Year 1 Tell Me A Story Activities

Spark Imagination with Six Playful Storytelling Activities

Introduce young learners to the joy of storytelling with this creative Year 1 English resource featuring six hands-on activities that develop narrative skills, oral language, and imaginative thinking through play, craft, and exploration.

Six Complete Activities Included:

1. Story Discussion: Build oral storytelling skills through guided discussions using specially designed prompt cards! Children learn to talk about stories, share ideas, and develop the language of narrative in a supportive, interactive way
2. Story Play Mat: Bring stories to life with a hands-on play mat! Children use toys and props to act out narratives, developing story structure understanding and sequencing skills through imaginative play
3. Nature Story Walk: Take storytelling outdoors! Explore the natural world and use discoveries from nature walks—leaves, sticks, stones—as inspiration for creating original stories that connect imagination to the environment
4. Story Box: Create magical story boxes filled with objects, pictures, and props that inspire storytelling! Children select items from the box to build narratives, developing creativity and oral language skills
5. Spoon Characters: Design and create character puppets using wooden spoons! This craft activity combines art skills with storytelling as children make their own characters and use them to tell and act out stories
6. Picture Prompts: Use visual prompts to spark story ideas! Children look at pictures and create narratives based on what they see, developing observation skills, imagination, and the ability to construct stories from visual cues

Why Teachers Choose This Resource:

• Curriculum-Aligned: Fully supports Year 1 English objectives for spoken language and early narrative development
• Age-Appropriate: Activities specifically designed for 5-6 year olds with playful, accessible approaches to storytelling
• Play-Based Learning: Uses play, craft, and exploration to make storytelling natural and enjoyable
• Develops Oral Language: Focuses on spoken storytelling before written, building confidence and vocabulary
• Ready to Use: Complete lesson plans with templates, resource lists, and step-by-step instructions
• Cross-Curricular Links: Connects to KS1 Art & Design (puppet making) and outdoor learning
• Builds Confidence: Non-threatening approaches that help all children find their storytelling voice

Perfect For:

• Year 1 English oral storytelling lessons
• Developing early narrative and sequencing skills
• Homeschool English and creative language curriculum
• Building confidence in speaking and listening
• Outdoor learning and nature-based activities
• Encouraging reluctant speakers through creative play

Learning Outcomes:

Through these activities, children will develop oral storytelling skills and confidence, understand basic story structure (beginning, middle, end), use imagination to create original narratives, sequence events in logical order, develop descriptive vocabulary and language skills, and build the foundation for written storytelling in Year 2.

What Makes This Resource Special:

Year 1 children are natural storytellers—they just need the right prompts and encouragement to share their ideas. These activities provide concrete, playful ways for young children to explore storytelling through objects, pictures, puppets, and nature, making narrative learning accessible, enjoyable, and confidence-building.

Building Narrative Foundations:

Oral storytelling comes before written storytelling. By giving Year 1 children lots of opportunities to tell stories aloud using props, pictures, and play, we build the narrative understanding, vocabulary, and confidence they need to become successful writers in later years. These activities make that crucial foundation fun and memorable.

Bring storytelling magic to your Year 1 classroom! These engaging activities help young children discover the joy of creating and sharing stories through playful, hands-on approaches that develop oral language, imagination, and narrative skills—building the foundation for future reading and writing success.