Reading Champion: The Apple Tree: Independent Reading Yellow 3
Reading champion Series
What’s inside...
Join the charming adventure in 'Reading Champion: The Apple Tree' by Jackie Walter, designed for young readers developing their independent reading skills. This delightful tale follows the journey of a young boy as he observes the life cycle of an apple tree through the seasons. Illustrated with vivid imagery, the book not only captures the essence of nature's wonders but also subtly introduces children to the concepts of growth, change, and patience. Perfect for children at Yellow 3 reading level, it aligns with their developmental stages, boosting both literacy and comprehension skills. This story is part of Reading Champion, a series carefully linked to book bands to encourage independent reading skills, developed with Dr Sue Bodman and Glen Franklin of UCL Institute of Education (IOE). Reading Champion offers independent reading books for children to practise and reinforce their developing reading skills. Fantastic, original stories are accompanied by engaging artwork and a reading activity. Each book has been carefully graded so that it can be matched to a child's reading ability, encouraging reading for pleasure.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-6
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think made the apple tree special in the story?
How do you think the characters felt when they saw the apple tree?
Can you imagine a world without trees? What would that be like?
Why do you think trees are important in our lives and in stories?
If you were in the story, what would you do with the apples from the tree?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, reinforcing their understanding and empathy.
Discuss the importance of nature and trees, aligning the book’s themes with real-world examples.
Ask your child to draw or describe their imaginary tree and what magical qualities it might have, fostering creativity and deeper connection to the story.
Relate the story to personal experiences, such as a family trip to an orchard, to make the discussion more relatable and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: The story exhibits the importance of taking care of nature as a young child nurtures an apple tree.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by engaging in activities such as planting or taking care of a garden, learning the value of consistent care and effort.
Example Lesson: Patience
Explanation: The narrative follows the process of the apple tree growing from a sapling to a full tree, teaching that significant results require time.
Real-World Application: Kids can relate this to real life by understanding that all rewarding tasks, like learning a new skill or building a friendship, need patience and perseverance.
Example Lesson: The cycle of life
Explanation: The book explains the seasonal changes of the apple tree, demonstrating the cycle of growth, fruition, and renewal.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to respect and appreciate the natural cycles and changes in life, fostering a sense of connection with the environment.
Example Lesson: Sharing
Explanation: As the apple tree produces fruit, the story encourages sharing the apples with others.
Real-World Application: This lesson is applicable to everyday interactions, promoting generosity and community spirit among children when they share their own resources or help others.