Monkey Puzzle Storytelling Cards
Make your Monkey Puzzle storytelling sessions more exciting and accessible to your ESL young learners.
♦ Especially adapted, simplified text so it's super easy for you to tell the story in a way that your kids can understand and engage with.
♦ Useful prompts on the back tell you exactly what to say AND provide comprehension checks and ways to promote interaction.
♦ Super adaptable! Use them in storytelling, games, sequencing activities and more.
♦ Perfect for switching up the dynamics and keeping your kids engaged.
Ready for some Monkey Puzzle storytelling magic? Get your templates and lesson ideas here:
Or get them in one of the Monkey Puzzle Activities BUNDLES. Best value!
What will my students learn?
These cards are great for mixed abilities and age groups because they let each child acquire the language they’re ready to. You can use them to focus on animals and descriptive language from the pictures, but you can also work on the adapted storytelling phrases. They’ll practise their listening skills, but will also have plenty of speaking opportunities in the interactive retelling. If you use them in games and sequencing activities, they’ll get even more speaking practice.
Below is a summary of the language you might focus on.
Jungle animals
monkey, butterfly, elephant, snake, spider, parrot, frog, bat, caterpillar
Adjectives of description
big, small, curly, hairy, slimy, moist, furry, fat
Body parts
tusks, trunk, tail, legs, nose, beak, claws, hands, wings
Key story phrases
I’ve lost my mum; I want my mum; Don’t cry; I can help; I know! Come with me; No, no, no. That’s not my mum; That’s a (frog); None of these animals look like me.
Structures
Verb ‘to be’ – 3rd person
e.g. My mum is big. / A bat is small. / She isn’t grey. / My mum isn’t tall.
‘have’ / ‘have got’ for possession – 3rd person
e.g. My mum has got a tail. / A spider has got 8 legs. / She hasn’t got tusks. / A snake hasn’t got legs.
‘can’ for ability
e.g. My mum can jump. / A parrot can fly. / She can’t fly. / a frog can’t run.
What do teachers say about the resources?
Frequently asked questions
Yes, of course! Maybe you have the time and enjoy creating things, but it has to be said that being a young learner teacher can involve a HUGE amount of extra work making materials. Give yourself a break!
All my materials have been tried and tested in the classroom. As well as having almost 20 years of teaching experience, I am also a qualified trainer for the Trinity TYLEC (Teaching Young Learners Extension Certificate), so you can rely on the quality.
The provided activity suggestions give you plenty of ideas for how you can build a lesson around this resource. I’d recommend adding in another activity where they can make something to experiment with what they know. Check out our other Monkey Puzzle resources.
Yes, of course! I love using the story book too, but I find that changing the dynamics of how you tell the story means you can retell the story multiple times without the kids ever getting bored and restless. More storytelling opportunities means more repetition and more learning.
PLUS the Monkey Puzzle story is not great for reading the words off the book page. Unless you’re really practised at adapting the words as you tell it (while interacting with the kids at the same time!), I think you’ll find these cards super helpful for a stress free storytelling session.
Once you’ve had a chance to use your materials, don’t forget to come back to leave a review. As a thank you, you’ll receive a 20% discount on any other resource : )