Stories and poems | TeachingEnglish | British Council

Here you can find a wide range of ideas for using stories and poems in your primary classroom. All of the materials are based on authentic texts or stories written especially for primary learners and are designed to engage and motivate children as well as develop their understanding of important themes and encourage personal, social and emotional development. Written by young learner experts from around the world, our ideas for using stories and poems are easy to use and aim to give your students the skills and confidence they need to enjoy learning English.

Choose a short story or poem

Susan Laughs

Susan Laughs

This lesson plan for A1 level primary learners aged 9 to 10 years old raises awareness about children with a disability.

What if?

What if?

This lesson plan for A1 level primary learners aged 9 to 10 years old helps in raising awareness about recycling.

Little Beauty

Little Beauty

This lesson plan for A1 level primary learners aged 7 to 8 years old explores the complexities of communication.

Using a story: Miko the monkey

Using a story: Miko the monkey

This lesson plan helps learners develop reading skills and reinforces forms of the present tense.

Anna's wet day out

Anna's wet day out

This activity trains young learners to plan a very simple story.

Polar bear story

Polar bear story

This story is based on a well-known children's joke and provides practice of the question Have I got ...?

Little Red Riding Hood

Little Red Riding Hood

This kit contains a variety of resources based on the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood.

Down by the Cool of the Pool

Down by the Cool of the Pool

This kit integrates a range of activities for young children based on the rhyming text Down by the Cool of the Pool.

Walking through the Jungle

Walking through the Jungle

This kit integrates a range of mixed-ability cross-curricular materials based on the book Walking through the Jungle.

Research and insight

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