Jack and the Beanstalk Activities

Working on speech and language skills within play to accomplish goals. (Here, Sana and a child retell the story by building a beanstalk with blocks, and using LEGO figures for the characters.) Education through play.

Create your own Story Basket: a collection of manipulatives that can be used to re-tell the story. By keeping it accessible, children can use the basket during play.

Children first roll a large die that has images from the story. They then toss beanbags towards the matching images that are on the floor. Lessons address working on following 1-step directions, building vocabulary, and improving motor skills!

Introducing and then re-introducing the story through group re-tell lessons. Include felt storyboard pieces OR manipulative representing aspects of the story.

Download our suggested language questions for this activity, below. Don't own the story kit? No problem - you can build your own lessons using your own manipulatives! We made the following video sample for you:

Easy enough! Have children use  various beans to form letters. Letter can be pre-written, or not.

Letters children make can be connected to form a tall name, like a beanstalk.

We love allowing children opportunities to explore different varieties of beans, discuss what makes them each different (colors, shape, size), and use beans for activities like forming patterns, making collages, playing comparison games, and planting!

When lessons have preschoolers create patterns, the activities promote pre-math skills that will last a lifetime. From ABAB & AAB patterns, to AABB & ABCABC patterns, building beanstalks is FUN! (And you can add children's faces to a "Jack body" to create more language opportunities!

Number recognition, counting, 1:1 correspondence, plurals, organization...and more!

Children play against themselves, or against peers. Sort two different types of beans into their corresponding cup. (Children's medicine cups hot glued to a tray, 2 groups of 10 beans, a sand timer.)

Using printable from Pinterest and Google, BINGO is a fabulous way to reinforce characters and events from the story. We used beans as BINGO markers, and children won paper "golden eggs" as they achieved BINGO.

A simple, fun interactive game where one child hides under the blanket, while one peer closes their eyes. Who's hiding under the blanket? The peer who had their eyes closed needs to guess. Activities with smiles last for miles!

Don't have Jack and the Beanstalk puzzle activities? Print out a page from the book, laminate it, and cut it into pieces that meet the skill levels of the children.

Interactive activities that tie in movement, the skills of attending, fine motor strengthening, listening, organization, peer interaction, & FUN! [Downloadable instructions in PDF below]

Traditional activities are so versatile! We’ve modified the version to include a die. Have the children roll a big foam die,  then state the number they rolled.  Next, they need to request the number of beans they rolled.  This structured game encourages our little giants to comment (i.e, “I got three”)  and request (i.e., “I need three beans”).  They also need to be patient and wait their turn (“It’s my turn” or “It’s your turn”).  The children love it when the bean pot tips over and the beans spill out! 

Activities on a shoestring budget! Wood, cardboard, paper, string, & glue.

Photo of child saying, "Fe, Fi, Fo, Fum!" Brads, hole punch, crayons, and body parts to connect. (Laminate for better durability.)

Bean art activities can take on many forms. In this photo, we decorated a face that was of the giant: an big, angry face that yelled out, “Who stole my gold?”

Fun lessons: Using one bean, paper, glue, scissors, cotton ball clouds, and a handprint with silver paint for a castle!

Displaying our beanstalk collages. The stalks are rolled and crumpled bulletin board paper. Adding the children's leaves are next!

Children act out various roles and actions from with the story. Here, lessons include having a child acts out climbing a beanstalk!