Story Language Focus
To develop understanding of story language and narrative structure through focused text exploration.
- Framework: EYFS
- Unit: EYFS Communication & Language
- Learning area: Communication and Language
- Level: EYFS Reception
Objectives
- Uses story language in own narratives
- Identifies story structure
- Discusses characters and events
- Makes predictions based on story knowledge
Materials
- High-quality picture books with rich language
- Story structure visual aids
- Character and setting cards
- Story language word wall
Instructions
Choose books with rich, memorable language that children will want to borrow. Authors like Julia Donaldson, Michael Rosen and Judith Kerr offer wonderful examples. Read these books multiple times—familiarity breeds deeper understanding.
Draw attention to story language: 'Listen to this—The Gruffalo has terrible tusks and terrible claws. The author used the same word twice! Terrible, terrible. Can you hear how that sounds?' Help children notice author choices.
Explore story structure explicitly: 'Every story has a beginning where we meet the characters, a middle where something happens—usually a problem—and an end where things get sorted out. Let's see if our story follows that pattern.'
Discuss characters deeply: 'How is the mouse feeling now? How do you know? The words say he trembled. Show me trembling.' Connect text to meaning through movement and expression.
Collect wonderful words and phrases on a working wall: 'Delicious and scrumptious! Let's add that to our word collection. When might you use those words?' Make rich vocabulary accessible and celebrated.
Encourage children to use story language in their own storytelling: 'In the deep, dark wood... that's how our story started. Could you start your story like that?' Make the connection between reading and writing explicit.
Predict and infer: 'What do you think will happen next? What makes you think that? The picture shows... and the words said... so I think...' Model using evidence from the text.
Compare stories: 'This story is like The Three Little Pigs, isn't it? They both have characters who try three times. Authors often use that pattern.' Help children see connections across texts.