International Storytelling Project

Different cultures. Shared stories. One international project.

Project calendar

The key stages of the project, from the Module 1 classroom activities to the final story endings in Module 3. Timings are shown by region so every school can see when each stage takes place.

Digital starter libraries

Module 2 and Module 3 have separate libraries, so schools can quickly find the right starters. These are previews: teachers and pupils choose starters inside the BoomWriter platform, not on this website.

Module 2: cultural story starters

Starters from Mexico and Central America For schools in India

• 
  Grade 5MexCCA origin

  The Monkey and the Tiger

  Module 2 · Grade 5

  Read the starter

  In a deep, green forest, where the tall banyan trees whispered secrets to the wind and neem leaves floated down like gentle raindrops, a cheeky monkey named Maru was up to mischief. His brown fur glowed in the sunlight as he swung from branch to branch, laughing at the silly squirrels scurrying below.

  One sticky afternoon, Maru froze mid-swing. Below him, prowling through the grass, was Raja, the most terrifying tiger in the jungle. Raja’s sharp eyes gleamed like burning coals, and his striped coat rippled as he crept forward, looking as terrifying as he thought he was. When he was near, even the bravest animals found they suddenly had somewhere else to be.

  “Monkey!” Raja growled, his voice somewhere between a roar and a burp. “I might have heard you’re the cleverest creature in this forest. Could that be true?”

  Maru chuckled, brushing a leaf from his shoulder. “Well, Raja,” he replied, looking innocent, “it depends who’s asking. Why do you want to know?”

  Raja’s whiskers twitched. “I need your help. The jungle’s creatures say there’s a way across the River Ganges that only you know. You must show it to me—unless you’re afraid.”

  Maru’s tail flicked with excitement, though he felt a tingle of worry. “Scared? I’m fearless,” he said with a grin. “But this path isn’t for just anyone. You’ll need to pass… a test.”

  Raja’s eyes narrowed. “Monkey, I don’t do backing down.”

  With a cheeky wink, Maru vanished into the treetops, leaving Raja below, his eyes gleaming with a look that said, “This monkey won’t outsmart me... or else!”

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

• 
  Grade 6MexCCA origin

  First Day Jitters

  Module 2 · Grade 6

  Read the starter

  The bus doors opened with a long creak, and Mia stepped carefully onto the ground. She clutched the straps of her backpack so tightly her knuckles turned pale. The sun was just climbing in the sky, warming her shoulders, yet her palms were slippery with sweat.

  Her new school stretched out in front of her—a tall building with painted walls that had faded a little from the weather, rows of wide windows, and a large gate where streams of children hurried inside. The air was alive with the sounds of voices, footsteps, and laughter. To Mia, it felt as though everyone already knew exactly where to go and exactly who to walk with. Her stomach tightened. She tried to lift her chin and look brave, but inside her thoughts spun in circles.

  What if no one talks to me?

  What if I get lost?

  What if I have to sit alone during break?

  The bus rumbled away down the road, leaving her standing by herself at the entrance. She breathed in slowly, then started walking. Every sound seemed sharper than it should have been: the clang of the school bell, the scrape of chairs on classroom floors, the echo of shoes against the stone steps.

  When she reached the edge of the playground, Mia stopped. Children were everywhere. Some were playing soccer and cricket, shouting and cheering. Others crowded around swings and climbing frames. Groups sat under shady trees, sharing snacks from metal lunchboxes or passing around water bottles. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mixing into a noisy rhythm that made Mia feel even smaller.

  She scanned the faces, searching for even one that looked familiar. But there was no one—no old classmates, no neighbours, no cousins. Only a wide, swirling sea of strangers. Her heart thudded harder, and she hugged her backpack close to her chest as if it could shield her. Today was her very first day in this new school. She took a shaky step forward, knowing she would have to find her place in this new world.

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

• 
  Grade 7MexCCA origin

  Found Poem

  Module 2 · Grade 7

  Read the starter

  We belong to each other,
  no one is a stranger in the circle of humanity.
  Our diversity is our strength,
  and together, we build bridges, not walls.

  • “We belong to each other”: adapted from Mother Teresa (“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”)
  • “no one is a stranger in the circle of humanity”: inspired by Desmond Tutu (“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together”)
  • “Our diversity is our strength”: Barack Obama, 2016
  • “build bridges, not walls”: Martin Luther King Jr. (paraphrased from speeches promoting unity and justice)

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

Starters from India For schools in Mexico and Central America

• 
  Grade 5Indian origin

  The Wise Frog and the Rain God

  Module 2 · Grade 5

  Read the starter

  In a quiet village between dry mountains and faded forests, the land lay cracked and crumbly, waiting for one teeny-tiny drop of rain. Farmers looked up hopefully, and even the flowers seemed to stare at the sky, as if begging for water. But day after day, it stayed the same—just a big, blank, boring blue, like it had forgotten how to rain.

  This village was home to a famously wise and very, very old frog. Her name was Tula the Terrific and Tremendously Wise, and creatures whispered that she’d been around since the days of the Aztec kingdom. Tula sat by a shrinking pond, watching the cloudless sky.

  Looking up, she murmured, “Tlaloc, mighty Rain God… are you sleeping, or have you forgotten us?” Tula often spoke in slow, steady riddles, as if sharing secrets only she knew.

  Just then, a little cricket hopped over, his antennae twitching. “Tula!” he squeaked. “Are we… doomed? Will it ever rain?”

  Tula smiled. “Doomed? No. But we must remind Tlaloc why he loved this land. We’ll need to climb the mountains—where clouds gather and Tlaloc listens.”

