Our EBL lessons develop both KS2 English and the 8 Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills in an interesting and enjoyable way. Developing these skills will maximise students’ learning outcomes. This brochure is an overview of the EBL lessons available on our website.

This resource, “The Hare and The Tortoise,” provides a soft introduction to metacognition through a familiar fable, making it accessible for young learners. The story illustrates how thinking about one’s own thinking—metacognition—can be more effective than relying on raw ability alone. In the story, Shelly the tortoise wins the race by using metacognitive strategies: planning, monitoring, and adjusting his approach. In contrast, Swifty the hare, despite his speed, fails because he doesn’t reflect on his actions. The story highlights that metacognitive skills like self-awareness and reflection can lead to better outcomes, both in races and in everyday tasks. The resource includes reflective questions that guide pupils to think about the story and their own learning behaviours. For example, pupils are asked how Shelly’s planning helped him succeed, how they might plan ahead in their own tasks, and how they could apply metacognition to activities like homework. This approachable and engaging resource helps teachers introduce the concept of metacognition in a way that encourages pupils to consider how they can think about their own learning processes and apply these strategies to improve performance. Teacher’s comment: “The fable used here is perfect. It’s both familiar to the pupil and accurate in how metacognition is presented. It immediately conveys to the student the benefits of metacognition in a fun and interesting way. It reinforces the message to the pupil that it is their approach to learning, rather than their ability, that makes the difference.” Pupil’s (aged 11) comment: “I really like this. I like the story and how Shelley used their thinking skills to win the race. It’s very inspirational.”

The Christmas Around the World resource is designed for Upper Key Stage 2 and offers a comprehensive literacy activity that combines cultural exploration with language skills. This resource introduces pupils to how Christmas is celebrated in various countries, such as America, Australia, Brazil, Finland, and Germany, among others. Key Features: Informative Texts: Pupils learn unique Christmas traditions and practices from different countries, promoting cultural awareness. Comprehension Questions: A range of questions follows the texts to assess understanding, encourage critical thinking, and support literacy skills development. Interactive Activities: Tasks include matching customs to countries, comparing traditions, and analysing how cultural factors influence celebrations. Creative Writing Opportunities: Pupils are invited to describe their own Christmas experiences or alternative celebrations. Answers Included in a free resource: The inclusion of answers ensures ease of use for teachers, aiding quick assessment or self-checking for pupils. Benefits for Teachers: Saves planning time with ready-to-use materials. Encourages cross-curricular links between literacy and cultural education. Adaptable for individual, paired, or group work. This engaging resource is ideal for encouraging discussion, enhancing comprehension skills, and introducing diversity into festive classroom activities.

This resource is a comprehensive Upper Key Stage 2 (Years 5 and 6) literacy worksheet centred around the carol Good King Wenceslas. It combines historical context, vocabulary building, and comprehension exercises, making it suitable for cross-curricular learning. Here’s an overview: Key Features: Carol Analysis and Story Writing: Pupils read the carol and use provided definitions to understand historical and linguistic aspects. Encourages retelling the story of Good King Wenceslas in the pupils’ own words, developing narrative and comprehension skills. Quick Quiz: Ten detailed questions about the carol ensure close reading and understanding of key details. Questions are scaffolded with a mix of factual recall (e.g. “What did the king bring?”) and interpretative thinking (e.g. following the king’s footsteps). Theme Exploration: Includes reflective questions about the carol’s main theme (generosity) and its broader message (blessing others leads to blessings). Promotes critical thinking and moral reasoning. Grammar and Writing Practice: Activities on using connectives effectively in sentences. Exercises include combining and splitting sentences, aiding in sentence structure mastery. Teaching Highlights: Versatility: The resource blends literacy skills with moral and thematic discussions, fitting well in both English and PSHE lessons. Seasonal Engagement: The Christmas theme adds relevance and excitement, engaging pupils in festive learning. Historical Context: Definitions of archaic words like “league” and “sire” help pupils understand the language and cultural context of the carol. Suitable For: Teachers aiming to enhance comprehension and writing skills while integrating festive content. Use in classroom discussions, guided reading sessions, or as independent tasks. Extension activities exploring the historical figure of King Wenceslas or medieval charity practices. This resource is intended to create a rich, engaging, and meaningful lesson during the run up to Christmas.