The Empty Frame

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: exhibition, canvas, courtyard, acquired, flickered. 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

Compare Ruben’s response to the empty frame before and after the shadows appear. Retell how two very different pictures end up hanging beside each other. Discuss who helped and how the characters might feel. Accept different personal responses.

Narrative map

Character

Ruben, Aunt Inez, Mr Chen and a visiting artist.

Setting

A small gallery with a courtyard tree and high window.

Problem

A delayed painting leaves an empty frame at the exhibition.

First attempt

Ruben checks the empty space and starts drawing its outline.

New action

Moving leaf shadows catch his attention, and he shares them with the adults.

Resolution and ending

The arriving painting gets another frame, leaving visitors a changing shadow picture.

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.