Read with Oxford: Stage 3: Phonics: The Moon in the Pond and Other Tales
Read With Oxford Series
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
A delightful collection of short stories designed to engage and develop phonics skills in young readers. Each tale transports the reader to fantastical settings where they meet memorable characters and learn important life lessons alongside the protagonists. This Read with Oxford Stage 3 story collection contains four traditional tales: 'Stone Soup,' 'Hans in Luck,' 'The Moon in the Pond,' and 'Lazy Jack.' Beautifully illustrated, with clear phonics progression, this book is ideal for children growing in reading confidence. The stories are rewritten so children can read them independently and are aligned with phonics learning in school. The collection includes reading tips, extended story texts for parental read-alouds, and story maps for children to use in retelling. Featuring much-loved characters, great authors, engaging storylines, and fun activities, Read with Oxford helps children progress in their reading journey. Parents can also find practical advice, free eBooks, and engaging activities at oxfordowl.co.uk to further support their child's reading development.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
6-8
Length
96 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think the moon feels like when it looks at its reflection in the pond?
Why do you think the characters reacted the way they did in the story?
How would you help a friend who felt like the moon?
What was your favorite part of the tale, and why?
If you could add another character to the story, who would it be and what would they do?
Tip: Role play these questions
While discussing the book, relate the story's scenarios to real-life situations your child might encounter, which can help in understanding the characters’ perspectives.
Encourage your child to imagine alternative endings or additional adventures for the characters. This nurtures creativity and critical thinking.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene from the book. This makes the reading experience more interactive and memorable.
Use expressive reading techniques like different voices or facial expressions to make the story engaging and to model empathy shown by the characters.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of helping others
Explanation: In 'The Moon in the Pond', animals cooperate to retrieve what they believe is the moon from the pond, showcasing teamwork and assistance.
Real-World Application: Children learn the value of working together to solve problems, which can be applied in school projects or in helping family members at home.
Example Lesson: Understanding reflections and reality
Explanation: The story uses the scenario of animals seeing the moon’s reflection in the pond to teach children about reflections and distinguishing them from reality.
Real-World Application: This helps children develop critical thinking and observation skills, useful in science classes and in everyday life to differentiate between what’s real and what’s merely a reflection or illusion.
Example Lesson: Perseverance in the face of confusion
Explanation: As the animals struggle initially to retrieve the moon, their persistent efforts demonstrate that not giving up despite difficulties is crucial.
Real-World Application: This lesson can encourage children to persist in their endeavors, be it learning a new skill or solving difficult tasks in their academic and personal life.
Example Lesson: Sharing one’s feelings and thoughts
Explanation: The animals openly share their thoughts and confusion about how to retrieve the moon, which highlights the importance of communication.
Real-World Application: Children learn that sharing feelings can aid in better understanding situations and finding solutions collectively. This can be applied during group activities or family discussions.