A Writing Root for Cave Baby

Overview and Outcomes:

This is a two-week Writing Root for Cave Baby by Julia Donaldson and Emily Gravett. The children begin by sharing experiences of times they have been ‘naughty’ or done ‘naughty’ things. Set up part of the classroom as a role-play area as the setting of ‘Cave Baby’. Have paper on the walls and paint available for children to paint ‘on the walls’. Allow for dressing up opportunities in this area as ‘cave-people’ (these could double-up as overalls!). Children will explore the text, looking at the various animals and joining in as the text is read, e.g. ‘Sabre-Toothed Tiger’. By the end of the first week, children will know the text and be able to retell it using puppets, small world etc. Children then go on to explore the features of single clause sentences and create their own which can be added as caption-sentences to the working wall, eventually retelling the story in sequences of sentences and writing sorry letters in role.

Synopsis of Text:

A hairy mammoth takes a cheeky little baby on a thrilling ride through a moonlit landscape populated by a sabre-toothed tiger, a leaping hare, a laughing hyena and even, just maybe, by a big brown bear...But where are they going? And what has it to do with the baby’s scribblings on the cave wall?

Text Rationale:

The text is a lyrical narrative that is set in the Stone Age and follows a mischievous baby who goes on an outdoor adventure and meets a plethora of animals, some of which are extinct. This book has links to PSHE, exploring behavioural expectations, as well as history, introducing children to the stone age. Julia Donaldson is a prolific author with a distinct style and Emily Gravett is a twice Kate Greenaway award-winning illustrator.

Links and themes:

Cave man, cave people, extinct animals, endangered animals, history, prehistoric, cave paintings, stone-age, stone-age man, behavioural expectations, wildlife

Date written: August 2014