60 show and tell ideas, an A–Z list, and exactly what to say

The best show and tell item is something the child really cares about and can describe in a few sentences: a toy, a nature find, a family photo or something they made. Below are 60 show and tell ideas in six groups, an A–Z list for letter-of-the-week days, a 5-sentence script children can learn, two sample talks, and simple ways to practise at home so the big day feels easy.

By The YoFluent teamUpdated 7 min read

The YoFluent cat cheering next to the title: Show and tell ideas
On this page
  1. 60 show and tell ideas
  2. Show and tell ideas from A to Z
  3. Two sample show and tell talks
  4. Questions classmates often ask (and easy answers)
  5. How to practise at home
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

60 show and tell ideas

Toys and favourite things

  1. A favourite stuffed animal
  2. A toy car or train
  3. A LEGO model you built
  4. A puzzle you finished
  5. A doll or action figure
  6. A board game
  7. A kite
  8. A spinning top
  9. A favourite blanket
  10. A yo-yo (with a trick)

Nature finds

  1. A pinecone
  2. A smooth rock
  3. A seashell from a trip
  4. A leaf from your garden
  5. A plant you grew
  6. A feather
  7. A bird’s nest (empty, found on the ground)
  8. A sunflower seed head
  9. A fossil
  10. A jar of sand from a beach

Family and culture

  1. A family photo
  2. Your baby photo
  3. A family recipe
  4. Clothes from a festival
  5. Something from your grandparents
  6. A coin from another country
  7. A traditional musical instrument
  8. A souvenir from a trip
  9. A photo of your pet
  10. A wedding or celebration photo

Things you made

  1. A drawing or painting
  2. A clay model
  3. A paper airplane (and fly it)
  4. A friendship bracelet
  5. A card you made
  6. A homemade instrument
  7. An origami animal
  8. A photo of something you baked
  9. A comic you drew
  10. A science project

Older kids (7–12)

  1. A collection: stamps, coins, cards
  2. A book you love (and why)
  3. A magic trick
  4. A trophy or medal
  5. A skill: juggling, a dance move
  6. A gadget and how it works
  7. A map of a place you visited
  8. A hobby kit
  9. An experiment you can show
  10. A photo of an animal you saw

Things to talk about (no object)

  1. My best day ever
  2. My favourite animal
  3. What I want to be
  4. My weekend
  5. A place I love
  6. My favourite food
  7. A friend who is kind
  8. Something new I learned
  9. A dream I had
  10. My favourite season

Show and tell ideas from A to Z

LetterIdeas
Aapple, airplane, astronaut toy
Bball, book, bear
Ccar, crayon, camera
Ddinosaur, doll, drum
Eegg (plastic), elephant toy, envelope
Ffeather, flower, fish photo
Gglobe, glove, guitar
Hhat, horse toy, honey jar
Iice-cream scoop, insect toy, instrument
Jjigsaw, jar, jellyfish picture
Kkite, key, koala toy
Lleaf, lion toy, lunchbox
Mmap, medal, mitten
Nnecklace, nest, notebook
Oorange, owl toy, octopus picture
Ppinecone, puzzle, puppet
Qquilt, queen (chess piece), question card
Rrock, robot, ribbon
Sshell, sock puppet, star
Ttrain, teddy, toothbrush
Uumbrella, unicorn toy, ukulele
Vviolin, vase, vegetable
Wwhistle, watch, wheel
Xxylophone, X-ray picture, a box with an X
Yyo-yo, yarn, yoghurt pot
Zzebra toy, zip, zucchini (courgette)

Two sample show and tell talks

Ages 4–6: a seashell

This is my shell. I found it at the beach with my grandma. It is white and pink, and it is smooth inside. If you hold it to your ear, it sounds like the sea. I like it because it reminds me of my holiday. Does anyone have a question?

Ages 7–10: a coin collection

Today I brought my coin collection. I started it two years ago when my uncle gave me a coin from Japan. Now I have coins from eleven countries. My favourite is this one from Mexico, because it has an eagle on it. I keep them in this book with little plastic pockets. I want to get a coin from every continent. Does anyone have a question?

Questions classmates often ask (and easy answers)

QuestionEasy answer
Where did you get it?“My dad gave it to me.” / “I found it in the park.”
How old is it?“I got it last year.” / “It is older than me!”
Can I touch it?“Yes, be gentle, please.” / “Sorry, it breaks easily.”
What do you do with it?“I play with it every day.” / “I keep it on my shelf.”
Do you have another one?“No, it’s the only one.” / “Yes, I have three.”

How to practise at home

  • Let the child choose the item: excitement makes speaking easier.
  • Practise the 5 sentences to family or a row of stuffed animals, two or three times.
  • Ask one practice question so the question time isn’t a surprise.
  • Record it on a phone and watch it together; praise one thing they did well.
  • Avoid fragile or valuable items, and anything that makes noise for a long time.
  • Learning English as a family? See how to describe a picture in English and self introduction for students.

Frequently asked questions

What are good show and tell ideas?

Good show and tell ideas include a favourite stuffed animal, a seashell or pinecone, a family photo, a drawing the child made, a book they love, a souvenir from a trip, a collection, or a simple magic trick for older kids.

What should my child say at show and tell?

Five sentences are enough: what it is, where it came from, what it looks or feels like, why they like it, and “Does anyone have a question?”.

What are show and tell ideas for the letter Q or X?

For Q: a quilt, a queen chess piece or a question card. For X: a toy xylophone, an X-ray picture, or a box with an X on it.

What if my child doesn’t want to talk?

Practise at home with family or stuffed animals, keep it to three or four sentences, and let the child hold the item, which helps with nerves. A teacher can also ask simple questions to help.

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Sources

  1. Show and tell (education), Wikipedia
  2. Show and tell ideas, Greenlight