Covers: Activity Resources Relation to National Curriculum Downloads
Activity One - Story Games

Activity 1

Story Games

Activity Pack 1
Activity Two - Story Map

Activity 2

Story Map

Activity Pack 2
Activity Three - Story Timeline

Activity 3

Story Timeline

  • Appropriate story
  • Roll of paper
  • Tape
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Pencil
Activity Pack 3
Activity Four - Prompt Cards

Activity 4

Prompt Cards

Activity Pack 4
Activity Five - Speech Bubbles

Activity 5

Speech Bubbles

Activity Pack 5
Activity Six - Sliding Puppet Show

Activity 6

Sliding Puppet Show

  • Card
  • Craft knife (for adult use)
  • Crayons / pens
  • Scissors
  • Glue / double sided tape
  • Craft sticks
Activity Pack 6

Tell Me A Story: Two
Booklist

Tell Me Story: Two Activities

Activity One - Story Games

Activity 1

Story Games

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Two - Story Map

Activity 2

Story Map

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Three - Story Timeline

Activity 3

Story Timeline

Hands-On Activities:
  • Appropriate story
  • Roll of paper
  • Tape
  • Paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Pencil
Activity Four - Prompt Cards

Activity 4

Prompt Cards

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Five - Speech Bubbles

Activity 5

Speech Bubbles

Hands-On Activities:
Activity Six - Sliding Puppet Show

Activity 6

Sliding Puppet Show

Hands-On Activities:
  • Card
  • Craft knife (for adult use)
  • Crayons / pens
  • Scissors
  • Glue / double sided tape
  • Craft sticks

Our KS1 English related blogs!

Reading inspiration found only at Hands-On Education

Tell Me A Story Y2 Topic

How can this Hands-On Education topic help in teaching Y2 English?

This Hands-On Education "Tell Me A Story: Two" topic for Year 2 English provides engaging and interactive activities to enhance students' storytelling and literacy skills. Through the use of story dice, word games, and visual prompts, children can develop their vocabulary, communication abilities, and narrative techniques in a fun and collaborative environment. The activities, such as creating story timelines and using speech bubbles, encourage creativity while also reinforcing key literacy concepts. By incorporating hands-on elements like scissors, glue, and pens, the topic ensures that learning is both tactile and memorable, helping to make literacy education more accessible and enjoyable for young learners.

Sign up now

How does Hands-On Education enhance engagement in Y2 English lessons?

Tell Me A Story Year 2 Activity

Hands-On Education significantly enhances engagement in Year 2 English lessons through a variety of interactive and creative activities:

Multisensory Learning Experiences

The "Tell Me A Story: Two" topic incorporates multisensory activities that cater to different learning styles:

  • Visual learners benefit from creating story maps and timelines[1]
  • Auditory learners engage through storytelling and word games[1]
  • Kinesthetic learners enjoy hands-on crafts like making puppets[1]
This approach ensures that all students can engage with the material in ways that suit their individual learning preferences.

Interactive Storytelling Techniques

The curriculum uses several techniques to make storytelling more interactive and engaging:

  • Story Dice: Students use dice with pictures to generate story elements, encouraging creativity and spontaneous narrative creation
  • Story Maps: Visual representations of story settings help students understand and remember narrative structures
  • Speech Bubbles: Students fill in dialogue for characters, promoting understanding of perspective and character development

These activities transform passive listening into active participation in the storytelling process.

Vocabulary Development Through Play

Hands-On Education incorporates game-based learning to make vocabulary acquisition more enjoyable:

  • Word association games help students connect new vocabulary to existing knowledge
  • Story prompt cards encourage students to use new words in context
  • Creating collage sentences from magazine cutouts makes learning sentence structure fun and tactile

These playful approaches make vocabulary learning more memorable and engaging for young learners.

Collaborative Learning Opportunities

The curriculum encourages peer interaction and collaborative learning:

  • Group storytelling activities foster teamwork and communication skills
  • Pair work for creating dialogues and discussing story elements enhances social learning
  • Collaborative puppet shows allow students to bring stories to life together

These collaborative experiences not only improve language skills but also develop important social and emotional competencies.

