The Gruffalo Read-Aloud Companion | Preschool–2nd Grade | Activities & More!

Step into the deep dark wood with Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake, and the Gruffalo! 🌲🐭

Make your read-aloud of Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo even more engaging with this ready-to-use companion packet packed with literacy activities, comprehension practice, creative projects, games, crafts, and hands-on extensions.

Designed for Preschool through 2nd Grade, this resource gives you the flexibility to choose the activities that best fit your students, whether you're looking for a quick read-aloud extension, literacy center activity, craft, comprehension practice, or a larger book companion packet. The teacher guide organizes activities by grade band so you can quickly find appropriate options.

📚 WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Preschool Activities

• Look at the Cover
• Let's Look
• Animals All Around
• Woodland Match-Ups
• Oh No! The Gruffalo!
• Trace & Tell character pages
• Letter Dot activities
• Story Sequence Mini Book
• Woodland Stick Puppets
• Coloring opportunities

Kindergarten–1st Grade Activities

• See–Think–Wonder
• Prediction
• Animals All Around
• Color & Trace
• Story Elements
• Woodland Match-Ups
• Comprehension
• Story Sequencing
• The Problem & Solution
• Character Understanding
• Gruffalo Feature Match
• Setting
• Compare & Contrast
• Beginning–Middle–End
• Cause & Effect
• Story Timeline
• Retelling
• Character Traits
• Point of View
• Author's Purpose
• Main Idea & Details
• Critical Thinking
• Creative writing and drawing activities

2nd Grade Activities

• See–Think–Wonder
• Prediction
• Gruffalo Description Sequence
• Story Elements
• Main Idea
• Plot
• Theme
• Sequencing
• Problem & Solution
• Comprehension
• Setting
• Compare & Contrast
• 5 W's
• Beginning–Middle–End
• Cause & Effect
• Story Timeline
• Retelling
• Character Traits + Evidence
• Point of View
• Author's Purpose
• Main Idea & Supporting Details
• Critical Thinking
• Creature-Sized Measurement
• Creative writing and design activities

🐾 FUN, HANDS-ON EXTENSIONS

Take your Gruffalo experience beyond the worksheet with:

• Invent Your Own Gruffalo!
• Creature description activities
• Descriptive vocabulary cards
• Compare & Contrast
• Woodland Trading Cards
• Woodland Memory Match
• Woodland Stick Puppets
• Story retelling activities
• Design Your Own Book Cover
• Deep Dark Wood Sensory Bin Scavenger Hunt
• Outdoor Nature Scavenger Hunt
• Creature-Sized Measurement activities

The sensory and outdoor extensions invite students to explore their own "deep dark wood" while connecting the story to observation, vocabulary, and hands-on learning.

🎨 COLORING + CREATIVE PAGES

You'll also find coloring pages and coloring-based activities woven throughout the packet, making it easy to add a little creative downtime to your read-aloud plans.

📕 MAKE YOUR OWN PACKET

A universal cover is included so you can use the resource to create your own student packet if you choose.

Teacher's discretion: Print and assemble the pages you want students to complete, or use individual pages throughout your Gruffalo read-aloud. You decide what works best for your classroom!

✂️ LOW-PREP & FLEXIBLE

Use the pages as:

✔ Whole-group read-aloud extensions

✔ Independent practice

✔ Literacy centers

✔ Small-group activities

✔ Early-finisher activities

✔ Morning work

✔ Fast-finisher choices

✔ Crafts and creative projects

✔ Indoor/outdoor extensions

✔ A complete student companion packet

The resource opens with a "No Prep Needed" read-aloud companion concept and includes a teacher guide to help you navigate the materials.

If you use this resource, please leave a review — it helps other teachers find it and lets me know what to create next. Thank you for supporting independent educators!

© The Bewitched Teacher. For single-classroom use. Please purchase additional licenses for sharing with colleagues.