Retelling a story means sharing the most important parts from the beginning to the end. We retell stories to show that we understand them, and sometimes just because it’s fun to share with our friends!
When you retell a story, focus on the key parts. You don’t need to include everything, just the most important bits. These usually include:
Have you heard the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Here’s a short version:
Goldilocks is a girl who goes for a walk in the forest. At the start, the bears leave their house to take a walk while their porridge cools. Goldilocks then arrives at their home, where she tastes their porridge, sits in their chairs, and eventually falls asleep in one of their beds. When the bears return, they find her, and she gets startled and runs away.
In this retelling, we included the characters (Goldilocks and the bears), the setting (the forest and the bears’ house), and the key events from the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
Now, you can practice retelling a story on your own. Pick a story you like, and try to share the most important parts with someone else!
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Story Map Creation: Create a story map using a large sheet of paper. Draw three sections labeled “Beginning,” “Middle,” and “End.” Ask the children to choose a story they know well and draw or write the key parts in each section. Encourage them to include the characters, setting, and major events. This activity helps them visualize the structure of a story and understand the sequence of events.
Character Role Play: Have the children pick their favorite story and act out the roles of different characters. They can use simple props or costumes made from items around the house or classroom. Encourage them to focus on how each character contributes to the story. This hands-on activity helps them understand character roles and motivations.
Story Retelling with a Twist: Ask the children to retell a familiar story but change one element, such as the setting or the ending. For example, what if Goldilocks visited a castle instead of a forest? How would the story change? This encourages creative thinking and helps them understand how different elements of a story work together.
**How to Retell a Story**
Retelling means to share the most important parts of a story from beginning to end. We often retell stories to demonstrate our understanding. Sometimes, we do it just for fun, wanting to share with friends.
When retelling a story, it’s important to focus on the key elements. You can’t include everything; you should highlight the most significant parts. Typically, these include the characters, the setting, and the major events that occur.
For example, have you heard the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears? Here’s a brief retelling:
Goldilocks is a girl who goes for a walk in the forest. At the start, the bears leave their house to take a walk while their porridge cools. Goldilocks then arrives at their home, where she tastes their porridge, sits in their chairs, and eventually falls asleep in one of their beds. When the bears return, they find her, and she gets startled and runs away.
In this retelling, I included the characters, the setting, and the key events from the beginning, middle, and end.
Now, you can practice retelling a story on your own.
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