Pre-K Stories & Early Literacy
36 weeks of short, flexible play-based activities for ages 3–5. Explore with a caring adult; practice may be oral, physical, or artistic.
What children will practice
Watch a grown-up demonstrate, try it together, then show what you notice by speaking, pointing, moving, or drawing. There are no timed drills or required independent handwriting tasks.
All 36 weekly stories & early literacy activities
📖 Open Textbook- Week 1
Hold a book the right way
I can explore the front cover, back cover, and where a story begins.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 2
Find the title
I can point to a picture-book title while the grown-up reads it aloud.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 3
Listen for a character
I can hear a short story and point to a character in the illustrations.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 4
What happens first?
I can retell the first thing that happens in a familiar picture book.
Unit: Welcome to Learning - Week 5
Find letters in my name
I can find the first letter of your name on a name card.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 6
Hear a silly rhyme
I can listen to cat and hat and repeat the rhyming pair.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 7
Turn pages in order
I can turn pages gently from beginning to end while talking about pictures.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 8
Talk about a picture
I can describe who or what is in an illustration using a complete thought.
Unit: Our Families & Feelings - Week 9
Follow a story sequence
I can place three story pictures in first, next, last order.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 10
Find a familiar sign
I can recognize a meaningful STOP sign or a label with adult help.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 11
Make a new ending
I can tell a different ending for a favorite read-aloud.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 12
Hear words in a sentence
I can tap once for each word in a three-word spoken sentence.
Unit: Colors, Shapes & Sounds - Week 13
Name the main character
I can after a read-aloud, name who the story is mostly about.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 14
What might happen next?
I can pause at an illustration and predict the next event.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 15
Clap the beats in a name
I can clap each syllable in a family member's name.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 16
Read faces in a story
I can point to a character who looks happy, scared, or surprised.
Unit: Nature Detectives - Week 17
Find letters all around
I can spot the first letter of your name on labels or packages.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 18
Make a story from pictures
I can tell a beginning, middle, and ending using three pictures.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 19
Notice the setting
I can point out whether a story happens inside or outside.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 20
Listen for the same beginning
I can say sun and sock; listen for the shared first sound.
Unit: Stories & Imagination - Week 21
Tell a story in order
I can retell a familiar bedtime routine in three steps.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 22
Explore an informational book
I can look through a nonfiction picture book about animals and name one fact.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 23
Ask a story question
I can ask who, what, or where about a read-aloud.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 24
Listen for sound effects
I can imitate the rain, wind, and animal sounds in a story.
Unit: Things That Move - Week 25
Notice print moves across
I can track the grown-up's finger left to right across a short line of text.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 26
Choose a favorite page
I can explain why one picture or page is your favorite.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 27
Name an author
I can point to the author's name while your grown-up reads it aloud.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 28
Name an illustrator
I can identify who drew the pictures in a storybook.
Unit: Our Neighborhood - Week 29
Compare two characters
I can say one way two story characters are alike or different.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 30
Build a pretend bookstore
I can sort picture books by topic and recommend one to a family member.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 31
Hear the final sound
I can listen to bus and mouse and notice their last /s/ sound.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 32
Act out a story
I can use puppets to show one event from a read-aloud.
Unit: Growing & Changing - Week 33
Tell a three-part story
I can say a simple beginning, a middle problem, and an ending.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate - Week 34
Share a book with someone
I can choose a book, describe its cover, and invite a family member to listen.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate - Week 35
Remember new words
I can use one interesting word from a read-aloud in your own sentence.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate - Week 36
Celebrate stories
I can retell your favorite part of a book you enjoyed this year.
Unit: Ready to Celebrate