I provide a wide range of resources for use in the classroom and around school. My resources build on children's learning and consider the smaller steps children need to take to achieve the learning. My resources have a focus on 'mastery' style questions where possible, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning skills. As a practicing primary teacher myself, I know how essential it is to have well organised lesson resources with engaging activities that focus on the learning.
I provide a wide range of resources for use in the classroom and around school. My resources build on children's learning and consider the smaller steps children need to take to achieve the learning. My resources have a focus on 'mastery' style questions where possible, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning skills. As a practicing primary teacher myself, I know how essential it is to have well organised lesson resources with engaging activities that focus on the learning.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity for grouping living things.
The first in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Sound,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to investigate how a sound is made.
An interesting mastery starter to engage and intrigue children.
Children consider how a sound is made and investigate vibrations.
Opportunity for children to work in mixed ability groups to investigate how a range of items make a sound and observe for vibrations (equipment list provided, although other items could also be used).
Develop's children's scientific explanations of how a sound results from a vibration.
'Mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Interesting Minions related hook to engage all children in the follow up task.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (all of which are provided as well as being explained on the PowerPoint)
Plenary leads into the next lesson and also links to the homework task (this is optional, but would boost children's learning).
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activities for identifying the 5 vertebrate groups and developing children's understanding and use of classification keys. Lots of mastery thinking required.
The fourth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Living Things and Their Habitats,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to use a classification key to identify the 5 vertebrate groups.
An interesting 'fact or fiction' starter to intrigue children and develop their scientific discussions.
Recaps, revisits and builds on prior learning on living things, vertebrate and invertebrates.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge about grouping animals in different ways and looks at the specific scientific characteristics of the 5 vertebrate groups, as well as examples.
Lots of 'mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (all of which are provided as well as being explained on the PowerPoint).
A further extension activity is also provided.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activity resources.
The third in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to investigate freezing and melting.
We are learning to conduct a fair test.
An interesting mastery question for a starter - 'What weights more, a tonne of rocks or a tonne of feathers?'
Recaps children's prior knowledge from previous lessons.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge about what freezing and melting means.
Children explore the freezing and melting points of water.
Fun investigation to explore the melting point of water. Opportunity for everyone to be involved.
Encourages children to consider what a fair test is.
Step by step recording of the experiment modeled on the PowerPoint.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
3 differentiated activities (one is provided, one is supported by the PowerPoint, one is an independent task- tasks and is on the PowerPoint. Tasks can link with writing in literacy)
End of unit science assessment for Y4 'Living things and their habitats' topic .
A range of questions from basic recall to data analysis and reasoning/explanations, to suit all abilities of learner.
22 questions over 4 pages. Total marks - 43
Mark scheme provided for answers.
Ideal for finishing off the series of 'Living things and their habitats' lessons.
Ideal practise for if children later do the KS2 science sampling SATs.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity for grouping living things.
The second in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Sound,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to explain how sound travels to the ear.
An interesting fact or fiction starter to engage and intrigue children.
Follows on from previous session so revisiting the homework section is optional.
Children consider and learn how a sound travels as a wave.
Builds on previous learning. Explores why a sound travels faster through a solid than a liquid and a liquid than a gas.
Opportunity for children to work in mixed ability groups to investigate how a sound travels through a solid and a gas. Children also think about how to make their experiment a fair test.
Develop's children's scientific explanations.
'Mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (all of which are provided as well as being explained on the PowerPoint)
Plenary is a thought provoking mastery style question to identify who has understood the learning at a deeper level and to encourage interesting scientific discussion - could also link to a space topic.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activities for identifying vertebrates and invertebrates and introducing children to scientific classification keys.
The third in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Living Things and Their Habitats,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to use a classification key to identify vertebrates and invertebrates.
An interesting 'fact or fiction' starter to intrigue children and develop their scientific discussions..
Recaps, revisits and builds on prior learning on living things and how they are grouped.
Introduces children to a scientific classification key at a basic lesson. Initially through a verbal, fun, whole class exercise and moving into written scientific keys to identify vertebrates and invertebrates.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge about vertebrates and invertebrates.
Lots of 'mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (all of which are provided as well as being explained on the PowerPoint).
Plenary requires mastery level thinking and leads into next lesson by encouraging children to consider other ways in which animals could be grouped.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity
The fifth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to understand what is meant by an irreversible change.
