Get children to act out story: DO: Tell the children they are to imagine the centre of the circle is a place called NewTown.  Get some children to throw imaginary rubbish (or use something physical, like bags of recycling) into middle of circle. SAY: NewTown was getting very messy and smelly because the bins were so full.  The Bo...

Plumbean decides that he wants his house to be a little different to the others in the street. But what will the neighbours think? Should he be bothered? Task Questions: Should Mr Plumbean paint his house how he wants? Why? Is it naughty to paint his house how he wants it? Is it ok to paint it, if his neighbours don't like i...

The story of The Boy With No Name is written to be interactive. The children can be engaged as it goes along so I have placed Task Questions at the points where I generally ask my audience questions. They are only suggestions, so you may not want to ask them all in one telling. This story also includes a joke which even very young children seem ...

Marjorie is sad, she doesn’t feel special. And then one day, she wakes up... it looks like she’s laid an egg? But what’s inside? Cow’s don’t usually lay eggs... Stimulus You will need the book 'The Cow That Laid An Egg' by Andy Cutbill. Read the story, getting children to join in with various actio...

This story takes what I call a Twilight Zone approach, inspired by the 1960s television series of the same name that delivered – what were then – popular short stories of the kind that were being published in pulp science fiction and fantasy magazines. This kind of story is often characterised by ending surpris- ingly, either with a ...

You are going to need the book 'The Gruffalo' by Julia Donaldson for this session. The Little Brown Mouse says that she has a friend called a Gruffalo, but she knows ‘there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo’. Until, she meets one... Task Questions: Did the Little Brown Mouse tell a lie? What is lying? If...

Written by Steve Hoggins Stimulus Once there was a king named Giphad. He ruled over a very peaceful yet powerful kingdom. All was perfect in his kingdom. Except for his son, Jonash. The king's son was very unhappy for no known reason. 
He would always sit in his room staring blankly out the window over the lands, frowning. The king ...

Stimulus Once there was a king named Giphad. He ruled over a very peaceful yet powerful kingdom. All was perfect in his kingdom. Except for his son, Jonash. The king's son was very unhappy for no known reason. King Giphad had tried to lift his son's mood but had just didn't know what would make him happy. So he sent for the wisest...

  BACKGROUND The belief in heaven, where we are rewarded for what we do on Earth is widespread and powerful. These days, beliefs in the afterlife vary widely. Some believe literally in what the Bible, Koran, or other holy book says heaven will be like. Others have a more vague idea that their spirit will somehow live on. Whatever the ...