Teaching Methods · All Years
Authentic Materials in the Classroom
Learning with real-world objects
A bus timetable. A pizza menu. A cereal box. These are not typical classroom materials — and that is exactly why they work so well. Authentic materials bring the outside world into the classroom and make learning immediately relevant.
What are authentic materials?
Authentic materials are texts and objects created for real-world purposes, not for teaching. They include newspapers, receipts, packaging, brochures, letters, and labels. Unlike worksheets, they carry genuine communicative intent — someone made them to inform, advertise, or instruct.
Why they work
Children respond to real things. When a child reads a real recipe or a real train schedule, the task has meaning beyond the classroom. The question "What time does the train leave?" matters in a way that "Circle the correct answer" often does not. Authentic materials make the purpose of reading and writing visible.
How to use them
Start small. Bring in a food label and explore it together: What is listed? In what order? What do the numbers mean? A restaurant menu becomes a maths exercise, a reading task, and a conversation about food — all at once. Packaging can be sorted, compared, and discussed in any subject.
Collecting and curating
Ask families to donate packaging, old magazines, and brochures. Build a class collection sorted by type. Children can contribute items they find interesting — which itself becomes an exercise in observation and curation. Rotate materials regularly to keep the selection fresh.
Limitations and adaptations
Some authentic materials are too complex for younger children. Adapt by selecting shorter texts, cutting out single sections, or providing a focus question that guides attention. The goal is engagement, not overwhelm.