Games and storysacks

Language games are animportant part of an early reading programme and can extend a variety of literacy skills. They provide an ideal vehicle for parents to support their children and are a lot of fun!

Games that might be included in a storysack are:

  • Bingo
  • Snap
  • Happy families
  • Phonic games
  • Matching
  • Jigsaws
  • Spot the difference
  • Sequencing
  • Wordsearch
  • Board games etc

Storysacks Planning Sheet

Book:

Main Characters:

Artefacts:

Non Fiction Book:

Audio-tape:

Game:

Parent Prompt Ideas:

Other information:

Storysacks – design and making tips

  • Make as many items as washable as possible.
  • Use sturdy card that will not bend in a sack.
  • Do not make flimsy items that may easily get damaged.
  • Try not to include tiny pieces that will quickly get lost.
  • Store items within the sack in smaller bags labelled with their contents.
  • Use permanent inks.
  • Cover all cards with fablon or get them laminated.
  • Include a contents list.

How can you enjoy the book together?

  • Talk about the book – discuss the cover, title, author, layout
  • Ask what they like about the book
  • What can they remember about the book
  • Read the story aloud
  • Talk about the illustrations
  • Act out the story with the artefacts
  • “What do you think will happen next?”
  • Point to the words with your fingerAsk your child to turn the pages
  • Focus on certain letters
  • Ask “ What has happened so far?”
  • Ask “Which was your favourite part?” and “Why?”

MAKE IT FUN!!!!!!!!!

Storysacks – Artifacts

Home Activity

Date:

Activity: List the main artifacts and soft toys etc you are intending on putting in the storysack and explain their purpose.

Artifacts / Purpose/relevance to storysack

What do I need to make Storysacks?

  • ENTHUSIASM – lots of it!!!!!
  • TIME – not as much as you might think, though I warn you they can become addictive
  • IDEAS – for games, activities, things to make and how to make them
  • A STORYSACK MENTALITY – this means you are now addicted! It happens when you don’t throw anything away without first considering if it might be useful for a Storysack!

The really good news is that, because you will be working together, what one person hasn’t got one week, another person will have! This is especially true of ideas and enthusiasm!

What does a storysack contain?


  • A cloth string pull bag
  • A young child’s fiction picture book
  • A non-fiction book relating to a theme in the picture book
  • Soft toy main characters
  • Artefacts relating to objects found in the story
  • A language game based on the story
  • An audio tape of the story
  • A parent prompt with suggested ideas for parent/child interactive reading