Storykits: A step by step guide

Step 1: Choose your storykit-based on book or theme

• Each storykit one has a theme, and a recommended age range
• There are storykits appropriate for KS1 through to KS3
• Many have ideas for additional reading so consider sourcing some of the other books listed
• Many of the stories deal with sensitive issues,  so it is important that you read the whole book yourself

Step 2: Plan your timescale

• Using a storykit about a picture book might take two or three weeks to complete, but a longer story may take half a term or longer

Step 3: Planning

• Decide which of the suggested storykit activities to introduce. You might do all of them, or just choose a few that link well with other texts
• Check you have any resources required

Step 4: Prepare the activities

• Explore the Storykit’s orientation ideas and plan how you will support pupils to research the topic, so that you build in a social action focus from the start

Step 5: Using the Storykits with the pupils

• Introduce the topic. You might start with the orientation activities or encourage the pupils to carry out the research as
• the story progresses
• Read the chosen title aloud to the class/group in suitable sections (or give pupils time to read independently)
• Use Empathy Book-talking guidance when discussing the book
• Introduce the activities you have selected at the appropriate points in the story
• Involve pupils in creating other activities linked to the storykit and deciding on social action

Step 6: Empathy in action

• As you are coming to the end, start discussing what pupils want to do to as a result of their experiences to make a difference in this classroom, in their year group and in the whole school community
• Include any ideas initiated by them during the course of the story and together draw up an action plan
• Take the action