Acorn Adventure Lesson Slides Pre-K Story Detectives
Read-Aloud & Retell
Today's Read-Aloud Adventure
Pip’s Big Acorn Hunt
Put on your detective ears! We will listen, ask questions, and retell Pip’s story together.
Who? What? Where?
1
Listen closely
2
Find the clues
3
Retell with gestures
Our Detective Clue Words
Special words that help our brains understand stories
Clue Chart
WHO?
A Person or Animal
“Who is in the story today?”
WHAT?
A Thing or Action
“What did Pip lose?”
WHERE?
A Place
“Where is Pip playing?”
Detective chant: “Who is the friend? What did they do? Where did they go? Clues help you!”
Step 1: FIRST
Under the Tall Oak Tree
Look & Listen
First , Pip the little brown squirrel hopped into the grassy park.
Under the giant green tree, Pip found a big, shiny, golden acorn !
“Yum, yum!” Pip cheered. “My favorite snack!”
Pip the Squirrel
WHERE is Pip?
Under the big oak tree!
Retell Gesture: Hold your hands up like tiny squirrel paws!
Step 2: NEXT
Roll, Roll, Whoosh!
Oh No!
Next , whoosh! The acorn slipped from Pip’s paws!
It rolled down the bumpy hill: roll, roll, roll , straight into the colorful garden!
“Oh no!” cried Pip. “Where did my acorn roll?”
Rolling Away!
WHAT happened?
The acorn rolled down the hill!
Retell Gesture: Roll your hands around and around fast!
Step 3: THEN
In the Pumpkin Patch
Detective Eyes
Then , Pip met Daisy Duck in the garden.
Together they searched behind the tall vines and peeked behind a round orange pumpkin .
“Quack! Look right there behind the pumpkin!”
Found Behind Pumpkin!
WHERE was it hiding?
Behind the round pumpkin!
Retell Gesture: Cup your hands around your eyes like binoculars!
Step 4: LAST
Picnic with Friends
Happy Ending
Last , Pip hugged Daisy Duck with a cheerful squeak!
They sat on a cozy picnic blanket and shared delicious crunchy seeds and sweet red berries together.
“Stories are better when we share them with friends!”
Sharing a Picnic
WHO shared the treat?
Pip and Daisy Duck!
Retell Gesture: Pat your tummy and give yourself a big cozy hug!
Detective Checkup!
Point to or say your answer together
Question Time
WHO?
Who was searching for the acorn?
Pip the Squirrel
WHAT?
What rolled down the green hill?
The Shiny Acorn
WHERE?
Where was the acorn hiding?
Behind the Pumpkin
Great detective work! You answered Who, What, and Where!
Let's Retell the Whole Story!
Stand up, detectives! Use your voice and your body
Sequence
1
FIRST
Pip finds acorn
Squirrel Paws
2
NEXT
Acorn rolls away
Roll Arms
3
THEN
Find behind pumpkin
Binocular Eyes
4
LAST
Share snack picnic
Big Warm Hug
Now turn to your Readers Workbook to show what you know!
Workbook Time
Story Detectives Readers Workbook Pre-K Reading Comprehension
Story Detectives Workbook
Name:
Date:
Listen to your teacher. Look at each clue and circle the matching picture!
Part 1
CLUE 1
WHO is looking for an acorn snack?Circle 1
Pip Squirrel furry friend
Finny Fish swimming friend
Cleo Cat sleeping friend
CLUE 2
WHAT rolls down the bumpy hill?Circle 1
Big Red Car beep beep
Shiny Acorn roll roll roll
Heavy Book story pages
CLUE 3
WHERE was the acorn hiding?Circle 1
Behind Pumpkin in garden
Inside Bed under pillow
Up in Space with stars
Story Detective Badge: Color each star you solved!
Page 1 of 2
Story Sequence Practice
Retell Pip’s Adventure
Name:
Date:
What happened First, Next, and Last? Write 1, 2, or 3 in the circles!
Part 2
Rolling Away!
The acorn rolled down the bumpy hill: roll, roll, roll!
