Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Little Red Hen Retell: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 1
- ForYear 1
- StageKey Stage 1
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Little Red Hen Retell is a free printable English worksheet for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Children put five story events in order by writing the numbers 1 to 5. Then they draw the characters and write about the story. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown up notes, help ideas, a stretch idea and the answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children meet five short story events from the Little Red Hen. They write the numbers 1 to 5 beside the events to show the order in which they happen. Then they move on to drawing and writing. They draw the hen with her bread, and they draw the cat, the dog and the duck. There are lines for writing a sentence about the story. A pencil is all they need, and colouring pencils are a nice extra.
- The hen bakes the bread.
- The hen finds some grains of wheat.
- The hen eats the bread. The cat, dog and duck get none.
- The hen plants the grains.
- The hen cuts the wheat and makes flour.
- Draw the hen with her bread.
- Draw the cat, the dog and the duck.
Why retell a story?
The Little Red Hen is a traditional folk tale, told and retold in many versions. It has a small group of animal characters, a clear pattern and lines that are fun to say aloud. That makes it a good choice for young children. They can hold the whole story in their heads, and they enjoy joining in when a grown up tells it.
Retelling means saying a story again in your own words. To do it, a child must remember what happened and put the main events in the right order. That is different from simply listening. Ordering events on paper, then drawing and writing about them, helps children see that a story has a shape, with parts that follow one after another.
Skills and curriculum link
- Story order
- Retelling
- Writing a sentence
- Listening and speaking
- Drawing from a story
Ideas to help your child with the story
- Stories have a shapeMost stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. Ask your child which part of the story they are thinking about before they number an event.
- Time words helpWords such as first, next, then and last show the order of events. Say them aloud as you point to each event on the sheet.
- Sentences have rulesA sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. It should make sense when read aloud. Let your child read their sentence back to check.
- Pictures hold ideasDrawing a character helps children remember what that character does. Ask your child to tell you about their drawing before they write.
Key words
- RetellTo tell a story again in your own words.
- EventSomething that happens in a story.
- OrderThe way things follow one after another. First, second, third and so on.
- CharacterA person or animal in a story.
- SentenceA group of words that makes sense. It starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
- LastThe final one. Nothing comes after it.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Tell the story aloud first. A toy hen or a drawing of one makes it more fun.
- Read each event on the sheet aloud together. Then let your child write the numbers 1 to 5 on their own.
- Move on to the drawing and writing. Ask your child to say their sentence aloud before they write it.
- Check with page 2 and talk about each choice. Come back to the sheet another day, because repeating a familiar story builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Read each event aloud together, slowly. Act out each one with a toy or with your hands. Then number the events one at a time, and ask, "Did that happen early or late in the story?" Try one event, then pause and talk.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to retell the whole story aloud using the words first, next, then and last. Then they can write two or more sentences in the same order. Encourage a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end of each.
Make it a game
Act out the tale. One child is the hen. Other children are the cat, the dog and the duck. Everyone says their own part aloud. Swap roles and tell it again, so each child tries a different character.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child numbers the events by their favourite part, not by what happens when.
Try thisRead two events aloud and ask which comes first. Cover the others so there is only one choice to make at a time.
Watch forA child uses the same number twice or leaves one out.
Try thisWrite 1 to 5 along the top of the page. Tick each number off as it is used, so every number is used once.
Watch forA child draws the pictures but does not write the sentence.
Try thisAsk them to say the sentence aloud first. Count the words on fingers, then write one word at a time and read it back.
Talk about it
- Which character in the story would you most like to be, and why?
- How do you think the hen felt at different points in the story?
- Why is it important to tell a story in the right order?
- What could the other animals have done differently?
- Can you tell me the story using first, next, then and last?
- What is your favourite part of the story to draw?
Take it off the page
Puppet show
Make simple stick puppets from paper and lolly sticks. Use them to tell the story to a family member or a soft toy audience.
Play dough bread
Shape play dough into loaves and rolls. Tell the story while you work, and talk about what happens to the bread.
Story washing line
Draw one event per card. Peg the cards on a string in order. Mix them up and ask a grown up or friend to put them back.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Tell the story aloud before they start. Praise careful thinking as well as correct answers. Short, relaxed sessions work best, and you can return to the sheet another day.
Teachers
Use it as a starter or plenary after sharing the story, as an early finisher task or as a table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups, and the answers make marking quick.
Home educators
Pair the sheet with a library copy of the tale and some outdoor play acting. The retelling, drawing and writing parts work well for a mixed age group, and you can print the sheet again for brothers and sisters or for revision later.
Where this fits in your child's learning
Before this sheet, children listen to and join in with familiar stories, talk about pictures and begin to say what happens in a tale. Hearing the story told aloud several times helps them remember the characters and events.
After this sheet, children can retell other stories in their own words, write more than one sentence in order and begin to plan simple stories of their own. In Key Stage 1 these skills grow across reading, writing and speaking and listening.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Little Red Hen Retell for?
It is written for Year 1 (ages 5 to 6), in Key Stage 1. Younger children can enjoy the telling and the drawing. Older children can use the sheet as a quick warm up before longer story writing.
- What will children practise?
They practise putting story events in order, retelling a familiar story and writing a simple sentence. They also draw the characters, which helps them think about who does what in the tale.
- How do I use it?
Tell the story aloud first, using a toy hen if you have one. Then let your child number the events on their own. Work through the drawing and writing together the first time, and check with page 2.
- What if it feels too hard?
Read each event aloud and act it out. Then number the events one at a time, with a pause to talk after each. It also helps to tell the story again before you try the sheet.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or to revisit the story a few weeks later.
- How long does it take?
There is no set time. Let your child work at their own pace, and stop for a break if they tire. You can do the ordering on one day and the drawing and writing on another.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children can add colour themselves with pencils or crayons when they draw the hen, the cat, the dog and the duck.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.