Jack and the beanstalk is a magical English fairytale dating back to the 19th century. Over the years it has been retold in many different versions, though the tale we know today is said to relate most closely to that inspired by Joseph Jacobs in English Fairy Tales in 1890. The tale has all the ingredients of a great children's story – a bold boy, a beanstalk that climbs up through the clouds, a castle in the sky, a giant that eats intruders …
This BritLit Primary Kit has been designed for use with any version of the tale. The kit integrates a range of mixed-ability cross-curricular materials within the context of the tale in order to actively engage children and develop their cognitive, linguistic and social skills. The kit includes storytelling tips, interactive language activities, games, puzzles, chants, project work, play, links to online animated tales and a book list of Jack and the beanstalk stories. You can also find online and printable materials for learners on the British Council's LearnEnglish Kids website.
Activities – materials related to the story
- Introduction (information about the activities and suggested levels)
- Action charades
- Bean and corn salad and crossword
- Bean likes and dislikes survey
- Beans on toast
- Bean project work
- Colour the characters
- Colour the scenes
- Count 1-10
- Count the beans 11-20
- Count the beans 11-20 with words
- Do you know your beans?
- Dominoes
- Grow your own beans!
- Height beanstalk
- Jack and the beanstalk cards
- Measure me!
- Picture dictionary for reference
- Picture wordsearch
- Spot the differences A
- Spot the differences B
- The giant says …
- Vocabulary checklist
- Wanted / for sale posters
Chants – materials to help with pronunciation
Flashcards – materials to help you build up vocabulary
Play – materials to help your learners act out the story
Story – materials to support understanding of the story
- A4 Jack and the beanstalk story flashcards
- Put the story pictures in order
- Put the story pictures in order answers
- Story auction
- Story cards
- Story comprehension
- Story gapfill
- Story review
- Story sentences
- Storyboard pictures
- Storyboard sentences
- Storyboard teacher's notes
- Working with the story
About this BritLit Kit
This is part of a short series of kits for primary school learners of English. It was produced to respond to the initiative of governments, including the Portuguese government, to lower the age at which English is taught in state schools. Written by Carolyne Ardron and Michelle Maia, illustrations by Paul Millard.