Integration of Arts and Crafts

Incorporating arts and crafts into English lessons adds a creative dimension to learning:

  • Creating story timelines helps students visualize narrative progression
  • Designing and making puppets for storytelling combines language learning with artistic expression
  • Illustrating story scenes reinforces comprehension and allows for personal interpretation of texts

This integration of art into language learning caters to students' creativity while reinforcing key literacy concepts. By employing these hands-on strategies, Hands-On Education creates a dynamic and engaging learning environment that motivates Year 2 students to actively participate in their English lessons, leading to improved retention and a deeper understanding of language and literacy concepts.

How can total physical response (TPR) be effectively integrated into Y2 English classes?

Tell Me A Story Year 2 Activity

Total Physical Response (TPR) can be effectively integrated into Year 2 English classes to enhance engagement and language acquisition. Here are some ways to incorporate TPR:

Vocabulary Instruction

TPR works exceptionally well for teaching new vocabulary, especially action verbs:

  • Demonstrate actions like "jump", "clap", or "spin" while saying the words
  • Have students mimic the actions as they repeat the words
  • Use exaggerated facial expressions and body movements to reinforce meaning

This multi-sensory approach helps create stronger neural connections, improving retention and recall of new words.

Storytelling and Narrative Language

TPR can bring stories to life and improve comprehension:

  • Act out key scenes from stories as you read them aloud
  • Assign different actions to represent characters or events
  • Have students perform the actions when they hear specific words or phrases

This approach enhances students' understanding of narrative structure and sequencing.

Classroom Instructions

Use TPR to reinforce common classroom language:
  • Pair physical actions with instructions like "open your book" or "raise your hand"
  • Practice these consistently to establish routines
  • Gradually reduce verbal instructions as students become familiar with the actions

This helps create a more immersive English language environment in the classroom.

Interactive Games

Incorporate TPR into fun, engaging activities:
  • Simon Says: Use this classic game to practice following instructions and learning new vocabulary
  • Action Songs: Teach songs with corresponding movements to reinforce language in a memorable way
  • Scavenger Hunt Challenge: Give instructions for students to find or do things around the classroom

These games make language learning enjoyable while lowering anxiety levels.

Grammar Practice

Use TPR to reinforce grammatical concepts:
  • Demonstrate the difference between singular and plural by having students perform actions once or multiple times
  • Use actions to represent different tenses (e.g., walking slowly for past continuous, jumping for simple present)

This kinesthetic approach can help make abstract grammar concepts more concrete for young learners.

Assessment

TPR can be used as a low-stress method of formative assessment:
  • Give instructions and observe students' physical responses to gauge comprehension
  • Use TPR activities as a fun way to review vocabulary or concepts before formal assessments

This allows teachers to check understanding without putting pressure on students to produce language verbally. By integrating TPR into Year 2 English classes, teachers can create a dynamic, engaging learning environment that caters to different learning styles and reduces anxiety around language production. This approach not only enhances vocabulary retention and comprehension but also makes the learning process more enjoyable for young students.

What are the benefits of blending movement activities with other teaching methods in Y2 English?

Tell Me A Story Year 2 Activity

Blending movement activities with other teaching methods in Year 2 English offers numerous benefits for students' learning and development:

Incorporating movement enhances cognitive function and improves learning outcomes. Research has shown that when children's bodies are involved in movement, their brains are in a higher state of arousal, which stimulates neurons and electrical wiring in the brain[3]. This increased brain activity can lead to better retention of information and improved processing speed, ultimately supporting students' ability to grasp and remember English concepts.

Movement activities can significantly boost engagement and motivation in English lessons. By breaking up sedentary periods with physical activity, teachers can help students maintain focus and reduce restlessness. This is particularly important for young learners who may struggle to sit still for extended periods. Engaging in movement can also release endorphins, promoting a positive mood and making students more receptive to learning.

Kinesthetic learning through movement can make abstract English concepts more concrete and memorable. For example, using physical actions to represent punctuation marks or vocabulary words can help students internalize these concepts more effectively]. This multi-sensory approach caters to different learning styles and can be especially beneficial for students who struggle with traditional teaching methods.

Movement activities can support the development of phonemic awareness and blending skills, which are crucial for early reading. Games like "Jump and Blend," where students physically jump into hoops representing different sounds, can reinforce phoneme blending in a fun and interactive way. This kinesthetic approach helps students connect the physical act of blending with the cognitive process, potentially improving their reading fluency and comprehension.

Incorporating movement can also foster social-emotional learning and teamwork. Group activities that involve movement, such as collaborative storytelling with actions, can help students develop communication skills and social bonds while engaging with English content. This social aspect of learning can make the subject more enjoyable and less intimidating for students.

