Bringing Stories to Life: Celebrating National Storytelling Week in Primary

There’s something magical about stories! They transport us, inspire us, and connect us in so many ways.

This week, in our Primary school, we celebrated the UK's National Storytelling Week with a host of creative and joyful activities that lit up our classrooms. The theme for this year's National Storytelling Week was "Soundtrack your Story" - a vibrant way for children to explore storytelling, far beyond just reading and writing words on a page.

Year 5 Raps Up Kindness

One of the highlights came from Year 5, who put their own unique spin on storytelling by creating original raps all about kindness. It was wonderful to see their confidence soar as they performed these lively pieces to the Reception students. There’s something powerful about combining rhythm, rhyme, and heartfelt messages!. Plus, watching the youngest pupils light up with smiles made it all the more special.

Soundscapes and Stories in Years 2 and 3

Meanwhile, Years 2 and 3 dived into The Fantastic Mr. Fox, but rather than just reading, they explored how stories can be told through music and sound. They experimented by creating their own sound effects to accompany the narrative, transforming the classroom into a vibrant soundscape. It’s a brilliant way to deepen understanding of a story’s mood and rhythm, and it invites students to become active creators rather than passive listeners.

Drawing Inspiration from Music in Year 4

Year 4 took a different, but equally imaginative, approach: they listened to music and let their imaginations run wild by translating the sounds into drawings. It’s fascinating how melodies can spark vivid images and stories inside our minds. These exercises nurture creativity and encourage children to trust their instincts when interpreting art and stories, building their confidence to think independently and inventively.

Together, these activities formed a wonderful tapestry of storytelling methods—showing our students that there’s no single 'right' way to share a story. Whether through words, music, movement, or art, storytelling is about expression, connection, and curiosity. Moments like these are why we love teaching so much.