Day 1 · Greetings
Say hello the Swahili way
Start the morning with a warm “Jambo!” — the greetings your little ones will use before breakfast.
For Teachers
How do I teach Swahili in a primary classroom?
Use a structured 6-week introduction: greetings, numbers, animals, colours, family, and food. Pair each theme with one read-aloud bilingual book and one craft activity. This free curriculum guide gives you printable lesson plans, vocabulary sheets, and parent-letter templates — no Swahili fluency required.
Reviewed by Native Swahili speakers from Tanzania
Curriculum designer · Bilingual educator · Updated April 17, 2026
6 Weeks
Self-paced curriculum
Ages 4–8
Reception to Year 3
9 Free PDFs
Print-ready resources
Week-by-Week Plan
W1
Greetings & Introductions
Jambo (Hello)Habari (How are you?)Asante (Thank you)Tafadhali (Please)
🎨 Activity: Jambo Welcome Song Download Resource
W2
Numbers 1–10
Moja (1)Mbili (2)Tatu (3)Kumi (10)
🎨 Activity: Kuku Kumi Counting Rhyme Download Resource
W3
Safari Animals
Simba (Lion)Tembo (Elephant)Twiga (Giraffe)Kiboko (Hippo)
🎨 Activity: African Animal Mask Craft Download Resource
W4
Colours & Art
Nyekundu (Red)Bluu (Blue)Kijani (Green)Njano (Yellow)
🎨 Activity: Colour-In Activity Pages Download Resource
W5
Family & Home
Mama (Mother)Baba (Father)Nyumbani (Home)Ndugu (Sibling)
🎨 Activity: Family Tree Drawing Download Resource
W6
Food & Celebration
Chakula (Food)Maji (Water)Matunda (Fruit)Karamu (Party)
🎨 Activity: Read-Aloud Story Session Download Resource
All Free Resources
Start here
Swahili 101: your first week, made simple
You don't need to speak Swahili to teach it. Follow one tiny lesson a day for seven days — tap any word to hear real Swahili, then jump into the full flashcards and audio. Mark each day done and your progress is saved for next time.
Day 1 of 7
0/7 done
Day 2 · Numbers 1–10
Count together: moja, mbili, tatu…
A joyful counting song for the school run or circle time — numbers one to ten that stick.
Day 3 · First everyday words
The tiny words kids remember instantly
Short, high-frequency words you'll both use all day. Tap through the flashcards below to practise.
Day 4 · Safari animals
Meet simba, tembo and twiga
Every child's favourite — the big safari animals in Swahili, with a quick dictionary to explore more.
Day 5 · Family & home
Mama, baba and the people we love
The warmest words to learn — family names — then meet them in a real bilingual picture book.
Day 6 · Bedtime story
A 90-second read-aloud in two languages
English first, then the Swahili line — your child copies you. The gentlest way to end the day bilingually.
Day 7 · Play & review
Celebrate the week with a game
Put it all together with quick bilingual flashcard games — learning that feels like play.
Your first 16 words
Short, everyday Swahili your little ones remember after one listen — tap any word to hear how it really sounds.
Free · For Teachers
The Classroom Starter Bundle
Everything you need to bring Swahili into your classroom next week — no login, no cost.
- 6-week lesson plan
- 9 printable PDFs
- Vocabulary + phonics sheets
- Daily 'word of the day' email
Talk to us about your school or library
Tell us roughly how many students or readers you serve and we'll send pricing, a sample pack list, and curriculum tie-ins.
FAQ
Questions About the Curriculum
Each weekly unit is designed for 2–3 sessions of 20–30 minutes each. This can be adapted to fit your timetable — the curriculum works for daily short sessions or longer weekly blocks.
Not at all! Each lesson includes pronunciation guides, vocabulary with translations, and audio resources. Many teachers learn the words alongside their students. The parent letter template helps explain the programme to families too.
Absolutely. The 6-week plan is a flexible framework. You can extend themes that resonate with your class, skip weeks, or reorder them. All PDF resources are standalone and can be used independently of the curriculum sequence.
Ready to Start Your Child's Bilingual Journey?
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