Text Talk Lesson~Goldilocks and The Three Bears

Text Talk Lesson for

GOLDILOCKS and THE THREE BEARS

Retold and illustrated by James Marshall

Puffin Books, 1998 

 

SUMMARY:  Goldilocks and the Three Bears is a classic story about a little girl and her adventures when she happens upon a house in the forest, not just any house though, it turns out to be the three bears house.  In this particular story Goldilocks is sent by her mother to buy muffins for the village and is specifically told not to take the short cut.  However, Goldilocks being the naughty little girl that she is doesn’t listen to her mother’s request not to take the short cut and ends up at the three bear’s charming house in the forest.  Goldilocks decides to make herself at home and she makes a mess of the bear’s house.  She eats their porridge, sits in their chairs, and even breaks baby bears chair, and if that’s not enough she falls asleep in one of their beds.  When the bears finally return home they are very surprised to find such a mess and are even more surprised to find the little girl responsible for it all still asleep upstairs.  Goldilocks was awakened by Papa bears frightful roar and was out the window in a flash never to be seen or heard from again. 

FOCUS:  To discover what consequences Goldilocks will face for not listening to her mother and breaking her promise. 

COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS:

COVER:  Show children the cover and read the title.  Ask the children if they know the story of Goldilocks and The Three Bears.  Ask them to tell you what they remember about the original story. Then begin reading the story.

Page 2: (1) What do you think it means when it says Goldilocks was one of those naughty little girls who do exactly as they please? (She doesn’t listen to what others tell her to do and she gets in trouble because of it.) 

Page 3: (1) Do you think Goldilocks will take the shortcut even though she promised she wouldn’t?

                 (2)What do you think will happen if she takes the shortcut?

Page 4: (1) Charming means nice looking or inviting.  So what do you think made the brown bears house so charming? (Answers will differ.)

Page 9: (1) (Show picture) Can anyone share what they think might happen when Goldilocks tastes the biggest bowl or porridge? (It burns her tongue, or she might spit it out.)

Page 11: (1) Goodness gracious! Goldilocks made a big mess, didn’t she!

Page 15: (1) Oh no! What has Goldilocks done now? (She broke the little chair into pieces.)

Page 21: (1) How do you think the bears feel when they walk into their house and see such a mess? (Answers will vary.)

Page 23: (1) Does anyone have an idea of what they think the word smithereens might mean? (Very small broken pieces)

Page 28: (1) What do we see here? (The bears found Goldilocks and she is scared and the bears don’t look very happy either.)

Page 29: (1) Do you think the bears will ever see or hear from Goldilocks again? (No!)

 

Wrap-up:

            What do you think of all the things Goldilocks did in the story?

• Was it nice of Goldilocks to do the things she did?
• What are some things she could have done differently in the story?
• Do you think Goldilocks learned her lesson in the end?  Does she feel she should have listened to her mother?

VOCABULARY: 

Charming

Gobbled

Smithereens

 

Charming:  In the story, while describing the brown bears house, the word charming was used.  Charming means “having the power to delight or attract people.” Say the word charming.

• Let’s all take a minute and think of some things that might be charming.  Now can anyone raise their hand and share with the class something they feel is charming.  (Allow children to give their answers)

So what is our word again? Charming

 

Gobbled:  In the story, when Goldilocks is eating the porridge, it says “In fact she liked it so much she gobbled it all up”.  Gobbled means “to eat something quickly and greedily.”  Say the word gobbled. 

• Think about some things you might gobble up.  

                   ~Would you gobble up ice cream or carrots?

                   ~Would you gobble up apples or lemons?

 

So what is our word again?  Gobbled

 

 

 

Smithereens:  In the story, Goldilocks sat in Baby Bear’s chair and broke it to smithereens.  Smithereens mean “very small broken pieces”.  Say the word smithereens. 

• I am going to name some things, tell me if you think they could be broke into smithereens.  If you think they can be broke into smithereens, “show a thumbs up”.  If you think they cannot be broke into smithereens, “show a thumbs down”. 

                              ~A mirror (thumbs up)

                              ~A book (thumbs down)

                              ~A desk (thumbs up)

So what is our word again?  Smithereens

 

Now let’s take a look at all three words again. They were charming, gobbled, and smithereens. 

• Would you say colorful flowers are charming?
• Would you be more likely to gobble up something sweet or something sour?
• If you say something is broke into smithereens, do you mean it is in small pieces or is it in large pieces?