Kindergarten students may retell the story through an individual retelling activity allowing each child to create her own book to organize the story parts in order. Cut two pieces of paper in half lengthwise and stack them together. Fold the stack of papers to form a book and secure along the fold with a stapler. Instruct the students to write and illustrate a retelling of the book, including the cover and the main points in the story. The artistic retelling activity must include the characters, story setting and the correct sequence of events.
After reading the story together as a class, students form partnerships with another classmate to retell the story while taking turns. In their own words, while looking at a copy of the book, students describe the story to their partner, ensuring that each story part is covered. The other partner then repeats the retelling activity, attempting to not repeat exactly what the first partner had described. Instruct the students to retell the story without using the book for reference as well.
In small groups or as a whole-class activity, students may retell the story in a round-robin fashion. Each student contributes to the activity, one sentence at a time, ensuring that the correct order is established. When necessary, the next person in the round-robin activity can backtrack a bit if the classmate before him had missed an important part of the story. Adapt the activity into a game by requiring students who mistakenly miss a portion of the story to sit down and revealing only a final student to retell the story in its entirety.
Encourage the students to retell the story exactly how it happened in the book through a theatrical presentation in front of the class. Students may pose as characters from the book, and one student may be given the duty of the narrator. The students retell the story in their own words by playing out the parts, either with or without the help of the actual storybook. Give each small group a turn to present their story interpretations.