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      BritLit

      Each BritLit resource kit contains a text and downloadable materials to help teachers using literature in the English language classroom. Find out more about the BritLit project.

      WorldWords includes interviews with writers talking about their work.

      Most recent

      3.526315

      The High Master and Little Billy Clough

      The High Master and Little Billy Clough is a humorous short story written by John Waddington-Feather (born 1933), a British author who belongs to the West Yorkshire 'school' of writers.

      Set in North Yorkshire, the story not only tells about a twelve-year old boy placed in a ‘select’ school to iron out his accent, but also provides a great opportunity to explore the role of accents in British society.

      Level: Intermediate

      Age: 14+

      4.333335

      My Daughter, The Fox

      Jackie Kay's story My Daughter, The Fox gives the reader an unusual view of the mother/child relationship. As the title suggests, the narrator's daughter isn't human, but the feelings generated between mother and daughter are universal and so the scene is set for the paradox to be played out.

      To find out more about the Britlit writing team in Russia and watch an interview with the team, click here or follow the link below:

      http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/britlit/britlit-russia-meet-team

      4.666665

      Britlit Russia: Meet the team

      About the team

      My Daughter, The Fox is the first in a series of four kits written by school and university teachers from Russia, under the guidance of Alan Pulverness and co-ordinated by the British Council, Russia. This collaborative project was the direct result of a course run by NILE (Norwich Institute of Language Education) in 2011 in which two of the Russian teachers were enrolled and which Alan taught. The teachers involved in the writing of the kit based on My Daughter, The Fox were:

      Katya Toroptseva (group leader), Mikhail Mamaev, Yulia Klimenova, Ludmila Borbotko, Nina Skitina, Ekaterina Mikhailovskaya and Ludmila Talsi.

      Alan and members of the project team can be seen discussing the work and their involvement in this video made by the British Council, Russia.

      3.954545

      Strap Box Flyer

      Giffen is an unpleasant man who is always on the lookout for ways to trick money out of 'suckers' and his amazing glue seems to be the perfect way to do this. Until he come across Flinty, that is.

      Strap Box Flyer is from the pen of one of Australia's most popular writers for children, Paul Jennings.  This kit was assembled - without using any glue - by teachers from India, Portugal and Turkey on a NILE (Norwich Institute of Language Education) summer course.

      3.93846

      Carapace

      A young Sri Lankan woman needs some advice. Her mother wants her to marry a rich man that she has never met, but what does her boyfriend think?

      Primary

      3.83019

      A Handful of Poems by Tony Mitton

      The four poems in this collection are all by Tony Mitton, and the materials are the first to be designed by BritLit for the age range 9 – 11 year olds. Each collection includes text and audio of the poem as well as learning activities, teachers' notes and visual support.

      4.075

      Down by the Cool of the Pool

      “Down by the Cool of the Pool” is a rhyming text written by Tony Mitton. Join Frog and his farmyard friends as they dance around the pool.

      4.493245

      Jack and the Beanstalk

      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.

      4.09886

      Little Red Riding Hood

      All around the world children love listening to and reading fairy tales in their mother tongue. Whatever the reason, fairy tales provide both children and teachers with a familiar starting point from which to explore stories in a second language.

      4.30928

      Old MacDonald Had a Farm

      The kit includes ideas to engage the children in the tale in addition to a host of activities to exploit the story and to extend the topic of farms and farm animals.

      Younger teens

      3.95302

      Pink Bow Tie

      A fourteen year old finds himself in trouble with the school Principal – again. This time, however, he has a genuine excuse, but is he likely to be believed?

      3.83051

      Orange Juice

      Children’s laureate Michael Rosen has a way of presenting vexing questions in verse.

      4.068965

      Chain Reaction

      All seems to be going well on the cruise ship when suddenly there is a most unusual disruption.

      4.028985

      The Wolf's Tale

      The traditional story of Little Red Riding Hood receives a curious twist in this offering by Louise Cooper.

      3.930235

      Genie-us

      Louise Cooper’s stories usually have a twist in the tale, and this is no different. It starts off ordinarily enough with a king, a crying princess and a poor suitor for the princess’s hand. So, what happens to cheer the princess up? Probably not what you think…

      Secondary

      3.526315

      The High Master and Little Billy Clough

      The High Master and Little Billy Clough is a humorous short story written by John Waddington-Feather (born 1933), a British author who belongs to the West Yorkshire 'school' of writers.

      Set in North Yorkshire, the story not only tells about a twelve-year old boy placed in a ‘select’ school to iron out his accent, but also provides a great opportunity to explore the role of accents in British society.

      Level: Intermediate

      Age: 14+

      3.954545

      Strap Box Flyer

      Giffen is an unpleasant man who is always on the lookout for ways to trick money out of 'suckers' and his amazing glue seems to be the perfect way to do this. Until he come across Flinty, that is.

      Strap Box Flyer is from the pen of one of Australia's most popular writers for children, Paul Jennings.  This kit was assembled - without using any glue - by teachers from India, Portugal and Turkey on a NILE (Norwich Institute of Language Education) summer course.

      3.93846

      Carapace

      A young Sri Lankan woman needs some advice. Her mother wants her to marry a rich man that she has never met, but what does her boyfriend think?

      4.08108

      Billy Elliot

      ‘Billy Elliot’ is the story of a boy from a coal mining family who decides to be a ballet dancer.

      4.51724

      The Mystery of the Stolen FA Cup Medal

      David loves football, but his mum can’t afford to take him to see his beloved United play. One day he sees something over the garden fence that doesn’t look right. What should he do?

      Tertiary

      4.333335

      My Daughter, The Fox

      Jackie Kay's story My Daughter, The Fox gives the reader an unusual view of the mother/child relationship. As the title suggests, the narrator's daughter isn't human, but the feelings generated between mother and daughter are universal and so the scene is set for the paradox to be played out.

      To find out more about the Britlit writing team in Russia and watch an interview with the team, click here or follow the link below:

      http://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/britlit/britlit-russia-meet-team

      WorldWords

      4

      Baby Scorpion

      Francesca Beard's poem, Baby Scorpion, deals with transformation and consequence.  A baby scorpion crawls from a burning log in front of a couple who are keeping warm by the fire.

      3.6

      Be Near Me

      This extract from Andrew O’Hagan’s novel, Be Near Me, is centred around a boat trip that the narrator – a priest – is taking with two of his young parishioners.

      2.666665

      Candy Coated Unicorns and Converse All Stars

      Inua Ellam's poem, Candy Coated Unicorns And Converse All Stars, is a dark look at the plight of individuals set against violence, both of a domestic and of a general nature.

      4

      Double Cross

      This extract from Malorie Blackman's novel, Double Cross, is a dialogue between two people engaged in criminal activities.

      4

      Genetics

      Sinéad Morrissey's poem, Genetics, gives us a wistful recollection of the poet as a celebration of the coming together of her parents.

      Your comments

      AnnaSmith782's picture

      AnnaSmith782
      United Kingdom (Great Britain)

      This is really amazing. My 3 years daughter is not so perfect in english but considering her age...
      read comment

      jessegour's picture

      jessegour
      Malaysia
      Thank you for all these lesson plan. British council, you have made teaching English so much easier.
      read comment
      mceupc's picture

      mceupc
      Portugal
      It has been exciting to hear Alan Pulverness mention Portuguese teachers' energy and creativity...
      read comment