Story Activities and Visuals for 

Eddie the Elephant Has Something to Say by Alison Johns

Eddie the Elephant Has Something to Say by Alison Johns is a story of an adorable elephant who creates an AAC device to communicate with his friends. This story teaches concepts of friendship, empathy, communication, AAC, and perserverence. Check out activities to support this beautiful and unique book. 

 

Vocabulary

Review story vocabulary - just pick a few of the words that are meaningful to the reades and learning objectives. Play with these words in games such a scavenger hunt to find them in the book or around the room.

Make a bingo game or tic tac toe using these same words. 

Play other games using story vocabulary. 

 

 

Comprehension

As you read, have question cards ready to ask verbally. Use picture choices as needed. 

 

Characters

Who are the characters in the story? Talk about their personalities and relationship to each other. Create stick puppets to act out story and play with for deeper connections. 

Practice fine motor and visual perceptual skills with characters from the story.

Play a game of headbandz. In this small group activity for 4 - each person wears a headband with a character and has to guess who they are. Or play a game of Charades, where students can look at the card and everyone else has to guess with only clues or actions. 

 

 

Communication

Here is a communication core board with fringe to use with this beautiful story. 

 

Here is a story about a student who uses AAC and her peers. 

This is a quick reference of tthe 7 steps a communication partner could go through in order to model on the AAC device when sharing a book. 

 

Alphabet Knowledge and Phonological Awareness

Play with letters from the story. Have a scavenger hunt for letters in the book. 

 

Decorate the letter E

Create a matching book with words that begin with both long E (eagle) and short E (eggs) sounds. 

 

Poetry

Read poems about elephants or the Letter E! Write your own class poem. 

 

 

Writing

Write about your favorrite part of the story. 

 

 

Art

Color and use crafts to decorate your elephant. 

Make a paper plate elephant. Add bigger eyes and have students paint or decorate with crafts.  (See video here)

 

Snack Time

What is Eddie's favorite food? Try some as a snack! Or Try Nutter Butter Peanut shapped cookies - even yummier!

Make some elephant bread - so fun! (See instructions here)

Eddie likes Peanuts but Giraffe ate Leaves. Which food do you like or not like?

 

Compare which foods you like and discuss with a friend. Chart on a Venn Diagram. 

 

 

Math

Play counting games using real peanuts or peanut manipulatives. 

Make math sentences with these peanut math cards. 

 

More counting games with Eddie's favorite food. 

 

Friendship

Eddie has wonderful freiends who accept him as he is and want to play. Sometimes his friends don't know how to understand Eddie. What are some ways you can be a friend? 

 

Talk with your friends about what they like and dislike. 

Have fun learning and playing together!