A lesson from the new National Curriculum (year 6) exploring the life and works of Charles Darwin, with illustrated explanations of evolution: Galapagos giant tortoises; giraffes; Galapagos finches; peppered moths. Bonus content - an additional SmartBoard looking at how some animals are adapted specifically to mountain environments, with 2 activities: complete a table of adaptions to overcome specific mountain problems; design, draw and label a new creature that would thrive in the Himalayas.

Research homework on Carl Linnaeus, and his main work, Linnaean taxonomy.

Colour pictures of trees, leaves and fruit found in the UK. Could be used as the source of a classification key from those found on a walk.

A set of 9 ultra-close-up, striking colour photographs of different parts of animals (for example, a spider's silk spinners; a mosquito's eyes), along with display signs and an answer sheet. I've used these on a classroom wall (where children stick up Post-it notes with their guesses) or website / blog (where they post answers online), and it always generates lots of interest, speculation and debate. Photos are in .jpg format for printing or use online, the choice is yours.

A SmartBoard lesson examining animal adaption to different habitats, first examining what adaption means. Then a demo board on adaptions of the polar bear to its habitat, then two printable boards (p5 & 6) ready for the children to cut out & fill in, looking at how the snow leopard and great white shark are adapted to their habitats (these boards can be customised, swapping for two animals of your own choice simply by inserting your own pictures). Finally, a board with a layout of a blank poster, for the children to use as a model layout. Also included are a bank of pictures of varied animals (and one plant, for deeper thinkers) all saved into one word doc for easy printing, for the children to cut out and use with the final blank board (tiger, otter, Highland cow, barn owl, giraffe, spider monkey, cactus, Arctic hare, alligator).

A lesson from the new National Curriculum (year 6 science) looking at variation in species, asking the children to identify the advantage that came from random variation. High level thinking skills required. Includes a set of pictures to print which illustrate each adaption (prehensile tail on a spider monkey, humans walking on 2 legs, long horns on a water buffalo, and 5 more), along with some prompt photos to reveal later showing the adaptions in use (the water buffalo throwing an attacking lion off with his its horns, a Neanderthal man carrying a spear).