Molly’s Little Boat
Learning focus
Recognise the character, setting, problem, actions and ending of a narrative. Talk about feelings and trying again.
Before reading
Look at the cover. Who is the character? What has she made? Predict what might happen.
Words to explore
Boat: something that travels on water. Sail: material attached to a mast. Tip: lean or fall to one side. Heavy: having more weight. Middle: the centre. Clay: a soft material we can shape.
During reading
Pause at the problem. Invite children to say “Try again, little boat.” Use Talk Together to discuss each page. Listen, point, gesture or talk; joining in is optional.
After reading
- Who was the story about? Where did it happen?
- What went wrong? What did Molly try?
- How did she solve the problem? How did she feel at the end?
- Retell using “First”, “Then” and “At the end”.
Narrative map
Character: Molly. Setting: a garden table with a tub of water. Problem: her boat tips over. Actions: move the sail, look closely, move the clay. Resolution: the boat stays upright. Ending: Molly celebrates keeping on trying.
Play and explore
Draw a boat or build a pretend boat from large blocks. For real water play, an adult supervises closely, uses only a shallow tub, and handles small materials. The story is a narrative, not a boat-building instruction.
Activities →About this edition
Original I Read Smart story, 2026. © 2026 I Read Smart. All rights reserved.
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