The Gruffalo

Personal Social and Emotional

Discuss how the characters in the Gruffalo story felt when they met each other. Who was scared? Who was brave? What makes you feel scared and what makes you feel brave?

Communication and Language

Encourage listening by reading the story of ‘The Gruffalo’ one to one or in a group. Talk about the characters in the book. Can the children describe the Gruffalo? Can the children sequence the events in the story?                                                                                                       

Physical Development

How would a mouse, fox, owl, snake move? Encourage the children to move like these animals. Challenge children to manipulate, and shape brown play dough into Gruffalos. Provide enhancements, such as googly eyes, sticks, for children to create the Gruffalo.                 

Literacy

Read the story of ‘The Gruffalo’. As you read the story, draw attention to the repeated refrain about the Gruffalo’s description, can the children repeat it.

Mathematics

Can the children count how many animals the Gruffalo meets? Can the children order the characters by size? Who is big, who is small? Using the big ruler on the wall, measure the children and adults. Is anyone as short as the mouse, or as tall as the Gruffalo?                                                                                            

Understanding of the World 

Where do the animals live in the Gruffalo story? What other animals live in a wood? Using the picture of where the Gruffalo characters live, can the children put the characters in their correct habitats.

Expressive Art and Design

Make paper plate or handprint Gruffalo heads.   Using the little forest area, take the children to act out the story and see if they can find the Gruffalo.

Gruffalo, orange, eyes, black, tongue, toes, prickle, back, teeth, poisonous, wart, nose, tusks, jaws, purple, wart, knobbly, knees, claws, mouse, fox, owl, snake.