Top Ten Literacy Shed films for KS1

In no particular order these 10 films are those most popular with KS1 and the ones that Rob, the Literacy Shed’s creator likes to use in class workshops with KS1 children.

1.  The Bridge - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-thinking-shed.html A moose and a bear literally crack heads trying to cross a bridge, if only they would use team work they would have been able to cross the bridge easily, like the two little creatures that come along after them.  This film encourages discussion about respecting others and working together.  Children could write rules about how to work collaboratively or could write a narrative from one of the characters point of view. 
2. Little Boat - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-adventure-shed.html In this short and silent animation the little boat is the hero. He sets off on an adventure along the river encountering many sights as he goes.  Children could discuss the things that he sees and how he feels about it.  This film could inspire 1st or 3rd person narratives or pupils could create postcards for the different places they visit as or on the boat.
3. Bubbles - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-fantasy-shed.html This is one of the most watched films on The Literacy Shed.  One little girl, all alone on a beach, finds a bottle of bubbles and when she blows them the bubbles take her on an adventure.   The little girl floats up into space and down under the sea.  Children could write descriptions of what she sees or create their own fantasy narratives about wherever they travel on their own bubble.
4. The Clocktower - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-fairy-tale-shed.html This film can be found in the Fairy Tale Shed, like many fairy tale characters our heroine is stuck, trapped in a tower. In this film it is the clock tower, the girl is a ballerina and she dances perpetually making sure the clock keeps on turning.  When she stops the world around her stops too, leaving her trapped in the tower.  Children can write vivid descriptions, discuss what the dancer is feeling at different parts of the film and write a narrative describing her escape or rescue.
5. Once in a Lifetime - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-fantasy-shed.html Another film from The Fantasy Shed.  In this silent animation one man is sailing his ship through the clouds.  His boat has a calamitous break down and he is rescued by a flotilla of flying turtles.  There are certain parts of this film where children ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ out loud.  Children can write descriptions of the flying turtles using their knowledge of show, not tell and other descriptive devices before writing short narratives, perhaps with a different flying animal.  
6. Dangle http://www.literacyshed.com/the-thinking-shed.html This film was produced by the BFI. A man is on a winter walk when he comes to a rope hanging from the sky. I like to discuss with the children, what would happen if he pulls it? Would they pull it? When the man eventually pulls it the world goes dark, he turns off the sun. He enjoys the power and enthusiastically turns the lights on and off until suddenly the rope falls from the sky leaving the world in perpetual darkness. I like to team this with a physical prop, a rope hanging from the classroom ceiling, the children decide if they should pull it or not and what happens when they pull their rope – children always come up with some very imaginative ideas. 
7. So Good To Me - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-music-video-shed.htmlThis music video is set in Africa, a little girl excitedly runs down stairs and into the garden to play with her pet but sadly, when she gets there the pet has disappeared. The girl makes ‘Lost’ posters, which the children could do too writing descriptions of their missing pet. Eventually she finds the pet she has been looking for – a giraffe. Children could write instructions for looking after their pet or wild animal.
8. Whistleless - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-adventure-shed.htmlWhistleless has no whistle. Al his friends and family has a whistle - he sets off on an adventure to find a whistle. A wonderful animation for engaging EYFS and KS1 children. The children will be able to retell the story, describe the different 'whistlers' that we meet. The yellow man, the police man, the tiger and the elephants. The children can describe the cars crashing and how the little bird is feeling throughout the story. 
9. Marshmallows - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-fun-shed.html In this film a young adventure scout is sitting by the campfire toasting marshmallows. Little does he know that a monster is creeping up on him from out of the lake. The monster turns out to be a fan of marshmallows and does tricks in order for the young boy to give him his favourite snack. However, the monster turns a little scary when the marshmallows run out. The film ends comically when the young boy hides behind his pillow. The children can describe the monster in detail or retell the story with their own monster in it. 
10. The Black Hat - http://www.literacyshed.com/the-maia-walczak-shed.html
    One day on one of his long walks the boy finds an old black hat and he places it on his head. When he takes it off and lays it by his bed, this is when the magic begins.  Beautiful creatures emerge from the hat. The boy captures them in cages and looks at them each day, in awe of their beauty. One day the boy is saddened to learn that a bird has escaped. He searches the woods and finds it, he begs it to come back but it doesn't. Soon more birds escape. It is not until the boy sees this group of birds in flight that he finally understands that they look more beautiful when they are set free. He understands that they need freedom to let their beauty show. The children can retell the story adding in descriptions of their own creatures.
    
    Do you have any favourites of your own? Please add them in the comments.
    
    Rob