PREPARE the teaching area for storytelling in one part and working at tables in small groups in another. To encourage the storytelling, this part of the area could be given a South Asian feel, with colourful cushions scattered across the floor and lengths of sari material spread widely from a central point in the ceiling to create the effect of a tent. (The whiteboard will still need to be visible throughout the storytelling however.)

ASSEMBLE the children in the storytelling area and explain that they are going to hear a story from the Indian subcontinent or South Asia.

LOCATE this geographical area on a globe and give pairs of talking partners a limited amount of time to discuss what they all might already know about it. In taking suggestions from pupils ensure that they understand that the area includes:

• modern India
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Nepal
• Sri Lanka

Note: this could be done by also referring to a modern Atlas.

SHOW pupils a box as much like a small treasure chest or jewel casket as can be found.

INVITE suggestions as to what it might contain. With dramatic care open the box to reveal a large fake diamond. (These can be an inexpensively purchased.)

DISPLAY Resource A: Slide 1 and explain that while the diamond in the box is plastic and the one on the slide is made from glass, the story that will now be told is based on the history of a large real diamond that was found in India long ago.

EXPLAIN that the image on Resource A: Slide 1 is the original size of that diamond. The story of the Koh-i-noor diamond (told from the diamond’s perspective) is designed to be read from Resource B in four sections, with an indication given in the text when the appropriate slide from Resource A should be displayed.