Emma’s Picnic Mat

Reading together

This is a read-aloud story for ages 3–4, not an independent reading-level text. 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: mat, wind, corner, flat, food. Invite a prediction about what might happen.

During reading

Use Talk Together for a prompt on each page. Pause at the problem and the first attempt. Wonder aloud about another plan. Encourage children to point to what changed in the illustration and join in with repeated phrases.

After reading

Use the three pictures to tell what happened first, next and at the end. An adult can help with the words. Discuss who helped and how the characters might feel. Accept different personal responses.

Narrative map

Character

Emma and Sam, with Mum helping.

Setting

An enclosed garden during a picnic.

Problem

The wind keeps curling up the picnic mat.

First attempt

Emma presses it flat, then the friends hold the corners by hand.

New action

Mum uses two large blocks to hold the corners down.

Resolution and ending

The mat stays flat and the friends sit down to share lunch.

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. Model a vocabulary word for the child to copy; letter recognition and independent decoding are not required. 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. Use large play blocks, drawings or gestures to act out the story together.