1. Before you read

Spend some time discussing the cover and the title. What does “Horns only” mean? Let learners look at the animals on the cover, do they all have horns? Which don’t? Are they part of the “horns” group or not? Where does the story take place? Ask learners to look for clues. What do the party hat and balloons mean?

2. Let’s read

Start reading the story, making sure you stop regularly to discuss each page. If you encounter any difficult words, stop and explain them. During the story remember to:

• Change your voice to fit the mood or action
• Ask learners to make predictions about the plot, the characters and the setting
• Share your own thoughts about the story
• Allow children to ask questions or make comments.

3. After you read

After reading the story ask learners questions about it, here are some ideas:

• Where did the story take place?
• Who were the most important characters? Why?
• What was the problem or conflict in the story? How was it resolved?
• How did the story make you feel?
• Has anything that took place in the story ever happened to you? Tell us about it.
• What is your favourite part of the story and why?

This story teaches the importance of accepting others and their differences. How were the animals without horns accepted at the end? Did it really make a difference that they had no horns? Get learners to think about who they reject because they are different. Does it make sense?

Get learners to role play the different characters in the story – and to express themselves from the character’s viewpoint. They can perform these role plays before the class.

4. Curriculum connections

Finger fun
Follow the instructions below to create and make your own finger puppets for this story. You will need:

• A pair of scissors
• Cardboard
• Glue

What to do:

1. Cut out the finger puppet.
2. Paste the puppet onto cardboard to make it stronger. If possible, cover it in plastic or laminate it.
3. Now cut out the finger holes.
4. You are now ready to enact the story.

Tip: You can make more finger puppets for the story. Just copy and create another character.

5. Assessment

Is the learner able to:

• Predict what the story is about from looking at pictures in the book?
• Recognise at least 25 words in the story?
• Read aloud from the reading book, at a steady pace?

Use the Assessment Tasks above as asuggestion for an activity or task.