✏️ Nursery · Writing & pencil control · Ages 3–4 · about 2 weeks Dates: to

Marks for a Two-Part Story

Goal: Use marks or shapes for two connected story moments and tell someone what each part means.

For parents: Your child can tell a story through scribbles, shapes, gestures or home-language words. No neat pictures, letters or fixed grip are expected. Use intact chunky crayons with an adult nearby. Offer to write their words beside their marks only with permission. Two moments are enough; let them change the story.

Do together

  1. A mark for the beginning

    You need: Paper and intact chunky crayons

    Fold a sheet into two broad spaces and open it flat. Invent a small story together: a toy sets off to visit someone. Your child makes a mark or shape in the first space. Ask what is happening, accepting pointing or an action.

  2. Something happens next

    You need: The same sheet and crayons

    Invite a next moment, such as the toy arriving. Your child adds marks in the second space. They might choose a line for travelling or a round mark for a face. Follow their meaning rather than asking them to copy your picture.

  3. Read our marks back

    You need: The two-part picture

    Point to each space in turn while your child tells or acts the story. With permission, write a few of their words beside the marks and read them back. Ask whether the words match their idea. Help change them if the story has changed.

Talk about it

  • What happens in this part?
  • What would you like to happen next?
  • Do my words match your idea?

Words to use

  • story
  • mark
  • shape
  • first
  • next
  • tell
  • change

Play (optional)

  • Trace It
    Pre-writing
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on one A4 page, with space to write

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We noticed:

wasilearn.com/learn/nursery/marks-for-a-two-part-story · free home learning, ages 2–7