Storytelling with a Forest Animal Exploring Fall Hanukkah
Grade: Second · Subject: Holidays · Time: 30 min · Difficulty: Standard

Learning Objective

Students will orally create and write an original story about a forest animal exploring fall and Hanukkah elements in the picture, using simple complete sentences that sequence events logically.

Teacher-Selected Inputs

  • Grade: Second
  • Subject: Holidays
  • Skill: Storytelling, Creative thinking, Sentence formation
  • Educational Setting: General Education
  • Difficulty: Standard
  • Duration: 30 min

Why this printable fits

This printable provides a detailed fall and Hanukkah-themed forest scene that inspires students to imagine and sequence a holiday story, supporting narrative development aligned with second-grade storytelling skills.

Vocabulary

PRE-TEACH
  • Hanukkah: A holiday celebrated with lights and stories.
  • sequence: The order in which things happen.
  • explore: To look around and find out about something.
USE DURING LESSON
  • menorah
  • dreidel
  • forest
  • fall
  • candles

Materials

  • Forest Animal Exploring During Fall Hanukkah printable
  • Pencils or pens

Prep

  • Print enough copies of the Forest Animal Exploring During Fall Hanukkah printable for each student.
  • Prepare sentence frames on cards or chart paper for storytelling support.

Lesson Steps

  1. Introduction8 min
    Teacher actions: Introduce the printable and name key details: forest animal, menorah, dreidels, cookies, and fall leaves. Explain the goal to create a story about the scene.
    Teacher script: Look at this picture with the forest animal and Hanukkah decorations. Today, we're going to tell a story about what the animal is doing in this fall holiday scene.
    Example / model: The forest animal sees the menorah and is curious about the lights.
    Printable use: Display the whole picture to guide observation and discussion.
    Move on when: Students can name at least two items they see in the picture.
    Support if needed: Use picture cards to help students identify elements in the scene.
  2. Story Brainstorming8 min
    Teacher actions: Guide students to imagine the animal's feelings or actions and develop at least three sequential story events. Model sentences using frames.
    Teacher script: Let's think about a story. What is the animal doing? What might happen first, next, and last?
    Example / model: First, the animal finds the menorah. Next, it plays with the dreidels. Last, it enjoys the cookies.
    Printable use: Refer to the picture as a prompt to create story steps.
    Move on when: Students can share three sequential story ideas using simple sentences.
    Support if needed: Provide sentence frames such as 'First, the animal...,' 'Next, it...,' and 'Last, it...
  3. Formative Check and Story Sharing7 min
    Teacher actions: Have students orally share their story sequence with a partner. Monitor for sentence use and logical event order.
    Teacher script: Turn to your partner and tell your story about the forest animal. Use words like 'first,' 'next,' and 'last.
    Example / model: Student says, 'First, the animal finds the menorah. Next, it spins the dreidel.
    Printable use: Use the image as a reference during oral storytelling.
    Move on when: Students orally tell a story sequence with at least three events and complete sentences.
    Support if needed: Assign partners with stronger speakers to support sharing.
  4. Story Writing7 min
    Teacher actions: Instruct students to write 3-5 simple sentences describing their story inspired by the printable. Circulate to assist with sentence structure and spelling.
    Teacher script: Write your story using 3 to 5 sentences about the animal and the Hanukkah scene. Use your ideas from sharing with your partner.
    Example / model: A child writes: 'The animal sees the menorah. It spins the dreidel. It eats some cookies.
    Printable use: Students write their stories inspired by the printable scene.
    Move on when: Students produce 3–5 complete sentences telling a clear story about the picture.
    Support if needed: Provide sentence frame handouts for students to copy or adapt.

Formative Check

  • Step: Formative Check and Story Sharing
  • Ask students to: Orally share their story sequence with a partner using 'first,' 'next,' and 'last.
  • Look for: Clear sequential story with at least three events stated in simple complete sentences.

Success Criteria

  • Students can complete at least 1 Storytelling task using the printable.

Differentiation

Support: Provide sentence frames such as 'First, the animal...,' 'Next, it...,' and 'Last, it...' to help students form their stories.
Scaffold tool: Sentence Frame
Standard: Students write a short story using the printable scene as inspiration, creating 3-5 sequenced sentences.
Extension: Students add descriptive words and dialogue to their story, expanding it beyond the basic sequence.
Early Finishers: Students draw and write an additional page continuing the forest animal's adventure after the scene.

Accommodations

  • Provide sentence frames and oral story options for students who struggle with writing.
  • Allow use of drawing to communicate ideas before or instead of writing.
  • Pair students strategically for oral practice and peer support.

Common Misconceptions

  • Students may sequence events randomly instead of chronologically.
  • Students might describe the picture instead of telling a story with a sequence of events.
  • Students might use incomplete sentences or omit key story elements.

Assessment

  • Observe oral story sharing for complete sentences and logical sequence.
  • Review written story with 3-5 sentences properly sequenced describing the scene.

Teacher Notes

Standards
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.2.4: Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details.
  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.3: Write narratives in which they recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events.
IF SHORT ON TIME
  • Keep: Introduction and Oral Story Sharing step
  • Skip or shorten: Story Writing step can be shortened or skipped with oral storytelling focus only.
FOLLOW-UP OPTIONS
  • Have students write a longer story including a problem and solution related to the forest animal.
  • Use the printable to spark a creative group storytelling activity with rounds of adding events.
  • Connect to a social studies lesson about Hanukkah traditions and write informational sentences.
HOME CONNECTION

Ask your child to tell you a story about a holiday or season they enjoy and the things they see during that time.

Source summary

Based on: Forest Animal Exploring During Fall Hanukkah
Printable summary (sanity check): This lesson uses the Forest Animal Exploring During Fall Hanukkah printable to engage second-grade students in storytelling about holidays, focusing on sequencing, narrative development, and expressive writing in a general education setting.
© 2026 Planerium.com — For personal/classroom use. Not for redistribution.