If you’re looking for National Simultaneous Storytime ideas for your classroom, it means that time of year has rolled around again when primary school teachers and students around Australia and New Zealand gather together for storytime. National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is happening this May, and it aims to promote literacy and a love for reading and celebrating Australian authors.
This year the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) have chosen the heart-warming and beautiful picture book, the Speedy Sloth written by Rebecca Young and illustrated by Heath McKenzie. This loveable story celebrates determination, courage and not being afraid to run at your own pace through life and its challenges.
How to Join National Simultaneous Storytime
If you’re excited to take part in this year’s NSS, signing up is easy (and it’s free!). All you have to do is register through ALIA and follow the prompts. On the day, you and your students can join online and read along with the rest of the nation.
After you’ve read the story as a group, each student and class can dive into engaging and purposeful activities to celebrate the book and its themes. The teacher team at Teach Starter has created a list of fun and easy activities that your little learners will love. This rainforest animal offers many avenues into the science curriculum, as well as English opportunities and some fun crafts, so let’s explore!
Engaging National Simultaneous Storytime Activities for Kids
Sloth-Themed Book Report
After reading this heartwarming story, a great initial activity is to complete a book report. We have created a fantastic (and super cute!) Sloth Book Review Template, which fits perfectly with the theme. The template encourages kids to describe the story in their own words, draw a picture about it and give the book a rating out of five. Once finished, you can turn the templates into a fun mobile or bunting to hang up in the classroom or even the library!
Sloth Habitat Discussion
You can even take sloth adaption lessons further by delving into how the sloths’ natural habitat compares to other animals in the book. Get your class to describe and then draw the unique characteristics of sloths’ rainforest habitat, such as tall trees, leafy canopies and a humid climate.
After choosing a different animal from the book, such as the zebra that lives in grassland habitats without trees, get your students to compare the two habitats. By comparing and contrasting habitats, your students will have a deeper understanding of how different animals adapt and survive in their habitats.
Get Physical With Characteristics!
After reading the book, have your students describe what they see and what makes sloths unique. Ask what they noticed about the sloth’s physical characteristics while you read the National Simultaneous Storytime book aloud, then have them label the parts of a sloth.
Explore Animal Adaptations
Talk about the unique adaptations that sloths have in order to survive in the rainforest habitat, such as their slow movement and ability to hang upside down from branches.
Use pictures of the sloth in different positions from The Speedy Sloth, and ask students to act out how they think sloths might move and sleep, then show this nature documentary video that illustrates how slow sloths really are!
Print Sloth-Themed Bookmark
What’s a more perfect way to celebrate the Speedy Sloth than with a sloth-themed bookmark? Get your students excited for NSS with this fun colouring activity that includes two bookmark options – a full-colour option for younger students to write their names or a black-and-white version to let their colouring skills run wild!
Assign a Sloth Research Project
As well as being an inspiring read, the Speedy Sloth allows you to foster a broader discussion with your class about sloths. You’ve probably seen them in cute memes and viral videos, and it’s true – sloths are fascinating creatures!
Learning about sloths’ life cycle, diet, behaviours, habitat and anatomy is an excellent way for your students to get curious about science and animal studies.
DIY Paper Sloth Craft Activity
Why not get out the craft supplies and create DIY paper sloths to hang around the classroom?
After you’ve spent time exploring photos of sloths and discussing what makes sloth so unique, get your students to create their own! Your students will have a ball colouring, cutting and gluing to create something fun to hang around the classroom. As well as discussing the book, this is a great activity for your students to get creative and develop their fine motor skills.
What you’ll need:
- Recycled paper or our Sloth Paper Craft Template
- Paper plate
- Colouring pencils
- Brown paint
- Scissors
- Glue
Instruction:
- Cut the paper plate in half and paint both sides brown. Set aside to dry.
- If you’re not using our template, draw an outline of a sloth’s head, two dangly arms and a branch on white scrap paper.
- Colour in the parts of the sloth (Kids can stick to realistic colours or choose bold shades and patterns)!
- Cut out the sloth and branch pieces, remembering scissor safety.
- Glue the branch together and then glue the leaves over the top.
- Assemble the sloth using the dry brown plate. Either glue the legs on so the sloth is hanging or so the sloth is sleeping on the branch. Glue the face on and leave it to dry!
Sloth Storytelling
After students craft their sloths, it’s storytelling time! What do they think their sloth would do if he came to the classroom?
Students should write a story that features a sloth as the main character, just like Spike in The Speedy Sloth. The students should demonstrate their understanding of the different story elements, including character and plot, as well as different character traits.
Speedy Sloth Acrostic Poem
When it’s time to put the crafts away and get out the pencils, writing an acrostic poem based on the Speedy Sloth is a great way for your class to use their knowledge of sloths and literacy! Get your class thinking about the characteristics and habits of sloths, and use these to create an acrostic poem.
You could take this activity to the next level and get your class to practise alliteration by writing an alternative title for the book, such as the ‘Sassy Sloth’ and then drawing a picture to match the title. This way, you can combine literacy and art in one lesson — win-win!
It was amazing for the kids to be very much entertained while learning i would definitely recommend this!(:
Hi Isobella, That is so good to hear! We are glad you are enjoying these activities!