The Red Radish Story and Activities

A rabbit, a rooster, a raccoon, and a rat are working together. When a rabbit has trouble pulling a radish out from the ground, one by one his friends—big and small—come to his rescue. They pull and pull together until the radish pops out of the ground. Then they all celebrate their friendship by sharing and eating it.

Before Reading

Show children a red radish with leaves. Let children feel and describe the radish. What does it look like, feel like, smell like, and taste? Do they like the taste of the radish?

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Ask children if they know where radishes grow. On trees? On bushes? In the ground? Explain that they will read a book about a red radish and find out.

During Reading

Have children listen to the online Twiggle Book The Red Radish or read it to children. Afterwards, give children a chance to read the book with you or aloud to you. Ask children if they know the name of the first letter of the words "red" and "radish." Say the sound of the letter r and have children repeat after you. Reread the book and click on the Question (?) button on each page to let children find and click all letter R's and r's in the sentence.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

After Reading

Let children color the Red Radish coloring page, write and draw to expand on the story, and practice writing the letter r and reading words from the story. For independent reading, print out the printable version of the booklet.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Language

Discuss with children about how a radish grows in the ground. Look at a red radish together and point out the round, red root and the leaves of the plant. Explain that we can eat both the root and the leaves of the plant. Explain that to grow a radish we first have to plant a seed in the ground. Then, the seed needs water and sun to grow. Once the radish is fully grown, it's ready to be harvested.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

The Farmer in the Dell
Adapted by Jolanda Garcia, KidsSoup Inc.

The farmer in the dell
The farmer in the dell
Heigh ho the derry-o
The farmer in the dell

The farmer plants a seed
The farmer plants a seed
Heigh ho the derry-o
The farmer plants a seed

A radish starts to grow
A radish starts to grow
Heigh ho the derry-o
A radish starts to grow

The radish is getting big
The radish is getting big
Heigh ho the derry-o
The radish is getting big

Let's pull the radish out
Let's pull the radish out
Heigh ho the derry-o
Let's pull the radish out

The radish tastes so good
The radish tastes so good
Heigh ho the derry-o
The radish tastes so good

Fine Motor Skills

Provide children with a bunch of radishes. Together, cut off the leaves and let children use a small vegetable brush to clean the radishes with water.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Math

Discuss how the friends in the booklet shared the red radish together. Print the 5 Radishes for Raccoon and Rabbit Mat printable and place inside a clear sheet protector. Place five radishes inside a basket.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Explain to children that Rabbit and Raccoon harvested 5 radishes from their garden and they need to divide the radishes between them. Let children talk about how they can divide the radishes. Encourage children to share the radishes in many different ways.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Older children can record their number sentences: 5 = 3 + 2, 5 = 1 + 4, etc.

5 Radishes for Raccoon and Rabbit Mat

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Snack

Make a radish mouse
Cut the green off a radish. Keep root for the tail. Cut slices for the ears and attach to the radish. Add little sugar pearls or peppercorns for the eyes.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Movement and Outdoor Game

You'll need a long thick rope, a laundry basket, and different items of various weights to place inside the laundry basket. Tie the rope on to the laundry basket. Have children hold on to the the other end of the rope and let them experience pulling the laundry basket toward them. Fill the laundry basket with heavy and light items. Do they need help to pull the basket? Let one child sit in the basket and let two or three children pull on the rope together.

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Tug of War
Tug of War is a contest in which two teams pull against each other at opposite ends of a rope. Divide the children into two teams and let them hold the rope on opposide sides and try to pull each other to their sides.