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Build literacy skills with three simple story retelling activities from Alisha!
Is your child learning to read or do they love story read-aloud stories?
Story retelling is one of the best ways to build reading comprehension and bring about excitement and a love of reading. These super simple approaches will help to make story retelling a fun and engaging hands-on activity.
Explore fun phonics activities with children learning to read.
These three simple story retelling activities are perfect for children who are just starting to read all the way until upper elementary school.
You can use these activities with just one book (at different readings) or try out just one activity with a new book. Plus, you can use these ideas over and over again!
Story Retelling with Stick Props
One super fun and easy way to help with story retelling is to use stick props.
Stick props are little items that can be held and used while your child is retelling the story. These look like simple picture puppets!
I recommend making these before reading the story with your child.
Supplies Needed:
- Craft Sticks (affiliate link)
- A piece of paper
- Drawing supplies
- Scissors
- Glue
- A good book
To make the props, draw small sketches on a piece of paper to cut out and glue on the top of your craft sticks.
Don’t worry about making beautiful sketches. Something fast and easy is fine! Or if you have a printer that also copies, you can use the pictures right from the book.
There are three options for making your sketches. Either make your stick props based on the characters, based on the events or based on the elements of a story.
The elements of a story are characters, setting, plot, conflict, and resolution. These elements answer the questions who, what, where, when, and why. This option would be better for older children reading more complex books.
I chose to make my sketches about the characters in The Mitten by Jan Brett (affiliate link), as my children are in preschool and kindergarten.
Once you’ve made your sketches, cut them out and glue them on the top of the craft sticks.
You now have stick props for story retelling!
Once your stick props are made, grab your book and your child. Then snuggle up and enjoy a wonderful time reading together.
After you’ve read your story once, give the pictures to your child. Ask your child to use the stick props to tell the story back to you.
You might want to show younger children what to do the first time. When it’s your child’s turn, offer guidance and prompts to help them remember the story.
Story Retelling with Picture Sequence Cards
Another effective method for story retelling is sequencing or putting events in the correct order.
Use index cards with simple pictures or sentences about the main events in your story.
I recommend making these cards ahead of time, so they are ready-to-use after reading the story together.
Supplies Needed:
- Index Cards (affiliate link)
- Drawing supplies
- A good book
To make the cards, begin by choosing your area of focus: characters, events, or story elements.
I chose to focus on the events in The Mitten for this retelling activity.
Then, lay out as many the cards as you’ll need, and draw some simple sketches of the story. Or make photocopies of the pages.
If your child is already reading, you can write a small sentence or phrase on the cards to identify the item.
Once your sequence cards are made, read your book with your child.
After reading, show your child the index cards and invite them to put the cards in the correct order. On repeat reads, you could turn this into a game to see how fast they can get the cards in place.
Encourage your child by asking questions or give hints to help. You could even put down the first card to show how to begin.
Story Retelling with a Process Drawing
This retelling activity is one where children get to draw out what happened in the story as they tell you about the plot.
There is no set format to follow since the drawing happens during the retelling process. It will be different every time!
This activity has no prep and is created while retelling is happening.
Supplies Needed:
- A piece of paper
- Drawing supplies
- A good book
Read the story together and then place the paper, drawing items, and book in front of your child.
Explain that you would like them to draw a picture of what happened in the story as they tell you about it.
Try this fun upside down drawing activity.
I found that it really helped for me to provide my kindergartner with the book as a reference, but this may not be needed for older children.
As they are drawing and telling you about the story, ask questions to keep your child on track with the story.
I was happily surprised that my kindergartner was really into this activity.
Talk about your child’s drawing after. Ask them to point out different parts of the story or tell more about their favorite part.
This will add another level of reading comprehension practice and build up the bond of learning together.
If you have younger children, you may find it helpful to label parts of their drawing as you are talking about it together.
Whichever story retelling method you choose, enjoy your time reading and learning together.
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