Tell a Tiny Story
Tell a Tiny Story
Today we share three picture moments: find a ball, roll it gently with an adult nearby, and put it away.
Today's Approach
Amara is about 2 years and 5 months old. Keep each guided activity to 3–8 minutes. Looking, pointing to any scene, copying one gesture, saying one word, or declining all count. The adult supplies the story; this is not a memory or sequencing test.
A4 Teaching Picture
Open the original image to download or print
How to use it
Print on portrait A4 paper with “Fit to page,” or show it full-screen. Use only the poster. Tell the three-picture story slowly, or stay with whichever card Amara notices. She does not need to remember the order, arrange pictures, or handle a real ball.
Goals
- Chinese: understand “找到球、滚球、收好、开始、中间、结尾.”
- English: meet
find ball,roll ball,put away,beginning,middle, andend. - Language: hear the adult connect two or three pictured actions into a tiny narrative.
- Early math: touch exactly one basket, two balls, and three boxes in the bottom row.
- Life skill: meet “put away” as a familiar, supported routine.
Materials
- Only the A4 teaching picture above.
- No real ball, basket, box, story cards, or loose object is required.
1. Chinese Picture Talk
Time: 5–8 minutes.
Adult narration:
- “开始，小朋友发现了球。”
- “中间，他轻轻滚球，大人在旁边。”
- “结尾，他把球放进盒子，收好了。”
Invite one response: “你想看哪一幅？” Any card—or no choice—is acceptable.
2. English Time
Time: 3–5 minutes.
| English | 中文 | Possible response |
|---|---|---|
find ball | 找到球 | Point to first scene |
roll ball | 滚球 | Make one rolling gesture |
put away | 收好 | Point to box |
beginning | 开始 | Look at any story page |
middle | 中间 | Look or gesture |
end | 结尾 | Rest hands |
Model: Find the ball. Roll the ball. Put it away. Do not remove a card and ask what comes next.
3. Early Math: Basket, Balls, Boxes
Time: 3–5 minutes.
- Under 1, touch the one basket.
- Under 2, touch the two balls separately.
- Under 3, touch the three boxes separately.
Count only the bottom pictures, not basket weave, ball colours, box lids, books, or upper scenes.
4. Seated Action: One Rolling Gesture
Time: 3–5 minutes beside an adult.
Keep both hands empty. Roll one relaxed hand over the other once to represent roll, then rest. Watching, pointing, or declining is enough; no running or floor ball is involved.
5. Life Skill: Put Away With Support
Time: 3–5 minutes.
Point to the PUT AWAY picture and say: “收好，结束。” / Put away; all done. This introduces routine language only. Do not require Amara to tidy real objects to complete the activity.
Picture Story Only
Do not use a real ball or loose props, and do not ask Amara to reproduce, order, or memorise the story. Avoid throwing, chasing, running, scoring, correction, or treating one sequence response as proof of learning.
Bedtime Recall
- “你想再看找到球、滚球还是收好？”
Find, roll, or put away?
The adult may retell one chosen scene; no recall answer is needed.