Read with Oxford: Stage 2: Julia Donaldson's Songbirds: The Trunk and The Skunk and Other Stories
Julia Donaldson’S Songbirds Series
What’s inside...
This collection of short stories, designed for early readers, features engaging animal characters in amusing adventures. The book uses rhythic text and colorful illustrations to captivate young readers and enhance their phonics and reading skills. It includes seven fun stories such as 'Trunk and the Skunk' and 'Ron Rabbit makes a rocket', focusing on letter patterns and tricky words. Created by Julia Donaldson, the Songbirds phonics programme is used in schools to foster a love for reading. The collection is part of the Read with Oxford range, which offers leveled reading books and resources to support children's reading development.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-7
Length
128 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the skunk felt when everyone avoided him due to his smell?
How did the animals work together to solve their problems?
Can you think of a time when you needed help from friends or family?
What is the most interesting part of the story for you and why?
How do you think the story would change if it took place in a city instead of a forest?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage children to express their thoughts and relate the stories to their own experiences. Use expressions and voice modulation to make the storytelling engaging. Ask children to predict what might happen next in the story to develop their reasoning skills. Discuss the moral of the story and how it applies to everyday situations to enhance comprehension and ethical development. Encourage children to draw or act out their favorite scenes to reinforce understanding and stimulate their creativity.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of sharing
Explanation: In the story 'The Trunk and The Skunk', the characters learn to share limited resources, which helps them build friendships and solve problems.
Real-World Application: Children can apply the lesson of sharing by taking turns with toys or supplies at school, fostering cooperation and mutual respect among peers.
Example Lesson: Understanding differences
Explanation: The stories highlight various characters who are different from each other, encouraging acceptance and diversity.
Real-World Application: Kids can learn to embrace individual differences in their classmates, leading to inclusivity and preventing bullying.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the face of challenges
Explanation: Characters in the stories often encounter obstacles, but they persevere and find solutions, demonstrating resilience.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to remain persistent and positive even when facing their own challenges, whether in academics, sports, or personal relationships.
Example Lesson: Value of teamwork
Explanation: Several stories showcase characters working together to achieve a common goal, underscoring the effectiveness of teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children can utilize this lesson by collaborating in group projects at school or in team sports, learning that collective effort often leads to success.