A teacher selecting a learner among a group of children with raised hands

Teaching resources

Here you can find a wide range of practical resources to use in your classroom, whether you are teaching English to primary, secondary or adult learners. There are over 400 full lesson plans to choose from, covering different topics and themes, all organised according to the levels of the Common European Framework of Reference for languages (CEFR).

You'll also find shorter activities and ideas for using songs, poems and stories to help your learners improve their English in engaging and motivating ways.

Resource books include books, self-access guides and collections of lesson plans for you to download in pdf format. We also have several practical activity books full of ideas and photocopiable material.

All of our teaching resources are written by experts in English language teaching and are free to download.

Two young learners and a teacher in Mexico reading a storybook together

Promoting diversity through children's literature

At the British Council’s Teaching Centre in Paris, as part of our holiday programme for children, we are using carefully selected storybooks from the rich world of authentic children’s literature to raise awareness of diversity. Children attend these week long, 15 hour story-based courses for three hours each afternoon.

Using inclusive practices
Teachers talking in a staffroom

Reflective practice for language teachers

This practical step-by-step book is written specifically for language teachers by Thomas S. C. Farrell, a leading expert on reflective practice.

Publication
Understanding my professional identity
Understanding teacher learning
Supporting ongoing teacher professional development
Two primary age learners in Kenya sitting outside reading their school books

Language for Resilience: A handbook for teachers of refugees

This handbook provides guidelines to teachers who are supporting refugee children in their classes from many different backgrounds and with many different languages and finding the complexity of the situation challenging.

Publication
Understanding my learners
Using multilingual practices
Understanding the educational context
The 'Big Fish' sculpture in Belfast illuminated at night

From conflict to peace in Northern Ireland

This lesson plan for English language learners at CEFR B2 level looks at the key groups who took part in the Northern Ireland Peace Process. Students will practise their speaking skills through a role-play activity.

Age 13 - 17
CEFR level B2
Duration 60
Two female teenage students smiling and sitting at a table

ACCESS to gender balance - a toolkit for teachers

This toolkit is designed for educators who would like to improve their awareness of issues connected to gender bias and gender representation in English language learning materials.

Publication
A young male learner wearing a cap and backpack, looking away

Lunch Every Day

Download the lesson notes and student worksheets to use with the picturebook 'Lunch Every Day' by Kathryn Otoshi. There are links in the lesson notes to a video interview with the writer.

A family from different generations holding hands

Still a family

Download the lesson notes and student worksheets to use with the picturebook 'Still a family: A story about homelessness', by Brenda Reeves Sturgis. You can also watch a video of the author reading the story.

Age 5 - 12
CEFR level A2
Duration 30
Understanding my context
A hand holding three acorns

The promise

Download the lesson notes and student worksheets to use with the picturebook 'The Promise' by Nicola Davies. You can also watch a video interview with the illustrator, Laura Carlin and a video readaloud of the book by the author.

Article
Age 9 - 17
CEFR level A2
Duration 30
Understanding my context