The Littlest Yak

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On the tip of the top of a mountain all snowy, where the ice-swirling, toe-curling blizzards were blowy, in a herd full of huddling yaks, big and small, lived Gertie . . . the littlest yak of them all.

Gertie is the littlest yak in her whole herd, and she’s feeling stuck in her smallness – she wants to grow UP and have bigness and tallness!

But when it turns out that there are some things that only Gertie can do, might she come to see that she’s perfect, just the way she is?

English:

Look at the front cover. What do you think this book will be about? What might happen to the ‘Littlest Yak’?
Think of some words and phrases to describe the setting of this story. Find examples from the text (e.g. “all snowy” and “ice-swirling blizzards”).
There are a number of books about the Littlest Yak*. Which is your favourite? Could you write another story about this character?
In the following video, Lu Fraser reads the sequel to this book. Think of some questions you would like to ask her.

Write a diary entry from Gertie’s point of view.
In the illustrations, Gertie is usually accompanied by two smaller animals. Retell part of the story from their point of view. What might they be thinking?
Write a newspaper article for the ‘Yak Gazette’ about Gertie’s adventure.
Make a list of all the rhyming words in this story. Use them to make a rhyming dictionary.
Gertie has the ‘curliest, whirliest wool on her back’. Can you think of other superlatives to describe yaks (or other animals)?
Write a persuasive letter to Gertie to convince her that being small has its advantages.
Record a read-aloud video in which you retell this story. Here is an example:

Maths:

Choose a variety of objects and give them labels to compare their sizes (e.g.teeny, little, big). Could you measure them too?

Science:

What is a yak? Find out more about these animals. Where do they live? How do they survive in cold habitats?
What do yaks eat? Make a food chain / web based on the habitat where they live.
Plan an experiment to investigate different types of materials to find out which ones might keep yaks warm in the cold weather.
Gertie’s mummy shows her constellations in the stars. Can you find out more about these?

Computing:

Use art software to create some pictures of yaks. What are your favourite drawing tools?
Use publishing apps to make posters and banners that celebrate Gertie’s achievements.
Make an animation that retells your favourite part of the book.
Program a game in which Gertie has to climb a mountain, avoiding obstacles along the way.

Design Technology:

Design some new clothes for the big and little yaks to wear. Use materials to make them.
Make a model of a yak using recycled materials. For inspiration, look at the puppets in the musical adaptation of this book:

Could you make a model of a mountain that Gertie can climb?
Make a shelter to keep Gertie and her family warm in the cold environment.

Art:

Create your own pictures of yaks. You could use wool and other textured materials.
Paint some snowy mountain scenes that show where Gertie might live.
Make a comic strip that retells the main events of the story. Cut out the sections, jumble them up and ask a friend to put them back in the correct order!

Music:

Compose a melody to accompany Gertie’s ‘Growing-Up Plan’.

Geography:

Use a world map to find places where yaks live.
Study the features of mountainous regions.
Create a map that shows places used in the story. Add labels to show the events that took place in each location.

History:

Research how yaks have been used by humans over time.

Physical Education:

Set up an obstacle course to mimic Gertie’s mountain climb.

PSHE:

Think of times when you were smaller. What were you unable to do at the time? What can you do now you are bigger?
Are there things that you’re still unable to do because you are younger? What are you looking forward to achieving as you grow older?
What does this story try to teach us (i.e. “you are perfect… just the way you are”)?
Gertie makes her own ‘Growing-Up Plan’. Can you plan some healthy meals and activities to help you grow fitter, stronger and healthier?
Describe Gertie’s emotions throughout the story. How do they change?
Gertie is special because she is small. What makes you special?

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