The Playhouse Level 19-20

In The Playhouse, a young girl's discovery of forgotten objects in the dirt leads her grandparents to share the history of Mrs McCoy's old shop. This charming narrative blends present-day exploration with oral history to reveal how everyday artefacts can connect us to the past. Told in the first person, the story features a clear beginning, middle, and end, supported by illustrations that enhance meaning and provide additional detail. The use of past and present tense reflects shifts in time, while the sepia-toned illustrations further distinguish historical moments. Prepositions and descriptive language are used richly throughout, and the concept of pretending adds an imaginative dimension. Ideal for guided reading, this text encourages discussions about cause and effect, historical context, and setting descriptions, making it a valuable cross-curricular literacy resource.

Educational Benefits:

• Encourages exploration of narrative structure and historical context
• Supports comprehension of tense shifts and descriptive language
• Promotes discussion on relationships and intergenerational storytelling
• Builds vocabulary through the use of prepositions and compound words

Classroom Ideas:

• Create a timeline of events based on artefacts found in the story
• Compare and contrast present and past scenes using illustrations
• Role-play interviews to explore oral history
• Write about an object from home that has a special story

Information:

• Ages: 7-8
• Size: 15cm x 17cm
• Pages: 16
• Reading Level: 19-20 (Purple)