Mini Minds Hub · Free printable
Oakley's Dinosaur Tale: Free Printable Quiz for Reception
- ForReception
- StageEarly Years
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Oakley's Dinosaur Tale is a free printable listening quiz for Reception (ages 4 to 5). Oakley the Owl tells a tale about a dinosaur called Dot. A grown up reads it aloud, then children answer questions by ticking one of three answers. The last question asks them to spot a mistake in the tale.
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
Oakley the Owl tells a tale about a dinosaur called Dot. A grown up reads the tale aloud and children listen carefully. Then they answer questions about it. Each question has three answers, and children tick one. The questions ask about where things happened and what happened, so children need to remember details. The last question is different. Oakley has made a mistake, and children decide which part of the tale could not be true.
- Where did Dot live?
- What did Dot eat?
- What came to the forest?
- Where did Dot hide?
- Where did Dot drink?
- Oakley made a mistake. Which part?
Why listening to a tale helps
In Reception, children learn a great deal by listening. A short tale read aloud gives them a setting, a character and a few events to hold in mind. Answering questions afterwards asks them to pull those details back out. This is a useful habit for later reading, where understanding what has been read matters as much as saying the words.
Dinosaurs are a favourite topic for many children aged 4 to 5, so the tale starts with something they care about. The mistake question adds a gentle challenge. Children learn that a story can include things that do not fit with what we know about the world, and that they can notice this and say so. That is an early step in Understanding the World.
Fun facts about dinosaurs and owls
- A fossil is the remains or marks of a plant or animal that have been kept in rock for a very long time.
- A person who studies fossils to learn about life long ago is called a palaeontologist.
- Dinosaurs came in many different sizes. Some were small and some were enormous.
- Birds living today are relatives of dinosaurs.
- Owls can turn their heads a long way round, and many owls are busy at night.
Skills and curriculum link
- Listening to a story
- Remembering events
- Spotting a mistake
- Talking about a story
- Choosing an answer
Helping children think about the tale
- Listen firstAsk your child to put their listening ears on before you start. Tell them there will be questions afterwards. This gives them a reason to pay attention.
- Picture itSuggest they close their eyes and picture the tale as you read. Children who can see a story in their head often remember more of it.
- Use the wordsWhen you talk about an answer, use the words from the tale. This helps children link what they heard to what they tick.
- Real or pretendTalk about which things in stories could happen in real life and which could not. Take your time, as this is the skill behind the last question.
Key words
- TaleAnother word for a story.
- SettingWhere a story happens.
- EventSomething that happens in a story.
- MistakeSomething that is not right.
- ChoiceOne of the answers you can pick from.
- TickA small mark that shows the answer you have chosen.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Read the tale aloud twice. Go slowly and let your child ask about anything they are unsure of.
- Read each question and its three choices slowly. Children tick one answer each time.
- Work through it together the first time. Talk about each choice, including the ones that are not right.
- Check against page 2. Come back another day, because repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Pause after each sentence of the tale and ask, "What happened?" Let your child point to an answer instead of ticking. Do a few questions, then take a break and come back to the rest later.
To stretch confident children
Ask your child to explain why one part of the tale could not be true. Then ask them to tell the whole tale again in their own words, in the right order, as if they were Oakley.
Make it a game
Act out the tale together, one sentence at a time. Take turns to be Oakley, who tells the tale, while the other player acts out each part. Then swap roles and tell it again.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child ticks very quickly without listening to all three choices.
Try thisRead every choice aloud and point to each one. Then ask your child to pick the one that matches the tale.
Watch forA child answers from what they already know about dinosaurs instead of what Oakley said.
Try thisAsk, "What did Oakley say?" Read the right part of the tale again. Keep their own ideas for the last question, where they use what they know.
Watch forA child cannot spot the mistake in the tale.
Try thisRetell the tale together. After each part, ask, "Could that really happen?" Say the parts out loud so they can hear them again.
Talk about it
- Who was your favourite character in the tale, and why?
- What do you think happened next?
- Did Oakley sound sure about the tale? How could you tell?
- Which part of the tale could not be true? How do you know?
- If you could tell the tale, what would you change?
- What do you already know about dinosaurs?
Take it off the page
Draw the tale
Ask your child to draw their favourite part of the tale. Then ask them to tell you about the picture, using the words from the story.
Dinosaur tracks
Press toy dinosaur feet into playdough or damp sand to make tracks. Talk about the shapes and sizes of the prints.
Tell a tale with a mistake
Let your child be Oakley, using a toy owl if you have one. They tell a short tale with one mistake in it, and you try to spot it.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go and let them lead. Read the tale with expression and keep the pace slow. Short sessions work best. Praise careful listening, not only the right answers.
Teachers
Use it as a listening starter, a story time follow up, an early finisher task or a small group activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed groups.
Home educators
Pair it with dinosaur books, a walk outdoors and everyday talk. The sheet is free to print, so you can use it again for brothers and sisters or to revisit the tale a few weeks later.
Where this fits in learning
Before this sheet, children enjoy listening to stories, rhymes and songs. They talk about pictures in books and answer simple questions such as who or where. Joining in with a familiar story builds the listening habit this sheet needs.
After it, children move on to retelling stories in order, answering questions about longer tales and talking about what is real and what is pretend. These skills lead into the reading and discussion children do in Year 1.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Oakley's Dinosaur Tale for?
It is written for Reception, which is ages 4 to 5, in the Early Years Foundation Stage. It works best when a grown up reads the tale aloud and shares the questions with the child.
- What will children practise?
Children practise listening to a story and answering questions about its setting and events. They also practise spotting what could not be true. These skills sit within Understanding the World in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- How do I use it?
Print both pages and read the tale aloud twice. Then read each question and its three choices slowly. Children tick one answer each time. Check with page 2 afterwards, and talk about any answers that were not right.
- What if it feels too hard?
Pause after each sentence of the tale and ask what happened. Let your child point to an answer instead of ticking. You can do a few questions at a time and return to the rest on another day.
- How long does it take?
It depends on the child. Go at their pace and take breaks when they need them. Reading the tale twice and talking about the choices will make it longer. Doing a few questions at a time makes it shorter.
- Is it a screen free activity?
Yes. It needs only paper and a pencil, so it suits quiet time, rainy days and school holidays. You can also act out the tale together without any extra equipment.
- Can teachers and home educators use it?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or table activity. Home educators and tutors can use it alone or as part of a wider plan. It is free to print again for other children.
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.