Stories are not only great fun; they’re also a fantastic way to inspire pupils with a love of language and engage them with issues that are outside their day to day experience.
Children have an innate love of stories. Stories create magic and a sense of wonder at the world, teach pupils about life, about themselves and about others.
Storytelling is a unique way for students to develop an understanding, respect and appreciation for other cultures, and can promote a positive attitude to people from different lands, races and religions.
There’s no better way to learn how to write a good story than to read a few good ones for yourself.
These resources have been hand-picked to illustrate ways in which ‘One World’, along with its sub themes of the environment, global warming, political activism and world peace, can be incorporated into stories.
We believe that these are fantastic resources for use within the classroom, and we hope that you find them helpful when running the school round of the SCEMES National Short Story Competition
The Lost Raindrops
This beautifully illustrated resource is a wonderful story about the world that we live in and the effect that humankind has had on it. Created by the charity World Vision this story also comes with an activity plan and environment fact-file.
by World Vision
The Poem that Saved the World
A quirky tale about the poet William Wordsworth and the surprising level of influence that he’s had over the way we see the natural world. Written in entertaining prose, this story asks whether the famous poet really was “loop-the-loop, fruit-and-nut-cake, heehaw crazy!”
by David North, SCEMES Ltd
Peace Day
A beautifully illustrated, colourful story about World Peace Day (Sept 21st) Incorporating ideas of international communication, respect for different cultures and political activism into an interesting story.
by PeaceKids.com
An Earth Day Story
This story is actually a short play adapted from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Composed in easy-to-read prose and with some 29 parts, this story could be read as a class activity when introducing the topic of ‘One World’.
by Mary Beth Greene
Sharon Finds the Environment
An educational illustrated story that poses the question: what is the environment? Touching on numerous environmental issues such as energy-saving, pollution, recycling and sustainability.
by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences