediction about what might happen.

During reading

Use Talk Together for a prompt on each page. Pause to compare what characters say with what they might feel. Invite predictions, look for evidence in the words and pictures, then read on to check. Notice how dialogue, small actions and humour reveal character.

After reading

Retell the misunderstanding from the children’s and Jo’s points of view. Explain the difference between what was said and what was assumed, and what their drawing communicated. Discuss who helped and how the characters might feel. Accept different personal responses.

Narrative map

Character

Elsie, Moses, Pip and carpenter Jo.

Setting

A neighbourhood park over several afternoons.

Problem

An incomplete explanation makes the children think their favourite bench is going permanently.

First attempt

They prepare a small protest page showing what the bench means to them.

New action

Jo reads their page and explains the repairs and return.

Resolution and ending

Headquarters returns, and the friends resume their familiar jokes and plans.

Activities with an adult

The eleven separate question cards include recall, word meaning, feelings, simple “why” questions and discussion. Read the questions and choices aloud and offer picture support. Explore five vocabulary words, build them from movable letters and order three story pictures. Invite children to say the word, notice its letters and build it; offer letter and sound support where needed. Mouse dragging, finger dragging, tap controls and keyboard controls are available. Use the light green and red feedback as a chance to look at the story again.

Choose a few activities at a time, according to the child’s interest. Compare the characters and their points of view. Children can use drawings, a short dialogue or gestures to show what each person knows, assumes and feels.