"What's this?" says Nicholas: (Red Squirrel Phonics Level 7 Set 2a)
Red Squirrel Phonics Series
illustrations by
What’s inside...
Nicholas, a curious young boy, embarks on a fun-filled day of discovery in his backyard, encountering various animals and learning about their habits.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think Nicholas will find next and why?
How do you feel when you discover something new, like Nicholas?
What are some of the sounds different objects make in the story?
Why is it important to ask questions about things we don’t know?
How would you help a friend who is curious about something?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use expressive tones while reading to match the excitement of discovery in the story.
Pause after each discovery Nicholas makes and ask your child what they think he felt or thought in that moment.
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences of discovering something new.
After reading, engage in a fun activity where you both discover new things around your home or neighborhood, discussing each find.
Reinforce the phonics learned by pointing out similar sounding words in the environment or in other books.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Exploration
Explanation: Nicholas navigates through various scenarios asking 'What's this?' which encourages young readers to explore and question the world around them.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be inquisitive about their surroundings, enhancing their learning experience both at school and at home.
Example Lesson: Language Development
Explanation: As part of the Red Squirrel Phonics series, the book focuses on phonemic awareness which aids children in sound recognition and pronunciation.
Real-World Application: This can help children improve their reading skills, enabling better communication and academic performance.
Example Lesson: Problem Solving
Explanation: Each page presents Nicholas with a new object or scenario that he attempts to understand, demonstrating basic problem-solving skills.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to think critically and solve problems they encounter in their daily activities or in classroom settings.