Step Box
Found the Acorn
Pip hopped under the tall tree and found a big acorn.
Step Box
Sharing Picnic
Pip and Daisy Duck ate crunchy berries and snacks together.
Step Box
Draw Your Favorite Part of Pip’s Story
Pre-K Artist Space
Tell a teacher or friend about your picture!
Oral Retell Check
Teacher Stamp:
Who / What / Where ✓ Sequenced 1-2-3 ✓ Oral Retell ✓
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Story Detectives Teacher Guide Teacher Facilitation Guide
Story Detectives Lesson Guide
20–25 Min • Pre-K / Early K
Target Skill 1: Answering Wh- Questions Identify Who (characters), What (events/objects), and Where (settings).
Target Skill 2: Retelling Sequence Reconstruct story chronology using First, Next, Last with physical gestures and pictures.
Read-Aloud Script & Dialogic Prompts
Display Acorn Adventure Slides during reading
BEFORE READING • Hook & Detective Setup Slides 1–2
Say: “Good morning, Story Detectives! Today we are reading Pip’s Big Acorn Hunt . Detectives always look for clues! When I hold up my magnifying glass, tell me: WHO is in the story, WHAT happens, and WHERE they are playing!” Teach the detective chant once.
DURING READING • Pause & Check Prompts Slides 3–6
Slide 3 (FIRST): “Pip hops under the tall oak tree and finds a giant shiny acorn!”
Prompt: “WHO is under the tree? Put your paws up like Pip!” • Target: Pip the squirrel.
Slide 4 (NEXT): “Whoosh! The acorn slips and rolls down the bumpy hill: roll, roll, roll!”
Prompt: “WHAT rolled down the hill? Roll your arms with me!” • Target: The acorn.
Slide 5 (THEN): “Pip and Daisy Duck search behind the round orange pumpkin in the garden!”
Prompt: “WHERE was the acorn hiding? Make binocular eyes!” • Target: Behind the pumpkin.
AFTER READING • 4-Step Kinesthetic Retell Slide 8
Invite all students to stand up in circle formation. Lead choral retelling with physical movements:
1. FIRST Paws up: Pip finds acorn
2. NEXT Roll arms: Acorn rolls away
3. THEN Binocular eyes: Pumpkin patch
4. LAST Hug self: Friends share snack
Transition directly to Readers Workbook following kinesthetic retell.
Guide Page 1 of 2
Assessment & Support
Differentiation & Observation
Formative Tools
Tiered Differentiation Strategies
Emerging / Multilingual
Allow students to point to the picture option on Workbook Page 1 instead of circling.
Provide physical objects (e.g., toy acorn, plastic pumpkin) as tangible story anchors.
Model the gesture first; accept gestural retelling in place of verbal output.
Story Clue Picture Cards Hands-On Manipulatives
Story Clue Picture Cards
Name:
Carefully cut along the dashed lines - - - to make your 6 story cards!
Cut Sheet
WHO CLUE
Pip the Squirrel
The hungry little friend searching for a snack.
WHAT CLUE
Shiny Acorn
The big golden treat that slipped away.
WHERE CLUE
Tall Oak Tree
The shady green spot where Pip started.
1. FIRST
Found Under Tree
Pip found the acorn under the big branches.
2. NEXT
Rolled Down Hill
Whoosh! The acorn rolled: roll, roll, roll!
3. LAST
Shared with Daisy
Found at the pumpkin and enjoyed a picnic!
Play Idea: Use cards to act out the story on Page 2 or glue to craft sticks as puppets!
Page 1 of 2
Story Detective Mat
Card Sorting & Retell Mat
Detective:
MAT 1
Who, What, Where Sorting Zones
Place or paste matching clue cards
WHO?
Pip Squirrel Card
WHAT?
Shiny Acorn Card
WHERE?
Oak Tree Card
MAT 2
Story Retelling Sequence Train
Place cards in 1, 2, 3 order
1 FIRST
Found Under Tree
2 NEXT
Rolled Down Hill
3 LAST
Shared with Daisy
Master Story Detective! I can sort clues and retell what happened!
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