In the dam: (Red Squirrel Phonics Level 1 Set 2)
Red Squirrel Phonics Series
What’s inside...
This engaging phonics-based story is about a group of animal friends who embark on an adventurous journey to build a dam. Through teamwork and creativity, they overcome various challenges and learn valuable life lessons.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-7
Length
16 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the animals are feeling when they work together in the dam?
How do you think the dam helps the animals in the story?
What would you build if you could create something like the dam?
Can you think of a time when you worked together with friends, just like the animals did?
What other animals do you think might live in or around a dam?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to visualize the story by asking them to draw their favorite scene from the book. Discuss the importance of teamwork as demonstrated by the animals in the story, relating it to everyday situations your child might encounter. Use expressive reading to convey the emotions of the characters, and ask your child to guess how a character is feeling based on your tone. Finally, connect the story’s setting to real-life by looking up videos or images of real dams and the animals that inhabit them.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Understanding the importance of teamwork.
Explanation: The story illustrates how the characters work together to build a dam, showcasing the efficiency and success that comes from collaborative efforts.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in play, learning to cooperate and value each member’s contribution.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in facing tasks.
Explanation: Challenges arise during the dam construction, but the characters persist until they complete their task, teaching resilience and determination.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to not give up easily in their endeavors, be it finishing a puzzle, learning a new skill, or dealing with daily tasks.
Example Lesson: Caring for the environment.
Explanation: The book highlights the importance of the natural world and our impact on it through the constructive action of building a dam that benefits the ecosystem.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to be more conscious of their environment, understanding the impact of their actions, and engaging in activities that help preserve their surroundings.