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Artifact
(My Grandma Farm Story Sack)

Mariam Juma Alaleeli.

Learning through Literature.
Antoinette Wiseman.
April 12, 2018

(Alaleeli, 2018).
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Contents:
Introduction ......................................................................................................................
Brief information about the story.....................................................................................
How the story related to the United Arab Emirate (UAE) culture ..................................
What make my story interesting.........................................................................................
Justification of the choice of props, activities and materials ................................................
Evaluation of the success of the project and recommendations...........................................
Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................
Story sack pictures ..............................................................................................................
Lesson plan ........................................................................................................................
Reference .............................................................................................................................
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According to Kelvin “Reading is an essential skill child must learn to become

successful at school” (Titus, n.d.). In other words, reading is advance the children mind

and support their fundamental skills in their life such as cognitive, communication,

language and thinking skills. ("Reading and Literacy," 2017) ("5 Reasons," n.d.). For

example, when children read and listen to the story they naturally develop their language

ability by learning a phonics and gather new vocabulary.

In my “Learning through Literature” course I assigned to write a story therefore, I

wrote a useful story that helps children in literacy and reading skills. The story name is

“My Grandma Farm” is about a girl called Mariam went to the farm with her grandma

and she heard animals sounds, the target age is 3 to 5 years old. This story is considered

as a poetry genre because the story includes a repletion of sentences and pattern of

animals’ sounds arranged. For example, “cluck cluck” here the child will repeat the

chicken sound. (look at figure 1). “Poetry is the language of the imagination, of feelings,

of emotional self-expression, of high art” ("Children's Literature," 2009). Consequently,

“My Grandma Farm” book is promoting child with imagination skill when they copy the

animals sound.

Figure 1:

(Alaleeli, 2018).
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I think it’s necessary to read an appropriate story that attached with children

culture and traditional because it “helps readers easily comprehend text with familiar

language and it helps them to have an awareness and knowledge about their culture and

their life experiment. ("On Reading," 2004). That’s why I made my story attaches to

United Arab Emirates (UAE) traditional in different aspects. Firstly, I choose characters

that wear UAE clothes. For example, the grandma in the story wears the Burqa, scarf and

long dress so, Emeriti children when they see the picture they will easily identify this is a

grandma. (look at figure 2). Secondly, the story event occurred in UAE society. For

instance, the story narrative a girl went to the farm with her grandma and in our society,

we go to the farm with our grandma. Thirdly, I chose the animals that provided in must

farms in UAE which are camel, cow, sheep, dog, and chicken. Furthermore, I designed

my story with familiarizing environments in the UAE which is the desert environment.

For example, page 2 says “Mariam went to her grandma farm” the environment was like

the desert because it shows the sand and a desert plant. Moreover, I chose a common

name in UAE which is Mariam.

Figure 2:

(Alaleeli, 2018).
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There are many reasons make “My Grandma Farm” story interesting for kids which

are boys and girls love animals, the book is the colorful cover page and had a lot of

expressive and wonderful illustrations on every page, children love to repeat and imitate

sounds. According to Fisher & Natarella's (1982) and Terry's (1974) studies on children's

poetry preferences, they found that “Children preferred poems that had pronounced sound

patterns of all kinds” ("Teaching Poetry," 2009). For example, “grunt grunt”. The story

encourages children to learn the animals cover by touching the materials. For example, I

stick feathers in chicken picture so, here the children will know the chicken cover by

touching and seeing. Link to Reggio philosophy “Children learn best through a multi-

sensory approach”. (Spielgaben, 2013). Furthermore, I set my story to develop and

motivate children with thinking and cognitive skill because I hide animal’s pictures by

putting coloring paper consequently, when I will say the animals sound the children will

try to think what animal made this sound.

They are justifications of choice the specific equipment’s and activities for my

“story sack”. Firstly, because it’s suitable and respect a UAE culture. For example, in a

coloring book, I didn’t print pig animals because it’s forbidden in our religion. However,

I choose UAE animals so, that shows a respect. (look at figure 3,4)

Figure 3: Figure 4:

(Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018).

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Secondly, all materials are appropriate and safety for 3 to 5 years child. For example,

in literacy activity I provided marker instead of sharp panicle where children in this

period may hurt themselves or their friends so, I ensured to pick safe materials for this

age. (look at figure 5).

Figure 5:

(Alaleeli, 2018).

Thirdly, the activities are set to develop children skills in the preoperational stage

which is the second stage in Piaget's theory of cognitive development. Promote mental

representation skill, in puzzle game children can grow their cognitive skill by trying to

solve the puzzle and arrange the animals’ pictures (look at figure 6). Promote imagination

and pretending skill, in role play center I prepared story characters puppets to promote

children to present the story events. (look at figure 7) Stated to Piaget he believed that 'In

the symbolic play, young children advance upon their cognitions about people, objects,

and actions and in this way construct increasingly sophisticated representations of the

world” (McLeod, 2014). Develop social ability, by planed for group work activity to

assist children to be more cooperation and share because as Piaget explained that “The

inability of young children to view transitions also leads them to be egocentric”.

