Thousands of pupils, all over the world, have learnt English with Kid’s Box. A generation, in fact! What is it under the lid that has helped busy primary teachers for so many years?
“From the start, pupils seem to identify with the characters and the topics.”
“The quality of material that complements the book.”
“The grammar topics are exactly what we want to teach our pupils.”
Now, there’s a new generation of young learners to educate, entertain and inspire. The Kid’s Box magic formula still has everything teachers and learners love, but now has new ingredients mixed in!
I know Kid’s Box. Tell me what’s new.
I’m new to Kid’s Box. Walk me through a unit.
© 2022 Cambridge University Press & Assessment
You’d spot the classic course that teachers and learners know and love from a mile away. The personality and humour still shines through and busy teachers can pick up the book and teach with confidence, regardless of preparation time. But new features and material mean it’s bigger, brighter and, to put it simply, even better! So, what are the new ingredients for the new generation?
Recognise these characters? The toys, Star family and friends are still your loyal classroom assistants, but they’ve had makeovers! You’ll notice something particularly different about Stella, Meera and Lenny in the later levels… The standard of today’s TV, films, toys and games means children live in a visual extravaganza. So to keep them engaged and enjoying learning, lessons need to be visually stimulating too. Alongside the modernised illustrations and photography, almost 300 new videos bring the characters, stories, songs, sounds and grammar to life.
Sheep in socks and parrots guarding grapes from crocodiles… sounds like phonics practice! Led by course characters, sounds and spelling pages and new videos focus on the sounds and letter formations that pupils need to practise at each stage of their learning.
Kid’s Box New Generation is full of warmth, affection and humour. Exam preparation is gently woven into the course, following the Cambridge English Qualifications for Young Learners syllabus, working towards a celebration of learning for every pupil. The Activity Book and online support help familiarise pupils with exam scenarios. New exam folders at the end of each Pupil’s Book provide a stronger focus on this, with a warm up activity and exam-style task. Full practice tests are available in the Teacher’s Resources for Levels 2, 4 and 6.
Simon likes swimming, but not cleaning his dad’s car. Children like songs, but they may not think they like ‘speaking practice’. They like stories, but may not think they like ‘reading practice’. With the suite of digital support on Cambridge One, song words on a page can become a karaoke session. A storyboard can become a mini movie. You can display the books on screen so the class can watch, listen to and work through the digital content together. Pupils can watch the videos, play games and do extra activities on any device, outside class time. Learning and skills practice becomes an interactive experience in an energetic, supportive environment. Can’t really help Simon with the car cleaning though…
Download sample units from Kid’s Box New Generation
Level 2 story
Level 3 story
Level 5 drama
Monty has lots to say. He certainly isn’t as quiet as a mouse!
A good detective looks and listens. Lock isn’t the best detective, but he can catch troublesome sounds and tricky spelling!
A2 Flyers
Level 6
A1 Movers
Level 4
pre-A1 Starters
Level 2
Activities on this page encourage pupils to think and use language in creative ways.
Activities on this page get pupils collaborating in ways that encourage them to consider roles and responsibilities.
Activities on this page help pupils work on communication skills, in modern and collaborative ways.
Values pages help pupils understand how to contribute positively to society.
Trevor may not be quite as practical, and may occasionally eat pencils, but he’s very thoughtful and the perfect mentor for young learners developing their sense of responsibility and values.
CLIL activities help pupils think critically and creatively.
Marie, being very practical and knowledgeable, brings a variety of other subjects into the course. These include geography, science, maths, art and sport.
English isn’t just a school subject. Neither is geography, science, art, or any other subject. So let’s not keep them in separate boxes! Language helps grow the world around you and is central to your understanding in any scenario. So CLIL sections, with all new content and documentary videos, make other subjects central to learning English. Throughout the course, you’ll see that activities are mapped to the Cambridge Life Competencies Framework, so while learning about the world, your pupils are working on the skills they need to thrive in it.
Young learners grow up a lot during their primary school years. For very young children, favourite toys are part of the family! As children develop, family and sibling dynamics change and friendships become more central. Through Kid’s Box New Generation, the characters grow and develop alongside your pupils, so they’re always learning English in a context they can relate to. Scroll through the units in the different levels below, meet the characters and experience the course. Warning: you might be humming the songs all day!
I’m Monty. Your pupils will practise sounds and spelling with me!
We’re Stella, Simon and Suzy. We’ll take your pupils on a learning journey with our family and friends!
I’m Marie. I’ll help your pupils with maths, science, geography, sport and art!
I’m Maskman. Stories about me and the other toys will make your pupils laugh and have fun with English!
I’m Trevor. I try to be nice and help people. I’ll help your pupils develop positive values!
Vocabulary presentation
The unit topic is introduced through the Star family and friends.
Chants encourage pupils to listen, point to and repeat the vocabulary in context.
Chant
A variety of video content presents and reviews key vocabulary and language. This page includes an introductory video with the Star family and friends.
Video
Songs encourage interaction and movement, while practising the unit vocabulary and language. Song animations and karaoke versions are available in Presentation Plus and Practice Extra on Cambridge One.
Song
Pupils practise pronunciation and spelling with Monty in a step-by-step video lesson.
Sounds and spelling
The toys are brought to life in new video animations. These short stories recycle and reinforce the vocabulary and language from the unit.
Story
Every two units, Marie is here to help your pupils learn about maths, art, science, geography and sport, with new audio and video.
CLIL
Trevor explores the Cambridge Life Competencies Framework and universal values.
Values
The language and vocabulary covered in the last four units is revisited through Cambridge exam-style questions and games.
Review
Speech bubbles present key language in a natural, engaging way.
Key language
Level 1
Level 3
Level 5
We’re Meera and Lenny. We’re friends of the Star family!
I’m Lock. Your pupils will practise sounds and spelling with me!
We’re Lock and Key, the detectives. Our stories will make your pupils laugh and have fun with English!
These activities guide pupils through the writing process and help them to write a variety of text types.
Ready to write
Pupils learn about maths, art, science, geography and sports with new audio and video.
Kid’s Box World
New video animations recycle and reinforce the vocabulary and language from the unit, through the antics of two hapless detectives!
Pupils practise pronunciation and spelling with Lock in a step-by-step video lesson.
Key language is consolidated, so pupils can practise putting it into context.
Language presentation
The language and vocabulary covered in the last two units is revisited through Cambridge exam-style questions and games.
Pairs of units explore universal values and Cambridge Life Competencies.
We’re Stella, Meera and Lenny. We’ll take your pupils on a learning journey and practise pronunciation and life skills together!
We’re Lola and Lucas. We’ll help your pupils consolidate the key language!
I’m Diggory Bones, the archaeologist. My stories about the ancient world will help your pupils have fun with English!
Pupils learn about media, social science, history, art, science and physical education, with new audio and video.
Subject page
New story animations recycle and reinforce the vocabulary and language from the unit, through the adventures of Diggory Bones!
Pupils practise pronunciation and complete a Cambridge Life Competencies speaking task, based on the drama video from the beginning of the unit.
Sounds and life skills
Chants encourage pupils to listen to and repeat the vocabulary in context.
The characters’ blog posts present the key vocabulary in relevant and interesting contexts.
Blog
A wide variety of video content presents and reviews key language and vocabulary, including new language videos featuring Lola and Lucas.
The unit topic and key language is introduced through live-action videos with the characters.
Songs extend and help pupils practise the vocabulary of the unit. Song videos and karaoke versions are available in Presentation Plus and Practice Extra on Cambridge One.
