Be Curious Second Edition is a fun, fast-paced, 6-level English language course. It gives young learners all the skills they need to excel in English and build a sustainable future for our world.
The course includes official exam preparation for Cambridge English Qualifications from Pre A1 Starters through to A2 for Schools.
Scroll down to see what makes it special…
An accelerated path to A2 for Schools
Strong characters who grow with the learner, funny stories, catchy songs and a wealth of videos support learners to remember the language and to make progress through the fast-paced syllabus.
Focus on whole-child development
The Cambridge Life Competencies Framework is embedded throughout the course: this comprehensive approach develops the whole child, as well as their language skills, to create confident, future-ready learners.
Official exam preparation material
Be Curious Second Edition is official preparation for Cambridge English Qualifications, digital and paper-based, from Pre A1 Starters all the way through to A2 for Schools. There are dedicated exam preparation sections, as well regular exam-style activities, to familiarise learners with exam content and grow their confidence. (While not officially validated the Level 1 introduces Pre A1 style activities in an age-appropriate way).
Missions for real-world skills
The Missions also develop Life Competencies such as collaboration and creativity and give learners a chance to show what they know.
Cross-curricular learning
Cross-curricular content invites learners to explore the world around them and practise other subjects through the medium of English.
Get the most out of every moment of learning
Be Curious Second Edition has been developed with Integrated Learning and Assessment principles at its core. This approach seamlessly combines learning and assessment to maximise student outcomes and help learners succeed.
All digital support in one place
Easy access to a huge range of interactive and downloadable material in class and at home
Walk me through a unit
I know
I’m new to
The engaging multi-stage Missions, set in real-world contexts, allow all learners to participate in collaborative, contextual and creative ways while building towards a completed project in every unit.
Explore a digital demo (registration required)
Confidence in learning. Confidence for life.
© 2025 Cambridge University Press & Assessment
Thousands of children around the world have learnt English and prepared for exams with Be Curious. For the Second Edition, we asked teachers what they and their learners loved about the course and what we could make even better.
New language practice and grammar videos
Over 100 new Language Practice and Grammar videos across the course to support teachers and learners and help learners with retention of grammar and vocabulary.
Updated Missions
The Missions are updated to offer even more opportunities to practise the language for each unit in new and creative ways.
Cambridge Sustainability Framework for ELT
New activities aligned to the Cambridge Sustainability Framework for ELT are now included to bring real-world conversations into the classroom.
Cambridge English Qualifications Digital for Young Learners
The Second Edition includes the vocabulary list and names from the syllabus of the new Cambridge English Qualifications Digital for Young Learners in Level 1 to Level 3.
Enhanced skills pages
Adapted stories offer a wider variety of text types to enable teachers to practise productive skills of Speaking and Writing alongside Reading and Listening.
Downloadable grammar resources
New worksheets for extra grammar practice now available in the Teacher’s Digital Pack.
Mission tasks now also work independently of the unit project so learners will benefit from reviewing language even if they don't do the full project.
What's new in
Second Edition?
The units in Be Curious are structured around Missions. Each unit includes extensive practice of all four skills with integrated exam preparation throughout.
Level 4, Unit 3
The Mission statement sets out the overall objective of the unit Mission.
Download sample units
Listening activities contextualise the language in real-world situations.
NEW! Post-reading tasks connected to the Cambridge Life Competencies and Sustainability frameworks.
Learners complete Mission stage 1. Each stage gives teachers the opportunity to monitor and assess learners’ progress and understanding.
After each Mission stage, learners complete a reflection and self-assessment in the Activity Book.
Vocabulary games provide further practice and help develop listening, reading, writing and speaking skills.
Learners use the new language to complete Mission stage 2, which builds on Mission stage 1 and includes listening and speaking collaboratively to complete a topic-focused task.
A video linked to cross-curricular topics encourages broader knowledge of the world around them.
Learners use the new language to complete Mission stage 3, which builds on Mission stages 1 and 2 and consolidates learning in preparation for the Mission in action task.
NEW! Adapted stories with a wider variety of text types and pre-reading tasks build literacy skills.
NEW! Post-reading activities related to the Cambridge Life Competencies and Sustainability frameworks help learners contextualise the themes of the readings while building life skills and social responsibilities.
NEW! Speaking and writing activities support literacy and build exam skills.
Familiarisation with Cambridge English Qualifications, depending on level, including task types, rubrics, and test strategies.
Preparation for listening, reading and writing alternates in each unit, offering comprehensive preparation for Cambridge English Qualifications.
Exam tips give advice and build confidence.
NEW! A creative task recycles the language and skills developed in the unit. This directly supports language production by helping learners organise their work from the previous Mission stages and create a visual aid for their presentation or role play in the following activity.
The Mission in action! reviews the language covered in the unit and brings together all the previous Mission stages in a collaborative and practical task.
Learners act out a scenario and present their work, giving teachers the opportunity to monitor and assess their progress and understanding.
After every three units, there’s a Review lesson which recycles and consolidates the language from the preceding units. Topics and tasks are similar to those in the core units, but encourage the learners to use language and knowledge in new contexts.
The interactive quiz video can be used to measure progress.
Additional opportunities to build exam skills and recycle language.
Unit walkthough
NEW! A grammar video, dialogue and role play allow learners to hear and say the new language in a natural context.
Learners listen to the song and watch an animated vocabulary video. They then complete simple tasks and sing the song with actions to consolidate learning.
New language is presented in context, to practise new vocabulary and introduce the grammar featured in the Language practice 1 lessons.
Vocabulary chants and animations give multi-sensory input to help language retention and add variety to the classroom.
Videos with personalised questions help to elicit recycled language and get learners speaking and thinking about the unit topic.
NEW! Dynamic grammar videos with catchy raps get learners singing, dancing and producing the grammar in context.
Components
Pupil’s Book with eBook
Activity Book with Digital Pack
Teacher’s Book with Digital Pack
Flashcards
Posters
The Pupil’s Book features progressive lessons that build language skills, with missions for real-world practice and cross-curricular activities. Exam preparation is integrated to support learners aiming for Cambridge English Qualifications, ensuring confidence and readiness. The Pupil’s Book includes access to the enhanced eBook on Cambridge One.
The Activity Book provides additional activities and materials to be used alongside the Pupil’s Book. Each unit includes a mission diary that helps learners reflect on and evaluate their own learning. The Activity Book also provides access to the Digital Pack, which includes Practice Extra and Test & Train Mini for A2 Key for Schools (Level 6).
The full-colour Teacher’s Book, interleaved with the Pupil’s Book, offers step-by-step lesson guidance, key competence mappings, warmers and end-of-lesson activities, cultural insights, self-assessment notes, extension tips, plus audio scripts and answer keys. The Teacher’s Book includes access to the Teacher’s Digital Pack with Presentation Plus, Test Generator, and extra resources. Level 6 now also offers Test & Train Mini for A2 Key for Schools.
Flashcards present the key vocabulary for each unit, helping learners connect new words visually and verbally. They also support fun review activities and games. Over 100 flashcards are available for each level, from Level 1 to Level 5.
The Poster packs include lively and colourful posters that aid revision by giving learners the chance to practise the unit language in a different context.
Home Booklet
The Home Booklet, which is packaged with the Activity Book, is a fun games magazine for children to do at home, revise what they have learnt in an enjoyable way and share it with their parents. Home Booklets are now digital, either to download from Teacher Resources & Learner Resources or viewable on Presentation Plus.