("Piaget’s Theory," n.d.). For instance, in puzzle game the children will work as a group
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of 5 kids each one will take 1 envelop and arrange one animals puzzle and the rest group

members will wait for their turn so, this helps children to develop their social skills by

learning to respect others and collaborate with group members etc.

Figure 6: Figure 7:

(Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018).

Fourthly, because it’s interesting activities which encourage “Social interaction”

or “ZPD”. In other words “ZPD” mean what children can achieve without help and what

can achieve with help. According to Vygotsky’s, he explained, “a student can perform a

task under adult guidance or with peer collaboration” (Riddle, 2008). In other words, the

child can have a deep understanding when he works and gets help from another friend.

For example, in math activity, the children work in peer so if one of them don't know the

numbers name another peer will teach him and I think this is a successful method to

learn. In addition, the reason that makes the activities competition is applying “Positive

Reinforcement” approach as Skinner said, “Positive reinforcement strengthens a behavior

by providing a consequence individual finds rewarding” (McLeod, 2015). For example,

in science activity I will give star for the child who will finish the activity first therefore, I

will create a spirit of competition among children that will make the activity funny for

them. Furthermore, visual and colorful activity are more inserting for children that why I
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papered activities to support (VAK) which mean visual, auditory and kinesthetic learning

styles. Visual style means children learn by seeing pictures and videos to have a deep

understanding. (The VAK Learning System). For instance, science activity children learn

animals and their foods through see pictures. kinesthetic is learn through moving, doing,

and touching. (The VAK Learning System). For example, in literacy activity, the children

will use their small muscles such as hand to hold the marker. (look at figure 5). In my

view, a kinesthetic style more effective for children. Link to Waldorf Schooling Methods

he believes that “Children need to learn through all senses” (Spielgaben, 2013).

Fifthly, there are activities that support reading ability through bottom-up reading

strategies. Stated to Aronoff and J. Rees-Miller “Bottom-up theories hypothesize that

learning to read progress from children learning the parts of the language (letters) to

understanding the whole text (meaning).” (Aronoff & Miller, 2001). For instance, in the

puzzle game, if the child doesn't have a background about puzzle word the child will read

the “puzzle” word by reading each letter sound \p\, \u\, \z \, \z\, \l\, \e\ then blend the letter

sound together to form “puzzle” word. Stated to Aronoff and J. Rees-Miller “Top-down

reading strategies is model emphasizes the use of background knowledge to predict

connect” (Aronoff & Miller, 2001). For example, in literacy activity, the children will

easily read the animals words like “cow” because he or she has already a background

about animals through hearing the “My Grandma Farm”.

There are strengths areas and weaknesses aspect in my story sack project. In my

view, I think, the story is fabulous, attractive and interesting for children, it’s a colorful

and has nice images. I believe that my story helps children to develop their fundamental

skills which are imagination and physical. Imagination because I hide the animal’s
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pictures in the story, therefore, when the children hear an animal sound they will think

and imagen what this animal? (look at figure 8) Link to Waldorf Schooling Methods he

believed that “Imagination is at the heart of learning” (Spielgaben, 2013). Physical ability

because I hide animal’s pictures by the color paper as a door so, the child will use their

small muscles such as hand and fingers to open the door (look at figure 9). According to

“Reggio Schooling explained, “Children learn best through a multi-sensory approach”

(Spielgaben, 2013). In addition, the story text is simple and easy to children to

understand. Also, the pictures are expressive and match to the text that makes a child has

a deep understanding. Furthermore, the story is poetry because it’s has a sequence of

sentences repletion such as “Mariam heard” and sounds and I think children love a poetry

story. According to Fisher & Natarella's (1982) and Terry's (1974) studies on children's

poetry preferences, they found that “Most children preferred narrative poems over lyric

poems”. Furthermore, I prepared a successful literacy activity that promotes children with

writing skill and I think tracing activity is the best activity for kindergarten students

because it assists them to know the letter direction and recognize the capital and small

letter.

Figure 8: Figure 9:

(Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018).

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However, there are a weakness that I can change it for next time. I may change the

book size because it’s too big for children to hold it and flip it (look at figure 10) result of

that, in future, I will do the story in A3 size, so children can hold it easily and flexible. I

think I used a poor quality of materials that maybe fall if the child try pulls up strongly

such as pearl that I used to write a story name (look at figure 11). Consequently, in next

time I will turn to sewing the story name to save the story for a long time. Furthermore, I

prepared an easy math activity that children will finish it quickly and they will sit without

doing anything which is wrong (look at figure 12). Therefore, next time I will plan on

steam activity which is referred to make the activity that supports and encourage children

to think, observing, problem-solving, building, creating and exploring. (Carla, 2017). For

instance, I can do account operation activity instead of counting because the operation

activity will encourage children to think and solving the operation problems when they

think who many animals I should add to get 4 as an example.

