Tiddler by Julia DonaldsonTiddler is a proper story tellers story. Tiddler is a little fish who is always late for school and comes to class with amazing stories, which most kids/fish don't believe. One day though, he is caught up in a fishing net and uses his own story to help him trace his way back home. There is lots of fun to be had with this underwater adventure!
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⚈ 1 Play ideas ⚈ 2 Classroom Activities ⚈ 3 Links to more Resources Get your hands on this book here: |
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Mosaic pictures - Age 3+
This is another activity that can easily be adapted for any book. If you have a set of mosaic blocks, challenge your children to make a picture with them, based on the book you are reading. Can you see the sun, waves, fish and seaweed in the picture to the left? Read about when we originally shared it on Instagram -HERE |
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New vocabulary actions - Age 2+
A fun way to introduce some new vocabulary to little ones, is to take a favourite book and create a game out of it. Pick an object on a page. Does it do anything that you can mimic? For Tiddler, try a wiggling eel. Get up and act it out together, saying the words. Hunt for it on each page. If you are good at drawing, make a few cards with pictures from the story. As you turn a card over, find it in the story and then act it out together. Repetition is key for little ones. The more they hear you using words, the more they learn them. Read about when we originally shared it on Instagram - HERE |
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Story stone/cubes - Age 3+
Using books as a jumping off point for writing new stories is a common task in schools. Try writing a new ending. Try continuing the story. Write about one character. These aren't always easy for children though. Story cubes (or rocks in this case - we used a chalk pen to draw symbols that linked to underwater on our rocks) can help children by providing step by step ideas when creating their own story worlds. Roll a cube or turn a stone to prompt the next part of your story. Practising this orally with kids from a young age can help build confidence in their own story telling. Read about when we originally shared it on Instagram - HERE |
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Roman numerals - Age 4+
In the corner of Tiddler's classroom there is a clock which helps show how late he is. The clock uses roman numerals though! If your child has a good grasp of numbers, you can try exploring these together. They are very much like a code, which kids love. Start off looking at the numerals for 1 through 10. Next see if they can spot any patterns with 20 and 30. Do 4 and 40 have anything in common? 5 and 50? Exploring numbers or roman numerals really can be fun when kids start seeing all the cool patterns. You'll be up to 100 before you know it! Read about when we originally shared it on Instagram - HERE |
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Building block animals - Age 4+
Challenge kids to create their own sea creatures using building blocks. If they build better with instructions, Frugalfun4boys.com is a fantastic website for Lego/Duplo fans. It is full of their own sets of instructions for you to follow or to provide inspiration. Read about when we originally shared it on Instagram - HERE |
- Write your own fabulous excuses for being late (set a challenge to see who can make the most outlandish one!)
- Create a similar style story but in a different habitat with different animals
- Learn more about fishing practises (when do they throw them back?)
- Find out if we are running out of fish and which countries are top consumers
- Link to a science unit on food chains and which other creatures would eat the fish in the story
Collaborative Learning has a simple PDF with character cards and name cards. Find them HERE.
The Philosophy Foundation has a lesson about lying and telling the truth. Find it HERE.
The Philosophy Foundation has a lesson about lying and telling the truth. Find it HERE.
Click below for other books and activities about underwater:
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