From 50-75% of all words used in school books, library books, newspapers, and
magazines are in the Dolch Basic Sight Vocabulary of 220 words (preschool
thru Grade 3). The Dolch word list is made up of "service words" (pronouns,
adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and verbs) which cannot be
learned through the use of pictures.
This is a fairy tale which contains all 220 Dolch words. It's more fun for
children than just reading from a list.
The Best Thing in the World
Once upon a time, there were four brothers who lived in a far away
land. Their father was an old king. One day he said, “I will not live long
now. Today you must start out into the world. In a year, bring back the best
thing you have found. The one who can pick the best thing shall be the new
king.” The first brother said, “I will look in every city or town. I will buy
the best thing I can for my father.” The next two brothers said, “We will
both go on fast ships over the sea. We will find something better.” The last
brother said, “I am going to ask the people here in our own land to tell me
the best thing.” The other three brothers started to laugh. “Then you will
never be king!” they said. The last brother started off. When he had gone
about six miles, he met a man. “What do you carry in those big bags?” he
asked. “The best thing in the world,” said the man. “These are full of the
good nuts which fall from my five nut trees.” “I don’t think that would
work,” said the brother to himself, “I must try again.” The brother went on
another seven miles. He found a small brown bird. It had been hurt, so he put
it in his coat where it could keep warm. As he went on, he saw a little girl
crying. He ran to meet her. “Why are you crying?” he asked. “I want to get
some water from the well,” she said. “We use so much. We drink cold water. We
wash the clothes clean with hot water. But I do not know how to pull it up.
Please show me.” The brother said, “Hold this bird and I will help you. It
does not fly around anymore, because it got its wing hurt.” “Thank you. What
a pretty bird! she said. “I wish you would give it to me. If you will let me
keep it, I will always be very kind to it. I will take care of it myself. I
will make it grow well again.” “yes, you may have it,” said the brother. So
he gave her the bird and went on. At night, he went to sleep under a round
yellow haystack. When it was light again he walked on. Every day he would
walk eight or ten miles. He asked the people about the best thing in the
world. Some said it was best to sing. Some said it was best to run and jump
and play. Some said the green grass was best. Some liked the red and blue and
white flowers best. One man said the best thing was to ride a black horse. He
always stopped to help people who needed it. Soon he made many friends. All
the people began to like him. They would say, “See there goes the king’s son.
He would be just the right kind of king for us.” Every door was open to him.
The people would call to him to stop. They would ask him to come in and eat
with them. After he ate, he would sit down and read to the children. After he
read, he showed them how to draw and write. Months went by. He still had no
beautiful thing to take to his father. Just before the year was done, he went
home again. The time came when the king called his sons together. “What did
you bring?” he asked them all. The other two brothers had many beautiful
things. “And what did you bring?” said the king to the last brother. “This is
too funny!” said the other brothers. “He has nothing!” But the king was kind
to the last brother. “What did you bring me?” the king asked again. “I bring
only the friendship of your people,” said the last brother. “That is the best
thing!” cried his father. “You shall be the new king.”
For the complete list and activities go to
http://www.kidzone.ws/dolch/kindergarten.htm