Minibeasts: Tell Me a Story Picture Prompts | EYFS & KS1 Oral Storytelling Resource

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Minibeasts: Tell Me a Story Picture Prompts | EYFS & KS1 Oral Storytelling Resource 🐞

Inspire imagination, vocabulary development and oral storytelling with our wonderful Minibeasts: Tell Me a Story Picture Prompts!

This engaging printable resource has been designed to encourage children to create, tell and rehearse their own stories using carefully illustrated minibeast-themed picture scenes and vocabulary prompts. By encouraging children to talk through their ideas before writing, the resource supports the development of communication, composition and creative thinking skills.

Perfect for Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, these story prompt sheets provide a playful and engaging bridge between spoken language and early writing.

• What's Included?

  This printable pack contains 5 minibeast-themed storytelling prompt sheets:

  • 🐝 Bees, Butterflies and Snail

  • 🍃 Upon a Leaf

  • 🪨 Under a Rock

  • 🦋 Butterfly Life Cycle

  • 🌳 A Busy Branch

  Each prompt page includes:

  • ✅ A detailed picture scene to inspire storytelling

  • ✅ A question prompt:
    "Can you tell a story to match this picture?"

  • ✅ A bank of useful vocabulary to support language development and composition

  The sheets are designed to be printed and laminated for repeated use during speaking, storytelling and writing activities.

• 💡 How To Use This Resource

  These storytelling prompts can be used in a variety of ways.

  Oral Storytelling

  Invite children to look closely at the picture and create a story aloud before writing anything down.

  Talk Partner Activities

  Children can work together to:

  • discuss what they notice

  • predict what might happen next

  • create a shared story

  • develop character ideas

  Vocabulary Development

  Use the suggested vocabulary banks to introduce new language and encourage children to include ambitious words within their storytelling.

  Story Mapping

  Children can retell their story using drawings, symbols or simple story maps before writing.

  Writing Inspiration

  Older children can use their oral story as the basis for:

  • captions

  • sentences

  • short narratives

  • story openings

  • character descriptions

• 🌱 Why This Resource Supports Learning

  Strong writing begins with strong language.

  Before children can confidently write stories, they need opportunities to:

  • develop ideas

  • organise their thoughts

  • hear and use rich vocabulary

  • rehearse sentences aloud

  • build narrative understanding

  These picture prompts encourage children to create meaning from visual information, make predictions, develop story structures and communicate their ideas clearly.

  The emphasis is on thinking, talking and storytelling before writing.

• 🦉 Little Owls Pedagogy Lens

  At Little Owls Resources, we believe that spoken language provides the foundation for literacy.

  Children benefit from opportunities to:

  • tell stories aloud

  • explore ideas through discussion

  • rehearse sentences verbally

  • experiment with language before recording it

  These prompts should not be viewed as writing tests or comprehension exercises.

  Instead, they provide rich opportunities for:

  • imaginative thinking

  • storytelling

  • vocabulary development

  • sustained shared conversations

  Adults can support learning by modelling language, asking open-ended questions and showing genuine curiosity about children's ideas.

  There is no single "correct" story.

• 👶 Adapting For Different Ages & Stages

  Preschool (3–4 Years)

  Children may:

  • describe what they can see

  • name minibeasts

  • talk about what might be happening

  • create simple verbal stories

  Focus on language development rather than story structure.

  Reception (4–5 Years)

  Children may:

  • create simple narratives

  • explain events in sequence

  • use descriptive vocabulary

  • orally compose sentences before writing

  Year 1

  Children may:

  • tell complete stories aloud

  • sequence events logically

  • expand sentences with detail

  • use the vocabulary prompts independently

  Year 2

  Children may:

  • develop more detailed narratives

  • explore character motivation

  • create story openings and endings

  • improve sentence composition through oral rehearsal

• 🎯 Areas of Learning Supported

  Communication & Language

  Children develop speaking, listening, vocabulary and storytelling skills through discussion and oral composition.

  Literacy

  Supports composition, sentence development, storytelling and writing preparation.

  Understanding the World

  Introduces discussion about minibeasts, habitats and life cycles.

  Personal, Social & Emotional Development

  Encourages confidence in speaking, sharing ideas and collaborative storytelling.

  Expressive Arts & Design

  Supports imagination, creativity and narrative development.

• 📚 KS1 Curriculum Links

  KS1 English – Composition

  Supports opportunities for pupils to:

  • say out loud what they are going to write about

  • compose sentences orally before writing

  • plan and discuss ideas for writing

  • develop spoken language and vocabulary

  These links are intended to support practitioner understanding rather than create assessment targets.

• 🔗 Extend The Learning

  This resource works particularly well alongside:

  • Minibeasts Topic Resources

  • Life Cycle Activities

  • Storytelling & Oracy Prompts

  • Communication & Language Resources

  You may also wish to explore resources found within our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite:

  • Communication & Language Progression

  • Reception Literacy Support

  • Storytelling & Oracy Resources

  • Vocabulary Development Guidance

  • Continuous Provision Literacy Opportunities

Download your Minibeasts: Tell Me a Story Picture Prompts today and help children develop the confidence, vocabulary and imagination needed to become enthusiastic storytellers and writers. 🐞🦋

📌 Related Printable Early Years Resources

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For deeper guidance, explore our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite:

• Communication & Language Progression

• Reception Literacy Support

• Storytelling & Oracy Resources

• Vocabulary Development Guidance

• Continuous Provision Literacy Opportunities

Support meaningful learning through our professional planning resources and curriculum pedagogy guidance.

💡 Explore our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite for comprehensive planning and guidance (separate pathways for birth-18 months, 18-36 months, 3-4 years & 4-5 years).

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