How Our Story Boxes Work

All of our story boxes include a beautifully illustrated story that starts in English and ends in another language, an audiobook, an activity book, flashcards, and other hands-on activities. At the heart of our stories is our Clockwork Methodology – a unique approach to language learning that gradually introduces kids to new words and phrases through beautifully illustrated stories. Here’s how it works.

Our beautifully illustrated storybooks begin in English, capturing kids’ imaginations and providing a clear and familiar context.

Gradually, words from your child’s new language are introduced. The playful images help children remember the new words and phrases.

As the story progresses, new words develop into whole phrases, whole sentences and eventually whole pages in your child’s new language. Magic!

Why it works

Our Story Boxes are loved by kids, parents and educators around the world. That’s because they build kids’ confidence in the four key language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking – and do it in a uniquely engaging and effective way.

Learn like a native speaker

In their native language, kids are constantly reading or hearing words that they don’t understand – but they use clues from context to figure out what they mean.

Our Clockwork Methodology works in the same way, exposing kids to new language in familiar contexts alongside useful (and beautiful!) illustrations.

The power of stories

Research shows that kids are much better at learning and retaining language when it’s introduced in a context that sparks their imagination. Stories are especially powerful in this respect, with readers’ desire to find out “what happens next” ensuring that their minds are fully engaged.

In this way, our Story Boxes are a great way to instill kids with a lifelong love of languages.

The power of stories
Research shows that kids are much better at learning and retaining language when it’s introduced in a context that sparks their imagination. Stories are especially powerful in this respect, with readers’ desire to find out “what happens next” ensuring that their minds are fully engaged. In this way, our Story Boxes are a great way to instil kids with a lifelong love of languages.

Audiobook builds listening and pronunciation

Before you receive each month’s Story Box, we send you a link to an audiobook to enjoy with your child before you read.

Narrated by some fantastic native speaker voice actors, our audiobooks not only help kids develop all-important listening skills, but they also provide an authentic model for how to pronounce words in your child’s new language.

In partnership with leading academic institutions

One Third Stories meets the 21st century needs of foreign language acquisition by bringing an old classic of storytelling together with modern day technology… An amazing product.

Ben Currier, Head of International Languages, Mayfield School

What’s in the Story Boxes?

Every Story Box in your subscription includes:

Listening a link to an audiobook narrated by a native speaker

Reading a beautifully illustrated storybook in two languages

Speaking games and activities to get kids talking and practising pronunciation

Writing prompts and exercises inspired by the story

Boxes 1, 2 and 3

Read!

In your first three Story Boxes, kids meet Terrance Rex – a sensitive dinosaur on the hunt for the perfect pair of shoes – as well as Wilma the Whale, Baby and some other colourful characters.

Learn!
Kids will learn greetings, numbers, colours, foods, meal times and family vocabulary.
Practice!
Kids build their own dinosaurs using numbers and colours, play memory games with food and create a family-themed mobile to hang above their beds.

Boxes 4, 5 and 6

Read!
Boxes 4-6 introduce kids to Nico (the Zookeeper’s cat), Elliot (an alien who can’t find a school uniform that fits) and Two-Toes O’Malley, (our resident detective sloth).
Learn!
Kids learn a range of adjectives and adverbs in their new language, as well as vocabulary for clothing and parts of the body.
Practice!
Kids will build their own zoo, dress their very own Elliot and get anatomical with some body games. Plus, they’ll revisit everything they’ve learned so far with our Vocabulary Wrap Up.

Boxes 7, 8 and 9

Read!
In boxes 7-9, kids meet tortoise Tilly, time-traveller Logan and intrepid explorer Ada.
Learn!
Kids learn new words for seasons and weather, parts of a town and modes of transport.
Practice!
Activities include making a town triorama, playing a fun transport game, weather bingo and more.

Boxes 10, 11 and 12

Read!
In their final three Story Boxes, kids enjoy a tale about a flightless dragon, an epic space adventure and a story about an insect collector.
Learn!
Kids learn the names of planets, language for making comparisons and forming questions, and much more. Plus, there’s a recap of everything kids have learned throughout the course.
Practice!
The course ends with plenty of speaking and listening practice, including a cut-out-and-hide insect hunt!

Get Started

Choose a language

 

Our courses are available in French, Spanish, Italian and German.

Select a subscription

 

Choose between monthly or annual payment options.

Start learning

 

Receive your first audiobook and Story Box, and let the learning begin!.

Get Started

Choose a language

 

Our courses are available in French, Spanish, Italian and German.

Select a subscription

 

Choose between monthly or annual payment options.

Start learning

 

Receive your first audiobook and Story Box, and let the learning begin!.

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