The 500 Words 2025/26 competition has now closed for entries.
Curriculum links:
- National Curriculum, England - KS2 English
- National Curriculum, Northern Ireland - KS1 and 2 Language and Literacy
- Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland - Literacy and English 1st and 2nd Level
- Curriculum for Wales - Language, Literacy and Communication, progression step 2
Download our teaching guide to use alongside the Live Lesson.
Teaching Guide. document
For downloading/printing
What happens in the 500 Words Live Lesson?
500 Words judge Sir Lenny Henry and Naomi Wilkinson are on a mission to collect the key ingredients of a brilliant story with the help of live artist, Venessa Scott. From original worlds to unforgettable characters and imaginative words, by the end of the lesson your class will have everything they need to begin their own 500 Words stories.
This 30-minute Live Lesson is available to watch now on this page, on the CBBC channel and on BBC iPlayer.
This programme was live and accompanied by a live website commentary feed for schools.
We added as many messages as we could to this live commentary page on the day of the Live Lesson.
Please do not send any more emails about this lesson, as they will not be included.
Please note this live commentary page is now closed. document
Click or tap here to see if your school has had a shout-out.
Mission Packs
Download the Mission Pack in preparation for the Live Lesson. There are 3 versions available. Choose the option which best suits your needs.
Pupils are still able to participate without access to the Mission Packs. All instructions will be on screen. We recommend that pupils have a notebook and pen or pencil to hand.
Mission Pack: digital. document
Designed to be opened and edited using a tablet. Pupils will be able to type in text boxes and use the pen tool to draw.
Mission Pack: printable booklet. document
To be printed double-sided on 2 sheets of A4 paper. Fold in half to create A5 booklet. Pages are numbered and should run from 1 to 8 when one sheet is placed inside the other. Designed to support black-and-white printing.
Mission Pack: printable A4 sheets. document
This is the best option if you do not have the option to print double sided. Designed to support black-and-white printing.
Extra resources
Recap the key points from the lesson
Keep the learning going after the lesson with a downloadable poster that sums up the key learning and a catchy song your class can revisit for extra inspiration.
Jaz and her mates walked to the park
Where they ate ice-cream.
They went on the swings,
Then took a ball
And got into a kickabout
Now let’s swap the verbs.
Jaz and her mates raced to the park
Where they devoured ice-creams.
They soared on the swings,
Then grabbed a ball
And launched into a kickabout
Vivid Verbs, lively stories
Vivid Verbs, “doing words” say more
Vivid Verbs paint a picture
Vivid vivid verbs!
But Jaz looked at the dark clouds coming
And said: “It's starting to rain”.
Jaz and her mates went under a tree
Where they found an old umbrella
How about some vivid verbs?
But Jaz winced at the dark clouds looming,
And gasped: “It's starting to rain”.
Jaz and her mates scurried under a tree
And discovered an old umbrella
Vivid Verbs, lively stories
Vivid Verbs, “doing words” say more
Vivid Verbs paint a picture
Vivid vivid verbs!
They marvelled at the old umbrella
It pulsed and quivered until…
They nudged it and wow it whooshed open
And zapped them to a beach in Brazil.
Vivid Verbs, lively stories
Vivid Verbs, “doing words” say more
Vivid Verbs paint a picture
Vivid vivid verbs!
Vivid Verbs song lyrics. document
Download the lyrics to the vivid verbs song
500 Words Live Lesson poster. image
Click here to download the 500 Words Live Lesson poster
Sir Lenny Henry’s 500 Words story. document
Read Sir Lenny Henry’s 500 Words story inspired by the Live Lesson here.
500 Words 2025/26 competition
The 500 Words 2025/26 competition has now closed for entries.
500 Words is the UK's largest writing competition for 5-11 year olds.
The Live Lesson will feature three previous finalists sharing their story-writing tips. Click here to read Jack's story, Emma's story and Adi's story.
Where next?
BBC 500 Words 2025
BBC's 500 Words, the UK's largest children's writing competition for children aged 5-11's.
Frequently asked questions. document
Click here for more information about prizes, the final or how to enter.
Watch again: 500 Words 2024 – Live Lesson. video
Inspire your class to write a story they would love to read.
