Hands-On Fun for Jan Brett’s The Mitten
Jan Brett’s The Mitten is a winter favorite in many preschool spaces, and it naturally lends itself to storytelling and sequencing. This activity adds hands-on fun for Jan Brett’s The Mitten by helping young children retell the story in a clear, engaging way while strengthening early literacy skills.
These book activities for preschoolers are designed to be simple, low-prep, and easy to use. Children interact with the story using hands-on pieces that encourage listening, recall, and expressive language without turning storytime into a lesson that feels heavy or forced. The focus stays on understanding the story and enjoying the process.
Whether you are planning a winter theme or extending a favorite read-aloud, this preschool storytelling activity offers a calm, doable way to build comprehension and confidence through meaningful play.
At-a-Glance
• Activity type: Preschool storytelling and sequencing
• Best for: Ages 3 to 5
• Skills: Sequencing, listening, and early literacy
• Prep: Low-prep, print and use
• Theme: Jan Brett’s The Mitten
Why The Mitten Is Perfect for Preschool Learning
The Mitten is easy for preschoolers to follow because the story repeats predictably. Each animal joins the mitten one at a time, helping children understand what’s happening without feeling lost.
The winter animals are familiar and engaging, and the clear sequence makes this book ideal for early retelling. Jan Brett’s illustrations provide strong visual support, helping preschoolers connect the story events and build comprehension with confidence.
How to Use This Activity With Preschoolers
Start by reading The Mitten straight through and enjoy the story together. There’s no need to stop or explain anything the first time.
Next, introduce the storytelling pieces and show how they connect to the story. Retell the book together, adding each animal as it appears.
Let children take the lead as much as possible. Some will want to name the animals, others will focus on the order, and some may retell the story in their own words. All of that counts. Keep it relaxed, follow their pace, and revisit the activity as often as they’re interested.
Skills This Activity Builds
- Story sequencing and understanding order
- Listening and comprehension skills
- Oral language through retelling and discussion
- Vocabulary and animal recognition
- Fine motor skills when children handle and place the pieces
Tips for Success
If your child is new to the story, begin with fewer animals and add more as they become familiar with the sequence. The goal is understanding the story, not memorizing it perfectly.
Children may retell the story differently each time. Some will focus on naming animals, others on order, and some on details they notice in the pictures. Repeating the activity over several days helps reinforce comprehension and sequencing skills in a natural, effective way.
Watch The Mitten Story in Action
In the video below, you’ll see how this storytelling activity can be used alongside The Mitten to support sequencing and retelling with preschoolers. It’s a simple demonstration that shows how the pieces work together during storytime.
Grab the free Mitten Storytelling Printable
You can download the free Mitten storytelling printable to use with this activity. It’s ready to print and use, with no extra prep required.
The printable works well during winter themes and fits easily into preschool literacy lessons. Use it alongside The Mitten by Jan Brett to support retelling and sequencing in a simple, hands-on way.
More Winter Literacy Activities
Looking for a few more ways to build early literacy skills during winter? These activities pair well with The Mitten and support storytelling, sequencing, and book-based learning for preschoolers.
- Winter Literacy Activities
- Winter Gratitude Journal for Kids
- Bear Snores On Activities
- Feed the Penguin Game
- Little Penguin Gets the Hiccups Activities
Storytelling activities like this one help preschoolers build real skills through familiar books and clear routines. Retelling a story, noticing the order of events, and talking about what happens all support early literacy in meaningful ways.
You don’t need a whole lesson or an extended plan to make it count. One simple activity, used when it fits your day, is enough to make an impact and help children feel confident with stories.
Tara is the brains behind Homeschool Preschool, where her journey from preschool and public school teacher to homeschooling mom of three fuels her passion for early childhood education. With a blend of expertise and firsthand experience, Tara’s writings offer practical tips and engaging resources to support families in creating meaningful learning adventures at home.
This is amazing I like this ????
Thank you so much—I’m thrilled you like it! ????????
My preschoolers will enjoy these activities.
Thank you! Thank you for sharing something that I can make quickly to use with my in person students as an extension to their virtual learning.
I adapted mitten color sort for a speech group. Each student (4) has a mitten and pompoms that do NOT match his mitten. Students practice either asking a peer for a certain color pompon, or offering “Would you like ________ pompoms?” Practice addressing each other and looking at the person you are talking with.