Following his Gruffalo themed birthday yesterday, Cian asked to ‘write his own Gruffalo page’ today. Having just turned four, we got out the Gruffalo book and talked through his story ideas.

Resources

  • The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
  • Paper
  • Felt-tip pens
  • Scissors
  • Cut out head
  • Buttons
  • Grapat loose parts

Method

Cici told me that his ‘page about the Gruffalo’ was going to be about… himself!

We started off with thinking about the line, “His eyes are….”

Cian found his button eyes and a tongue from the loose parts basket.

Cian said he doesn’t have any purple prickles, but he does have hair.

“His eyes are grey,

His tongue is red.

He has brown hair all over his head.

Oh help, oh no!

It’s the Cici – Oh!”

Cian compared his knees and toes to the Gruffalo.

Cian said he doesn’t have a poisonous wart on the end of his nose…

“He has knobbly knees,

And nail varnished real toes.

And sometimes his finger sneaks up his nose.”

Cici explained that he didn’t have terrible tusks and claws, and didn’t have any terrible jaws. But he said his mouth is smiley and his teeth are clean.

“He hasn’t got any tusks, or any claws.

He’s not even got any terrible jaws.

His mouth is smiley, his teeth are pearly.

Who is this boy? It’s Cici Curley.”

I then asked Cian what else we should include in his story:

“He’s not three anymore, now he’s FOUR!

Lining up animals all over the floor.

Andy’s safari and dinosaurs too.

Knows more about sea creatures than me or you.

Oh help, oh no! It’s Cici Coo.”

Some other things he wanted in his story were that he likes singing and twirling and his stories are very long.

“Telling funny jokes, and stories so long.

Always ready to break in to song.

His singing’s great, his dancing’s twirly.

Who is this boy? It’s Cici Curley.”

The final thing he wanted mentioning was that he wants to play before the sun comes up.

He always wakes before the sun,

Ready to start a day of fun.

Despite waking up too early,

We love him —— this much ——

Our Cici Curley.

I wrote the story up for Daddy to read to the boys at bedtime.

DfES Early Learning Goals (2017)

Expressive arts and design

ELG 16 – Exploring and using media and materials:

Children safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function.

ELG 17 – Being imaginative:

Children use what they have learnt about media and materials in original ways, thinking about uses and purposes. They represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role-play and stories.