A list of the most popular children's books, with suggestions showing how they could be used as the starting point for learning in the classroom. Book choices are based on visits to Teaching Ideas in 2013.

1. Top 10
Children’s
Books
with related
Teaching Ideas
www.teachingideas.co.uk
Book choices based on visits to Teaching Ideas in 2013.
Background © ThinkStock

2. Charlie and
the Chocolate
Factory
by
Roald Dahl
1. Write a letter from each
of the children to Mr.
Wonka after their visit to
the factory.
2. Make a map of the
chocolate factory
showing the different
rooms described in the
book.
3. Design some lickable
wallpaper for your
bedroom. What would it
have on it?
Find more free teaching
ideas and resources at!
http://teachr.co/charliechoc
Background © ThinkStock

3. Elmer
by
David McKee
1. Make alliterative
sentences involving
types of animals, e.g.
an extraordinarily excited
elephant, a long lazy
lion.
2. Decorate an elephant
picture for Elmer Day
using unusual shapes,
patterns and colours.
3. How can we celebrate
our differences like the
elephants do on Elmer
Day?
Find more free teaching
ideas and resources at!
http://teachr.co/elmerbook
Background © ThinkStock

4. Owl Babies
by
Martin Waddell
1. Act out the story and
discuss the feelings of
the babies and their
mum at different points in
the story?
2. Write a note from the
owls' mum telling them
not to worry while she
has gone.
3. Make a food chain which
includes owls. What do
they eat? What creatures
might eat them?
Find more free teaching
ideas and resources at!
http://teachr.co/owlbabies
Background © ThinkStock

5. Stick Man
by
Julia Donaldson
1. Could you write a
prequel to this book?
Where did the Stick
family come from?
2. Use stop-motion
animation software to
make an animated
version of the story using
sticks and your own
pictures.
3. Use natural materials
(e.g. sticks / leaves) to
make your own stick
people and animals.
Find more free teaching ideas
and resources at!
http://teachr.co/stickmanbook
Background © ThinkStock

6. Handa’s
Surprise
by
Eileen Browne
1. Before reading the
story, look at the title
and cover. Predict what
the surprise might be.
2. Weight a selection of
different fruit and
vegetables. Can you
put them in order from
lightest to heaviest?
3. Could you act out the
story and take digital
photos to retell it?
Find more free teaching ideas
and resources at!
http://teachr.co/handassurprise
Background © ThinkStock

7. The
Rainbow Fish
by
Marcus Pfister
1. Identify the adverbs
used in the story. Can
you think of any more?
2. Retell the story from the
Rainbow Fish’s point of
view.
3. The Rainbow Fish's
scales are 'every shade
of blue, green and
purple'. Can you try
mixing paint to make
lots of different shades
of these colours?
Find more free teaching!
ideas and resources at!
http://teachr.co/rainbowfishbook
Background © ThinkStock

8. The
Highwayman
by
Alfred Noyes
1. Freeze-frame different
parts of the story.
Question each other
about their role in the
scene.
2. Find the metaphors in
the story and make up
some of your own.
3. Make an animation or a
multimedia
presentation that retells
the story.
Find more free teaching!
ideas and resources at!
http://teachr.co/highwaymanbook
Background © ThinkStock

9. George’s
Marvellous
Medicine
by
Roald Dahl
1. Write a set of
instructions to teach
others how to make
George’s marvellous
medicine.
2. Make an advert to
persuade people to buy
George’s medicine.
3. Role play the character
of George’s grandma.
Why is she so grumpy?
4. Turn the story into a
play and perform it!
Find more free teaching
ideas and resources at!
http://teachr.co/georgesmm
Background © ThinkStock

10. How the
Grinch Stole
Christmas
by
Dr. Seuss
1. Can you retell the
story from the point
of view of the
Grinch?
2. Design an invitation
for the Grinch,
inviting him to next
year's feast.
3. What do you think
the Grinch learned at
the end of the story?
Find more free teaching ideas!
and resources at!
http://teachr.co/
grinchstolechristmas
Background © ThinkStock

11. The Night
Before
Christmas
by
Clement Moore
1. Read the description of
St. Nicholas in the poem.
Can you write a
description of another
person in a similar style?
2. Try recording your own
retelling of the poem.
Can you add music /
sound effects at
appropriate points?
3. Create a storyboard
showing scenes from
different parts of the
poem.
Find more free teaching ideas and
resources at!
http://teachr.co/
nightmarebeforechristmas
Background © ThinkStock

12. Find ideas and
resources linked
to other popular
children’s books in the
Teaching Ideas Library.
www.teachingideas.co.uk/library
Background © ThinkStock