Figure 10: Figure 11: Figure 12:

(Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018).

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To sum up, I believe that reading story aloud approach has a positive effect on

children reading skill. The importance of reading aloud approach supports children to

learn what fluid and expressive reading sound like. “Reading aloud and sharing stories

with your child is a great way to spend time together. Reading and storytelling also helps

promote language, literacy and brain development” (Network, 2017)

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Figure 13: This picture show what my story sack involved.

(Alaleeli, 2018).

Figure 14: Science Figure 15: Math Figure 16: Literacy

Activity Activity Activity

(Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018).

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Figure 17: Puppets for playing in role play center.

(Alaleeli, 2018).

Figure 18: Puzzle Game Figure 19: Coloring Book

(Alaleeli, 2018). (Alaleeli, 2018)

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Lesson Plan

Name: Mariam Juma.

Professional Development Plan

(What do YOU need to work on to grow professionally?)

Develop children literacy.

1. Choose and describe an aspect from a teaching competency that you need to work on (Goal)

My target is to develop and support children literacy by apply different techniques to children.
2. Describe what you will do to help achieve your goal (Strategies Used)

I will apply several techniques to develop children writing and reading skills by prepare writing activity where children can
have a chance to learn who to hold the marker and be aware of letter direction. Also, I will encourage children to read the words
by apply “Synthetic Phonics” approach.
3. Describe how you can tell if you’re achieving your goal (Evidence)

I will know if I achieve my goal by observing children when they write animals words in literacy activity. Also, I will observe
children when they try to read the words.
Grade Level: Subject: Learning Outcome (MOE code and words):
By the end of the lesson children will be able to:
Kg 2-A English - Name the farm animals.
- KLPA1: listen to and generate rhyming words.
- KLTC2: listen and respond to various texts that are read aloud.
- KLTC1: follow two-step directions. (ADEC, 2014)

- K1NS3: count sets of up to 5 objects using one to one correspondence.

(ADEC, 2014)

- KWC3: hold pencil or marker efficiently to begin approximated

writing. (ADEC, 2014)

- Write animals names which includes: camel, cow, sheep, dog and
chicken.

- Classifying and recognize farm animal’s food.

- Solve the farm animals puzzle.

- Develop thinking and cognitive skills.

Resources (what materials/equipment will you and the Preparation (what do you need to make or check before
students use? Be specific) class?)

The materials I will be used in this lesson the following
things: story, puppets. The equipment’s the student will
use are 5 cards that encourage counting skills, clips, 5
cards each card has one animal words and space for
copying the word, markers, erasers, foods pictures,
- I will prepare for this lesson by providing the activity
materials also, bring the story and puppets.
Key vocabulary
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animal’s pictures, puzzle poster, animal’s pictures, Through this lesson children will develop their language through
envelopes, colours, colouring book and box. learning the following words:

- From the story: Farm, camel, cow, sheep, dog, chicken,

heard.

- Materials names: clips, cards, and box.

Introduction (warmer activity + teacher active engagement)

- I will start the lesson with the morning greetings, weather and days of the week as well as months of
the year.

- I will tell the student what we have in English period by saying “today we will listen to the lovely
story and I prepared interesting activities for you”.

- I will encourage children to the story by asking them a different type of questions. For example, what
do you see in the coverage? What do you think the story about? Can you find anything with white
colour in class? Etc.

- I will start reading the story for children and I will let them imitate the animals sounds.

- I will encourage children imagination and think by asking questions. For example, I will say the cow
Time: 10 min

sound which is “moo moo” and I will ask them who is this animal?

- I will explain the centre activities in the circle area clearly and will model it to make sense.
Whole

- I will request children to translate to the centres to apply the activity.

Independent Experience (small group activity 1)

Low Activity:

Colouring picture activity- creativity centre.

What teacher do:

- I will provide the materials need which are colouring book has a farm animals picture and colours.

- I will give children freedom to paint with their own creativity.

Whole
- I will document children work by collect their colouring book and shear it with others.
Time:20 min
What children do:

- The children will paint the animals by use colors.

- They will develop their creative skills.

Low Activity:

Math activity: count the animals 1to 5- math centre.

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What teacher do:

- I will provide the materials for children which are clops and counting cards.

- I will observe children abilities when they apply the activity.

- I will ask the children questions to evaluate their understanding of counting and numbers. For
instance, how many dogs in the card? Can you show me number 5 in your hand? Etc.

What children do:

- Each child will work induvial and have clips and 5 cards.

