Reading Activities for First Graders: Silly and Scary Stories

This free set of reading activities for first graders uses silly and slightly spooky stories to build decoding, comprehension, and writing skills. Students listen, read aloud, discuss, and create their own short story while practicing phonics and clear sentence writing.

Overview

First grade students explore how authors create different feelings in stories. By comparing silly and scary texts, students learn how sound words, sentence patterns, and illustrations affect meaning. They also practice short-vowel reading patterns, prediction, and writing simple sentences.

Subject Connections

Students read literature, participate in speaking and listening discussions, write original sentences, and create a short narrative. Art supports storytelling through character creation and visualization.

Learning Goals

• Read simple patterned text with teacher support
• Identify silly versus scary story elements
• Decode short vowel words in CVC patterns
• Make predictions and retell events
• Write and edit a simple sentence

Materials

• Picture books with humorous or mild suspense themes
• Chart paper and markers
• Word cards with short vowel words
• Student journals or writing paper
• Crayons, glue, and craft supplies

Preparation

• Prepare a chart labeled “Silly” and “Scary”
• Create word cards with CVC words
• Select one read-aloud story for modeling

Teaching Procedure

Each session fits a standard class period of 45–50 minutes. The sequence runs across one school week.

Session 1 – Listening and Sorting Feelings

1. Teacher reads a humorous or suspenseful picture book aloud. Students listen and react to parts they find funny or surprising.
2. Activity: Teacher tells students they will be “story detectives.” Using picture cards and the Silly/Scary chart, students place each card in the correct column and explain why. Materials needed are printed picture cards and chart paper. Students physically move the cards and demonstrate understanding by giving one spoken reason.
3. Students orally retell one event from the story to a partner.

Session 2 – Sound Words and Reading

1. Teacher rereads short sections emphasizing sound words. Students repeat the words with expression.
2. Students read word cards containing short vowel patterns and sort them by vowel sound.
3. Teacher models decoding by slowly blending sounds while students echo read.

Session 3 – Prediction and Cause/Effect

1. Teacher pauses during a story and asks students to predict what happens next.
2. Activity: Teacher gives students three picture sequence cards from a story. Materials include printed cards and pencils. Students arrange the cards in order and draw one additional event they think could happen next. Students demonstrate learning by explaining their reasoning aloud.
3. Students write one simple sentence describing their favorite part.

Session 4 – Sentence Writing and Editing

1. Teacher models writing a sentence on chart paper, thinking aloud about capital letters, spacing, and punctuation.
2. Students write their own sentence in journals and reread it quietly.
3. Pairs check sentences using a simple checklist provided by the teacher.

Session 5 – Create a Story Character

1. Teacher explains that students will invent a silly or scary character.
2. Activity: Using paper, crayons, and craft materials, students build or draw a character and then write two sentences: where it lives and what it does. Students present their character to the class and read their sentences aloud.
3. Class discusses whether each character belongs in a silly or scary story.

Assessment

Teacher observes reading participation, listens to oral retellings, and checks written sentences. Students should correctly decode simple words, identify story mood, and produce a readable sentence.

Differentiation

• Provide sentence frames for struggling readers
• Allow dictation instead of writing
• Offer additional decoding practice with picture clues

Grade Adaptation

Kindergarten students can focus on listening and drawing responses instead of writing. Stronger first graders can write three-sentence stories. Grade 2 students can add a short paragraph and include beginning, middle, and end structure.

Extension Ideas

• Perform a short reader’s theater using student stories
• Create a class book of silly and scary characters
• Play a vocabulary matching game with sound words