There are lots of free activities and resources for Primary Schools and Early Years available during the Express Yourself: North East Festival of Languages this March. We’d love as many schools and communities to get involved as possible.
Some activities are fully booked, but there is a lot that schools and communities can get involved in. There are events for teachers to support them in the multilingual classroom, access to two free online language platforms up to the 31 March, the Big 3 singing, writing and drawing activities, pre-recorded activities only available in March to do with classes or at home, as well as language games and challenges for the classroom. There are also some national competitions open too for ages 7+. You can see the full What’s On programme here, but find out about the activities and resources available for children in early years and primary below, with links to each.
Live online events for teachers
- Speaking English with non-native speakers workshop (online) 4-4.30pm on 16th March – learn how to communicate more effectively in English
- Webinar on digital tools for the multilingual classroom (online) 4pm-5.30pm 20th March – free tools to support inclusion in the multilingual school/classroom (providing simultaneous translation into other languages)
- Celebrating Multilingualism in schools (online) 4-5.30pm 20th March – Promoting multilingualism in schools tapping into pupil’s multilingual expertise, with Newcastle University
Limited time offers to access digital language platforms for NE schools
- Free 2 week trial of thisislanguage online platform with lots of language learning and teaching resources and a special booklet of language resources. Trial period ends 31st March
- LanguageNut North East competition for schools – online language activities and resources with free online subscription up to the end of March, plus NE competition for schools – ends 31st March
Early years and primary: Pre-recorded activities only available in March
- Lingtot Fun with Ukrainian, Arabic, French, German, Spanish: 5 free sessions using songs, drama, stories and play to introduce these languages to children age 3-11
- Fun with Japanese (KS1-3, ages 5-11) short videos with fun activities introducing Japanese
- French puppet shows tailored to different ages of young children – fun puppet shows which help children learn a bit of French and gain confidence
- Note there are also activities available anytime, such as Les Aventures de Lapin for 7-11 year olds, Stories for Young Learners in French (KS1-2)
Language games and challenges for the classroom
- What’s my Language? Video with booklet for responses – film of Newcastle young people speaking their home languages – guess the language, country and what 3 words they are saying
- Games for the classroom or at home/community: Lara’s Language Journey Across Europe interactive booklet, Secret Agents Language Challenge
All schools can participate in the Big 3 projects
- Festival Song, Just One World (ages 7-18) – sing, sign, perform and record your children singing this song (recordings, music and vocal arrangements and translations and recordings available in different languages). Schools can submit entries up to 31st March
- Mother Tongue Other Tongue (ages 7-18) – Young people write in their Mother Tongue either an original poem, or their memory of a poetic text (a song, nursery rhyme, lullaby, poem) from their early life. Other Tongue (OT) is for everyone who is learning a language. Young people write an original poem in a language that is not their first language. This can be any language, including English (if that is not their first language). For both they also write up to 100 words or half a page in English to explain why they have written/chosen the text and its personal importance. All entries will receive a certificate and we will share selected pieces in a digital anthology. Entries by 24th March
- Where can languages take you? Poster competition (ages 7-18) where pupils create a poster which explains to other learners how knowing a second or third language can influence their future. Submissions by 31st March
Free classroom resources available anytime
- Around the world education packs from British Council (Arab world, Poland, Indonesia, India, Mexico, China)
- French resources for the classroom – children’s books, magazines, comics, films, music, teach and learn French resources (Culturetheque) and IF Cinema – films, animation
- Spanish resources for the classroom – films, documentaries, animations, posters, stickers, songs for primaries, stories
Competitions
- French Pop Video Competition (ages 7-18) pupils write and original song/rap and record it as part of a national competition (ends 30 April)