- They will count the animals shows in the cards and hang the clips according to the number of animals.
For example, if there are 4 cows in the card the child will hang 4 clips.

- The will provide answers to my questions.

Independent Experience (small group activity 2)

Middle Activity:

Literacy activity: writing and trace animals words- writing centre.

What teacher do:

- I will provide the materials which are markers and cards of writing.

- I will observe children while they are implementing the activity and evaluate their skills.

- I will prise children to reinforcement them.

What children do:

- Each child will work as induvial.

- Each child will have marker and 5 cards.

- They will start writing the animals words.

Middle Activity:

Role play activity: children act and imitate animals sound and interduce the story events- Role play centre.

What teacher do:

- I will provide the animals puppets

- I observe children.

What children do:

- The children will respond to the instructions.

- The children will act and imitate the animals sound.

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- The children will present the story events.

Independent Experience (small group activity 3)

High Activity:

Science activity: Farm animals food- science centre.

What teacher do:

- I will provide the materials need for a science activity.

- I will observe children knowledge and abilities through they are implementing the activity.

What children do:

- The child will have card has 5 of animal’s farm and the box has s foods pictures.

- The child will match the animals with their foods. For example, the sheep picture with grass.

- The child will stack the pictures

Independent Experience (small group activity 4)

High Activity:

Puzzle game- construct and building centre.

What teacher do:

- I will observe and encourage children by use positive reinforcement.

What children do:

- The child will take one envelope that has a name of one animal in it.

- The child will match the right envelope in right place in the puzzle poster.

- The child will take the small piece of the animal picture from the envelope and start to recognize and
arrange it.

- The child will complete the rest.

7min

- I will choose 5 children and I will give each of them puppet and I will request them to say what
animals they have and say it sound. For example, if Ahmed has the dog he has to say, “this is a dog
and he says woof woof” and so on.
Closing

Time:

Assessment

I will evaluate children understanding by observing their skills when they do the activities and answering the questions.
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References:
ADEC (Abu Dhabi Education Council) 2014, Learning outcomes Abu Dhabi: ADEC

Alaleeli, M. (2018, April 9). Story sack activities [Pictures].

Almehairi, F. (n.d.). Grandma [Illustration]. Retrieved from

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/418905202812674364/?lp=true

Appuseries. (2010, June 15). Animal sounds - Camel [Video file]. Retrieved from
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RbBmEc04Ic&pbjreload=10

Aronoff, & Miller, R. (2001). Reading. Retrieved from

https://pages.wustl.edu/files/pages/imce/readingandla

nguagelab/Treiman%20(2001)%20-%20Reading.pdf

Carla. (2017, January 9). Engineering for preschoolers & STEM activities.

Retrieved from file:///C:/Users/H00297920/Desktop/

209%20Self%20Help%20(Additional%20Handout).pdf

Chicken cartoon [Photograph]. (2017). Retrieved from

https://ar.pngtree.com/freepng/hen-and-eggs_1751842.html

Cute cow cartoon stock vector [Illustration]. (2018). Retrieved from

https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-cute-cow-cartoon-
illustration-image30568206
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5 reasons why it’s important to read to children. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/why-its-important-to-read-to-children/

Farm animals and the sounds they make. (2012, February 11). Retrieved from
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/farm-animals-and-the-sounds-they-make-
6063411

Free Cartoon Dog Vector Clip Art [Photograph]. (2013, May 31). Retrieved from
https://www.jamiesale-cartoonist.com/free-cartoon-dog-vector-clip-art/

funny eid-ul-adha sheep cartoon [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/37084396907480613/?lp=true

McLeod, S. (2014). Preoperational stage. Retrieved from

https://www.simplypsychology.org/preoperational.html

Network, R. C. (2017). Reading and storytelling with babies and children. Retrieved
from raising children:
http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/reading.htm

On reading, learning to read, and effective reading. (2004, May 1). Retrieved from

http://www2.ncte.org/statement/onreading/

Piaget’s theory: Sensorimotor & preoperational stages. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://oli.cmu.edu/jcourse/workbook/activity/page?context=df3e72ee0a0001dc1c

9cb1c98dd390ae
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Reading and literacy in children. (2017, April). Retrieved from

https://www.mottchildren.org/posts/your-child/reading-and-literacy-children

Riddle, E. (2008, March 3). Lev vygotsky’s social development theory. Retrieved from

http://members.iinet.net.au/~aamcarthur/4_Mar_2008_files/Vygotskys_Social_De

velopment_Theory.pdf

Spielgaben. (2013). Comparison among Froebel, Montessori, Reggio Emilia and

Waldorf-Steiner Methods – Part 1. Retrieved August 31, 2016, from
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Teaching poetry to children. (2009). Retrieved from

http://www2.nkfust.edu.tw/~emchen/CLit/poetry_teaching.htm

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