A Fun Run
What’s inside...
A delightful tale that follows a group of friends participating in a fun-filled community race, learning about teamwork, perseverance, and the joy of physical activity along the way. The story also explores the phoneme /qu/ as part of 'Decodables by Jump!', a comprehensive library of decodable leveled readers that promote phonics instruction. Young readers are encouraged to engage with colorful, photo-packed nonfiction content that supports reading development.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-10
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What made the Fun Run exciting for the characters? How would you feel if you were there?
Why is teamwork important in the story? Can you share a time you worked with others to achieve a goal?
How did the characters overcome challenges during the run? What would you do in their place?
What did the characters learn about friendship by the end of the book?
If you could add another adventure to the Fun Run, what would it be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences, especially any involving sports or team activities.
Discuss the significance of teamwork and perseverance as showcased in the book, emphasizing how these values apply in real life.
Ask open-ended questions that prompt your child to think critically about the characters’ emotions and decisions.
Use expressive reading to enhance the exciting parts of the Fun Run, making the story more engaging for your child.
After reading, consider organizing a mini 'fun run' or similar activity to bring the book's themes to life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of teamwork
Explanation: In 'A Fun Run', characters must work together to organize and participate in the race, demonstrating how cooperation leads to success.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group projects or team sports, learning how to collaborate effectively with others for a common goal.
Example Lesson: Setting and achieving goals
Explanation: Throughout the story, characters set personal goals for the race, which teaches the value of setting goals and the steps required to achieve them.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to set achievable goals for themselves, whether in academics or personal hobbies, and understand the satisfaction of accomplishing those goals.
Example Lesson: The joy of participation
Explanation: Characters in 'A Fun Run' show excitement and happiness just by participating in the event, underscoring that winning isn’t everything.
Real-World Application: This lesson encourages children to enjoy the process of participating in different activities without focusing solely on winning, promoting a healthy competitive spirit.
Example Lesson: Resilience and perseverance
Explanation: Some characters face challenges during the run but persevere and complete the race, teaching resilience.
Real-World Application: By emulating these characters, children can learn to persist in the face of challenges in school or personal endeavours, understanding that setbacks can be overcome with determination.
Example Lesson: Sportsmanship
Explanation: Good sportsmanship is highlighted when characters encourage each other and show respect, regardless of who wins or loses.
Real-World Application: This can inspire children to act graciously in competitive settings and everyday interactions, valuing respect and encouragement over rivalry.