Oxford Reading Tree: Branch Library: Traditional Tales: The Three Billy Goats Gruff (Guided Reading Edition)
Oxford Reading Tree: Storybooks Series
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What’s inside...
Val Biro's delightful and ever popular traditional tales have been adapted for classroom use, with each of the six stories available in both big book format for shared reading and smaller format for guided reading. The big books feature challenging language and layout typical of traditional stories, while the text in the smaller books has been simplified for the average child. Notes by literacy consultant Julie Carr provide teaching ideas, and the books are categorized by suitable age ranges: 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' and 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff' for 5-6 year olds, 'Jack and the Beanstalk' and 'The Donkey that Sneezed' for 6-7 year olds, and 'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' and 'The Magic Doctor' for 7-8 year olds.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-9
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Big Billy Goat Gruff
Middle Billy Goat Gruff
Little Billy Goat Gruff
The Troll
Discussion points
Why do you think the troll was guarding the bridge? What would you do if you were one of the goats?
How did the goats work together to get past the troll? Can teamwork help solve problems in real life too?
What lesson can we learn from the way the goats handled the situation with the troll?
How do you think the story would change if the troll was friendly?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use different voices for each character to make the reading more dynamic and engaging.
After reading, ask your child to draw their favorite scene from the book. This will help them remember the story better and stimulate their creativity.
Encourage your child to think about alternative endings to the story, or what might happen next if the story continued.
Discuss the emotions each character might be feeling at different points in the story to help your child develop empathy and understanding.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving
Explanation: In the story, the goats need to cross the bridge to reach greener pastures but are confronted by a troll. They use strategic thinking to handle the situation, sending the smallest goat first and outsmarting the troll.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of thinking through problems and finding creative solutions, preparing them for challenges in school and daily interactions.
Example Lesson: Courage and Bravery
Explanation: The goats show bravery by facing the troll instead of avoiding the bridge. The eldest goat ultimately confronts and overcomes the troll.
Real-World Application: This teaches children the value of facing their fears and standing up to challenges, which can be applied to situations like trying new activities or standing up to bullies.
Example Lesson: Cooperation
Explanation: The goats work together to devise a plan to get past the troll. Each goat builds on the previous one's efforts, showcasing teamwork.
Real-World Application: Children learn the significance of working together and supporting each other, applicable in group projects, sports teams, and family tasks.
Example Lesson: Resourcefulness
Explanation: The goats use their surroundings and their wits to deal with the troll, showing how to use available resources to solve problems.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to think on their feet and use whatever resources they have at their disposal to manage difficult situations.
Example Lesson: Persistence
Explanation: Despite the danger posed by the troll, the goats persist in their goal to reach the greener pasture, showing determination.
Real-World Application: This highlights the importance of persistence and determination in achieving goals, helping children to stay motivated in their educational pursuits and personal goals.