Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once a week (or once every other week) I will be doing a classroom activity with my preschoolers. I like to focus on language during these activities, so I will often read a book and then create an activity to go with it.

Introducing Goldilocks and the Three Bears

I think this is a good story to start with early in the year since some of the student may still be working on sitting still, not talking during a story, etc. I purchased these adorable little story pieces from Lakeshore Learning. Included in the packet is the Papa Bear, Mama Bear, Baby Bear, Goldilocks, 3 beds, 3 chairs, and a table with bowls. The storytelling glove was sold separately.

So, how do you use these pieces?

Telling the story:

First, practice telling the story on your own. Place the table, chairs, and the beds on the front of the glove with the characters on the back.

Begin by showing the students the "home" you created on the glove. This is a great time to ask WH-questions - who do you think lives here, why are there 3 beds, etc. You could also ask them to describe the home. What do the beds look like? How do beds feel? Allow the students to ask questions. If they don't ask any questions, begin by telling the story.

Use character voices! This is really important because it helps the students get to know the characters. Use a deep voice for Papa Bear, a soft voice for Mama Bear, and a child-like voice for Baby Bear.

Once you get to the point in the story, bring Goldilocks to the front of the glove. Introduce her as a little girl who lives near the edge of the woods. Use a girly, high-pitched voice for Goldilocks. Describe her to the students, or ask a student to describe her. Ask them to brainstorm why Goldilocks was in the forest.

Continue with the story. Have Goldilocks try each porridge bowl, sit on each chair, and lay in each bed until she falls asleep in Baby Bear's bed. When she awakens, have her run to the back of the glove. Tell the students that Goldilocks ran all the way home to tell her mother about her adventure in the woods and promises never to go into the bears' home again.

(Disclaimer: some of the above ideas were taken from the description page included with the purchase).

A follow-up activity:

Once you tell the story using the little pieces, have the students act out the story. Ask for volunteers to play each role. This is a great way to get kids up and moving, and it adds excitement to the story. For those who aren't playing a role, tell them that you will need their help retelling the story. Pause in places and ask them what happens next. Encourage the students to use their imagination! If they can't remember what happens next, allow them to make it up. This is where the fun comes in!

Note: Lakeshore Learning also has storytelling puppets for the Gingerbread Man, the Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff, and the Itsy Bitsy Spider stories.

Has anyone used anything like this in therapy? What did you use? How did you use it?