Boost Literacy Skills with Stuck by Oliver Jeffers: Engaging Classroom Activities
This post delves into Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, which provides an excellent platform for enhancing literacy skills in students. The children's book Stuck offers a rich resource for teaching literacy concepts like sequencing, prediction, and cause-and-effect. Read on to discover how you can utilize Stuck by Oliver Jeffers in your classroom to make learning a fun and interactive experience.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase anything through them, I will get a small referral fee and you will be supporting me and my blog at no extra cost to you, so thank you! You can find more information here.
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers Summary
Everything was fine in the children's book Stuck until Floyd got his kite stuck in a tree. He pulled, tugged, and swung, but the kite stayed stuck in the tree. He thought throwing his shoe would dislodge the kite, but it didn’t. Floyd attempts to use more outrageous objects (and people) to free the kite and throws up a door, a milkman, an orangutan, an ocean liner, a whale, a fire engine, and much more!
Floyd has one final idea and runs off to get a saw. He throws the saw into the trees, and the kite suddenly falls from the tree (because it is full!) Floyd is delighted and runs off to play. Exhausted, he goes to bed, sure he has forgotten something.
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers Activities
The children’s book Stuck promotes cause and effect, responsible decision-making and initiative, reflecting on how problem-solving and perseverance can lead to success.
This post will focus on Stuck activities for character traits, cause and effect, and sequencing.
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers Read-Aloud Questions
- What problem does Floyd face at the beginning of the story?
- How does Floyd try to solve his problem initially?
- Can you predict what will happen when Floyd throws his shoe into the tree?
- How did the problem change when Floyd threw his shoe into the tree?
- Why do you think Floyd decided to throw other objects into the tree?
- Can you list the items that Floyd threw into the tree in the order they got stuck?
- How do Floyd’s actions cause more problems?
- What was the most surprising thing that got stuck in the tree? Why was it surprising?
- How do you think Floyd feels as more things get stuck in the tree?
- What would you have done if you were Floyd and your kite got stuck in the tree?
- How does the author use humour in the story? Can you find an example?
- How does the story end? Were you expecting that outcome?
- What lesson, if any, do you think Floyd learned by the end of the story?
- Can you think of a time when you tried to solve a problem that didn't go as planned? What was the result?
- How does the story show that every action has a consequence (cause and effect)? Can you give specific examples from the book?
Stuck Sequencing Activities
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers presents a clear sequence of events, which can help students understand narrative structures and improve their comprehension skills.
Clear Chronological Order: The events in Stuck happen in a clear chronological order, making it easier for students to understand and practice sequencing.
Activity: After reading the story, have students create a timeline of events as they happen in the book. This helps them visually see the sequence of events and reinforces their understanding of chronological order.
Cause and Effect Relationships: The children's book Stuck presents a series of cause and effect relationships – Floyd's actions (cause) and what happens to the items he throws into the tree (effect).
Activity: Ask students to create a cause and effect chart. They should list each item Floyd throws into the tree (cause) and what happens to it (effect). This helps them understand how cause and effect relationships contribute to the sequence of a story. You can also use cards like the one in the image below.
Repeated Pattern: Stuck by Oliver Jeffers follows a repeated pattern – Floyd throws something into the tree to get the kite out, but it gets stuck, too. This predictable pattern helps students understand sequencing.
Activity: Have students write down the repeated pattern they notice in the story. Then, ask them to predict what might happen if the story continued. This exercise encourages critical thinking and helps students understand how patterns can aid in understanding sequences.
Resolution that Ties to the Beginning: The story ends where it began, with Floyd and his kite. This full-circle resolution aids in understanding the sequence of events.
Activity: Ask students to create a story map, starting with Floyd's initial problem, then his various solutions, and ending with the final resolution. This activity helps students visually organize the sequence of events and understand how a story can come full circle.
Stuck Character Trait Activities
Stuck by Oliver Jeffers is an absurd tale about a young boy named Floyd who gets his kite stuck in a tree. Floyd throws various items into the tree to retrieve his kite and shows a range of attributes such as persistence, creativity, and problem-solving.
Persistence: Floyd's relentless attempts to retrieve his kite, despite the growing absurdity of his situation, showcase his determination and resilience. Persistence is a crucial trait for students to learn as it encourages them to persevere in facing challenges.
Activity: To help students understand this trait, you could organize a ‘Kite Retrieval' activity where students brainstorm and write down all the possible ways Floyd could have retrieved his kite from the tree.
Creativity: The imaginative solutions Floyd comes up with to dislodge his kite demonstrate his creativity. Cultivating this trait helps students approach problems from different angles and think outside conventional norms.
Activity: Students can draw or write about an unusual object they would throw into the tree to help Floyd, explaining why they believe their choice would be effective.
Problem-Solving: Although unconventional, Floyd's continuous problem-solving efforts highlight his ability to think on his feet and adapt. Developing this trait equips students with the skills to handle diverse challenges.
Activity: Ask students to create a ‘Stuck Sequel'. They could imagine a new object gets stuck and devise a series of attempts to retrieve it, mirroring the problem-solving process Floyd goes through.
Humour: The comedic elements in Stuck by Oliver Jeffers, from the escalating absurdity of Floyd's predicament to the whimsical illustrations, exhibit Jeffers' humour. Appreciating humour broadens students' perspectives and makes learning more enjoyable.
Activity: To help students appreciate this, you could organize a ‘Caption Contest' where students come up with funny captions for selected illustrations from the book. This activity enhances literacy through creative writing and critical thinking as students craft humorous captions that fit the story's context.
Stuck Cause and Effect Activities
The children's book Stuck begins with Floyd getting his kite stuck in a tree, which is the initial cause. The rest of the story unfolds as a series of effects and subsequent causes. Each action Floyd takes to solve his problem (the cause) results in an unexpected outcome (the effect).
Sequential Actions: The story's sequential actions provide clear cause and effect relationships, which is essential for understanding this literacy skill.
Activity: Have students create or use sequence cards showing each of Floyd's actions and their resulting effects. By arranging these cards in order, they can visualise the chain of events and understand the cause and effect relationship.
Humorous Outcomes: The unexpected outcomes of Floyd's actions keep readers engaged and curious about what will happen next.
Activity: Before revealing each outcome, ask students to draw what they think might happen based on Floyd's action. This activity encourages critical thinking and allows students to anticipate effects based on causes.
Repetitive Structure: The repetitive structure of the story reinforces the cause and effect relationships. Every time Floyd throws something into the tree (cause), it gets stuck (effect).
Activity: Ask students to retell the story using their own words, emphasizing the cause and effect relationships.
Clear Consequences: Floyd's actions have a direct and clear consequence, making it easier for students to grasp the concept of cause and effect.
Activity: Students could create a chart listing Floyd's actions and their direct consequences. This visual aid helps students better understand and remember the cause and effect relationships in Stuck.