  The cricket’s eyes grew wide as lily pads. “The Rain God? Up there?”

  Tula nodded wisely. “Yes. It won’t be easy, but perhaps we can remind him.”

  With that, Tula stretched her wobbly legs. “Well then, off we go!” Cricket gulped but hopped beside her, and together they set off, their tiny footprints trailing behind them like dots on a treasure map—one that hopefully led to rain!

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

• 
  Grade 6Indian origin

  First Day Jitters

  Module 2 · Grade 6

  Read the starter

  The bus doors opened with a long creak, and Mia stepped carefully onto the ground. She clutched the straps of her backpack so tightly her knuckles turned pale. The sun was just climbing in the sky, warming her shoulders, yet her palms were slippery with sweat.

  Her new school stretched out in front of her—a tall building with painted walls that had faded a little from the weather, rows of wide windows, and a large gate where streams of children hurried inside. The air was alive with the sounds of voices, footsteps, and laughter. To Mia, it felt as though everyone already knew exactly where to go and exactly who to walk with. Her stomach tightened. She tried to lift her chin and look brave, but inside her thoughts spun in circles.

  What if no one talks to me?

  What if I get lost?

  What if I have to sit alone during break?

  The bus rumbled away down the road, leaving her standing by herself at the entrance. She breathed in slowly, then started walking. Every sound seemed sharper than it should have been: the clang of the school bell, the scrape of chairs on classroom floors, the echo of shoes against the stone steps.

  When she reached the edge of the playground, Mia stopped. Children were everywhere. Some were playing soccer and cricket, shouting and cheering. Others crowded around swings and climbing frames. Groups sat under shady trees, sharing snacks from metal lunchboxes or passing around water bottles. Laughter and chatter filled the air, mixing into a noisy rhythm that made Mia feel even smaller.

  She scanned the faces, searching for even one that looked familiar. But there was no one—no old classmates, no neighbours, no cousins. Only a wide, swirling sea of strangers. Her heart thudded harder, and she hugged her backpack close to her chest as if it could shield her. Today was her very first day in this new school. She took a shaky step forward, knowing she would have to find her place in this new world.

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

• 
  Grade 7Indian origin

  Found Poem

  Module 2 · Grade 7

  Read the starter

  We belong to each other,
  no one is a stranger in the circle of humanity.
  Our diversity is our strength,
  and together, we build bridges, not walls.

  • “We belong to each other”: adapted from Mother Teresa (“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”)
  • “no one is a stranger in the circle of humanity”: inspired by Desmond Tutu (“My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together”)
  • “Our diversity is our strength”: Barack Obama, 2016
  • “build bridges, not walls”: Martin Luther King Jr. (paraphrased from speeches promoting unity and justice)

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

Starters from Europe Coming soon

New Europe-origin story starters will be added here for participating schools.

Module 3: shared grade starters

The three shared starters assigned across the participating grades.

• 
  Grade 5

  The Boy Who Caught the Lightning

  Module 3 · Chapter 1: The Sky Goes Dark

  Read the starter

  Long ago, before maps were drawn and before cities were built, there was a small island called Oria. The people of Oria were happy because the Great Golden Eagle protected them. The Eagle flew high in the sky, carrying the sun in its beak to bring light and warmth to the land.

  But one terrible morning, the sky remained dark. The sun did not rise. The air turned cold, and the flowers began to close their petals.

  In the village, a young boy named Kian looked up at the grey clouds. Kian was not strong like the warriors, and he was not wise like the elders. But Kian was fast.

  “The Storm King has stolen the Great Eagle!” cried the Village Elder. “He has locked the bird in a cage of thunder on top of the Black Mountain.”

  “I will go,” Kian whispered.

  The Elder handed Kian a small, glowing feather. “Take this. It is the Feather of Truth. It will light your path, but it will only shine if you are brave.”

  Kian tied his sandals tight, took a deep breath and stepped out of the village gates. The wind howled like a hungry wolf, warning him to turn back. Kian did not turn back.

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

• 
  Grade 6

  The Drone in the Danger Zone

  Module 3 · Chapter 1: The Crash

  Read the starter

  The International Youth Camp was supposed to be a place to make friends from all over the world. But for Leo, it just felt loud. He just wanted to fly his drone, “The Hawk.”

  Leo stood near the tall, rusty fence with the sign: DANGER: OLD MINE SHAFTS – DO NOT ENTER.

  Suddenly, a football hit Leo’s arm. The controller slipped. The Hawk spun out of control, flew over the fence and crashed into the deep, dark woods of the Danger Zone.

  It was Ravi, the new boy who had arrived yesterday. “I am so sorry. My kick... it was too strong.”

  “Sorry isn't going to fix it!” Leo snapped. He looked at a hole in the fence that was just big enough for a boy to squeeze through.

  Ravi looked at the dark woods, then at Leo. He took a deep breath. “Then I go too. We find it together.”

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

• 
  Grade 7

  The Threads That Bind Us

  Module 3 · Part 1: The Poem Starter

  Read the starter

  “All human beings are born free,”
  “Roots intertwine underground,”
  “We can build bridges between cultures,”
  “If you want to go far, walk together.”

  The source boxes. Pupils write four more verses using words and ideas drawn from sources about human rights, nature, global friendship and shared proverbs.

  • Source A: freedom, equality, safety and protecting one another.
  • Source B: trees sharing food, water and warning signals through connected roots.
  • Source C: friendship building bridges between cultures and creating harmony.
  • Source D: proverbs about cooperation, unity and shared effort.

  Preview only. Select this starter within BoomWriter.

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