The Sea Saw

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When Sofia loses her beloved teddy after a day at the beach, she is heartbroken. But the sea saw it all, and maybe, just maybe, it can bring Sofia and her teddy back together. However long it may take…

Teaching Ideas and Resources:

English

• Before reading the book, look at the front cover and title. What do you think it might be about? Who is the little girl? What did the sea see?
• Write your own story about a person who loses something special and finds it again later in their life.
• Retell the story from Sofia’s (or the bear’s) point of view.
• Write a story about an adventure the bear had with Sofia’s grandfather or mother.
• Imagine the bear could talk. What might it say at different points in the story?
• Write a newspaper article about Sofia rediscovering the bear after so many years.
• Look at the headlines on Sofia’s father’s newspaper. Could you write an article based on one of these?
• Write a new story based on this title. What could the sea have seen?
• Look through the book and find some quotes that others might find helpful (e.g. ‘Nothing is ever truly lost if you keep it in your heart’). Could you look through other stories and make a collection of these?
• ‘See’ and ‘Sea’ are homophones. Can you make a list of other homophones?
• Imagine that you are Sofia, telling your granddaughter all about the bear after it has been found. What would you say?

Computing

• Make a stop-motion animation about something that gets lost and then found again.
• Use publishing software to make a poster asking people to look out for the lost bear.
• Record and edit a ‘read aloud’ video to tell the story. Here is one example:

Design Technology

• Design a coat to keep the bear warm and dry on his long journey.

Art

• Retell the story in the form of a comic strip.
• Draw your own illustrations of the bear on different parts of his journey.

Geography

• Draw a map that shows the bear’s journey throughout the story.

History

• Make a timeline showing the main events in the story and when they took place.

PSHE

• The story tells us that ‘nothing is ever truly lost if you keep it in your heart.’ What does this mean? What important things do you keep in your heart? How might these things change as you grow older?
• Have you ever lost something special? How did it make you feel?
• Sofia has ‘the most perfect day’ on her trip to the beach (until she loses her bear). What would you do on your perfect day?
• Look at the illustrations of Sofia throughout the story. How is she feeling? How can you tell?