Finally, movement breaks integrated into English lessons can contribute to students' overall physical health and well-being. With many children not meeting recommended daily physical activity levels, incorporating movement into academic subjects like English can help address this issue while simultaneously supporting learning goals.

How can I further help my child at home with English language skills?

Tell Me A Story Year 2 Activity

Reading Together

One of the most effective ways to help your child develop English language skills at home is through reading together. Choose a variety of books that cater to your child's interests, including picture books, chapter books, and even comics. Make reading a daily habit and engage your child by asking questions about the story, such as "What do you think will happen next?" or "Why do you think the character did that?" This not only improves comprehension but also makes reading interactive and enjoyable.

Incorporate English into Daily Activities

Turn everyday activities into learning opportunities. For example:

  • While cooking, have your child read the recipe aloud
  • During board games, let them read instructions and keep score
  • On grocery trips, encourage them to identify and pronounce new words

These real-life applications make learning relevant and fun.

Language Games and Activities

Engage your child with fun language games to expand their vocabulary and improve communication skills:

  • Word games like Scrabble or Pictionary
  • Telling age-appropriate jokes and puns
  • Solving riddles
  • practising rhymes and tongue twisters
  • Playing with homonyms (words that sound alike but have different meanings)

These activities foster creativity, improve pronunciation, and enhance understanding of word meanings.

Create an English-Rich Environment

Set up an "English corner" or "English table" in your home. This area can include:

  • A mini-library of English books
  • Displays of English culture (pictures, flags)
  • Your child's drawings or craft work related to English learning

This dedicated space provides a focus for English-related activities and materials.

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Leverage technology to support your child's English learning:

  • Set devices like TVs, tablets, and game consoles to use English
  • Use educational apps and games designed for English learners
  • Watch English-language videos or shows together

This exposes your child to English in a natural, everyday context.

Encourage Speaking Practice

Create opportunities for your child to practice speaking English:

  • Have regular "English time" where you speak only in English
  • Encourage them to describe their day or tell stories in English
  • Play role-playing games or act out scenes from books or movies

Remember to be patient and supportive, praising their efforts and gently correcting mistakes.

Lead by Example

If possible, learn English alongside your child. This shows them that learning is a lifelong process and that it's okay to make mistakes. It also provides opportunities for you to practice together and support each other's learning journey.

By incorporating these strategies into your daily routine, you can create a rich, supportive environment for your child to develop their English language skills at home. Remember to keep activities fun and engaging, and celebrate your child's progress along the way.

How is storytelling important in a child's spoken language and reading development?

Tell Me A Story Year 2 Activity

Storytelling plays a crucial role in a child's spoken language and reading development, offering numerous benefits that lay the foundation for strong communication and literacy skills:

Storytelling exposes children to rich and varied language, helping them expand their vocabulary and improve their understanding of complex sentence structures. By hearing stories regularly, children encounter new words and phrases in context, making it easier for them to learn and remember them. This exposure to diverse language patterns enhances their ability to express themselves more effectively in their own speech.

Listening to stories helps children develop critical listening skills, including the ability to focus, follow a narrative, and comprehend spoken language. These skills are essential for both communication and future reading comprehension. Additionally, storytelling improves children's memory skills as they recall details from stories and remember key events and characters, enhancing their overall cognitive development.

Storytelling also plays a vital role in developing children's narrative skills. It helps them understand how stories are structured, including the concepts of beginning, middle, and end. This improves their ability to retell stories, sequence events, and grasp cause and effect relationships. These narrative skills are fundamental to both spoken language development and reading comprehension.

Research has shown that children who experience more complex and engaging language during shared book reading and storytelling interactions demonstrate higher language skills and, in turn, higher literacy skills throughout elementary school. This highlights the long-term impact of storytelling on a child's language and reading development.

Furthermore, storytelling fosters creativity and imagination, encouraging children to visualize events and characters. This cognitive engagement enhances their ability to think creatively and supports their overall language development. It also provides opportunities for children to engage in interactive storytelling, where they can participate and experiment with language in a safe and supportive environment.

In conclusion, storytelling is a powerful tool for supporting young children's spoken language and reading development. It provides a multifaceted approach to language learning, combining vocabulary acquisition, listening skills, narrative understanding, and creative thinking. By incorporating storytelling into a child's daily routine, parents and educators can significantly enhance the child's language skills and set a strong foundation for future reading success.

Discover Hands-On Education