Thomas Helps Out
Starting maths with Thomas Series
on Goodreads (1)
What’s inside...
'Thomas Helps Out' is a book featuring the 'Thomas the Tank Engine' characters, designed to help young children develop early maths skills before starting school. The book covers a variety of topics including number bonds to 20, shapes and sizes, adding and subtracting, and time, aiming to build a child's confidence in mathematics.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-7
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
Why do you think Thomas wanted to help out?
What are some ways Thomas showed he cares about his friends?
How do you feel when you help someone?
Can you think of a time when you helped out at home or in school? How did it make you feel?
What is the most important lesson Thomas learns in the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate the story to their own experiences by asking them about times they have helped others.
Highlight Thomas’s emotions and actions when discussing the story to help your child understand empathy and teamwork.
Discuss the outcomes of helping behaviors depicted in the book, reinforcing the positive aspects of such actions.
Use expressions and voice modulation to make the reading experience more engaging and to emphasize key moments in the story where Thomas helps out.
After reading, engage in an activity related to the book’s theme, like drawing a picture of a time they helped someone, to reinforce the message.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Helping others is rewarding
Explanation: In the story, Thomas the Tank Engine goes out of his way to assist his friends and community, showing that even small acts of kindness can make a big difference.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to offer help to their friends, family, and community members, understanding the impact of their actions on others' happiness and well-being.
Example Lesson: Teamwork leads to success
Explanation: Thomas collaborates with other trains to solve problems and complete tasks, demonstrating that working together can achieve better outcomes than working alone.
Real-World Application: Kids can apply this lesson by participating in group activities at school or in sports, learning to cooperate and value each member's contribution.
Example Lesson: Responsibility is important
Explanation: Throughout the book, Thomas takes on responsibilities and follows through with them, showing the importance of reliability and trustworthiness.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to take on small responsibilities at home, like tidying up toys or feeding pets, to build their sense of duty and accountability.
Example Lesson: Overcoming challenges
Explanation: Thomas faces various challenges on his adventures, but he doesn’t give up. His resilience teaches that obstacles can be overcome with persistence and courage.
Real-World Application: This lesson can help children understand that facing difficulties is a part of life and that they can grow stronger by overcoming them.
Example Lesson: Joy of learning
Explanation: As Thomas helps out, he learns new things about his friends and the world around him, showcasing the joy and benefits of being curious and open-minded.
Real-World Application: Encourage children to explore new topics and interests, emphasizing that learning can be a fun and endless adventure.