An interesting zoomed in image for the starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Recaps, revisits and builds on children's prior knowledge from previous lessons.
Revisits reversible changes.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge of irreversible changes and is relevant to children by giving examples from every day life.
Two fun investigations for children to complete, whilst developing their understanding of irreversible changes.
Equipment list for the investigations is provided in planning and on PowerPoint.
Step by step modelling of the experiments are modeled on the PowerPoint.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
Activity is on the PowerPoint and requires photographs of the experiments to be taken during the lesson (for this reason, you may find it easier to complete this part of the lesson at a later time).
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity
The sixth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to identify evaporation and condensation in the water cycle.
An interesting zoomed in image for the starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Recaps, revisits and builds on children's prior knowledge from previous lessons.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge of evaporation and condensation and is relevant to children by giving examples from every day life.
Step by step explanation of evaporation, condensation and precipitation in the water cycle.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (2 are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint)
Opportunity for verbal peer assessment as a plenary (on PowerPoint)
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Everything you need to teach a Living Things and Their Habitats science topic for a half term.
6 lessons, including planning, PowerPoints and resources. Mastery questions included throughout to develop children's critical thinking and scientific reasoning skills. Also there is an end of topic assessment paper and answer paper. Some lessons may take 2 or more session as they have more than one learning activity or an outdoor learning activity prior to the main learning task.
Lots of opportunities for out door learning - in the school grounds or locality.
Lesson plans and PowerPoints are explicit and easy to follow.
Where equipment is needed for experiments, equipment lists are provided on the lesson plans, although you will also need any bug hunting equipment that your school has.
All lessons have 3 differentiated follow-up tasks, with supporting resources. Most are provided, the rest are explained on the PowerPoints. There are also some opportunities for mixed ability paired/ small group work.
All lessons have an interesting starter, either 'who am I' or a 'fact or fiction' fact about living things - again to develop children's critical thinking skills, scientific reasoning and explanations.
Lessons recap, revisit and build upon children's prior knowledge. The repetition during the recapping sections of the lessons are great for supporting children with retaining information.
Throughout the lessons, there are thought provoking 'mastery' style questions, to encourage children to think critically, reason and explain.
There are opportunities for peer assessment.
We are learning to's include:
to classify living things;
to identify and name living things;
to use a classification key to identify vertebrates and invertebrates;
to use a classification key to identify the 5 vertebrate groups;
to identify invertebrate groups in their own habitat;
to understand how environments change and the dangers this can cause for wildlife.
Opportunity to develop science skills is also covered.
Links to 2014 National Curriculum are made clear on each lesson plan.
Cross-curricular links are also made.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
End of unit science assessment for Y4 'States of Matter' topic .
3 pages of a range of questions to suit different abilities.
Answer paper provided.
Ideal for finishing off the series of States of Matter lessons.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activities for identifying invertebrate groups and developing children's understanding of invertebrates that live in their local environment. Lots of mastery thinking required.
The fifth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Living Things and Their Habitats,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to identify invertebrate groups in their own habitat.
An interesting starter to intrigue children and develop their scientific skills in estimating and discussing.
Recaps, revisits and builds on prior learning on living things, vertebrates and invertebrates.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge about grouping animals in different ways and looks at the specific scientific characteristics of invertebrate groups that are likely to be found in the local environment, as well as exploring examples of each group and their habitats.
Opportunity for outdoor work to identify invertebrate groups in the school grounds/ locality, with a focus on the type of habitat they were found in (recording sheet provided, although you will need bug hunting equipment from school and to set safety rules).
Lots of 'mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Choice of 3 differentiated, engaging follow up activities to design a bug hotel, focusing on the type of habitat each invertebrate group would prefer (2 tasks are provided, all 3 are explained on the PowerPoint). Further resources e.g. prompt cards and pictures are provided too.
Opportunity for giving written peer feedback about the learning that has taken place.
An optional homework task is provided for children to develop their learning about classifying plants and consolidate their use of classification keys and scientific explanations.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activity resources.
The fourth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to observe when different materials change state when heated or cooled.
An interesting mastery question for a starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Recaps, revisits and builds on children's prior knowledge from previous lessons.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge freezing and melting for materials other than water.
Fun investigation to complete as a class. Safety warnings on planning and PowerPoint for children to avoid the hot items.
Step by step modelling of the experiment modeled on the PowerPoint.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
3 differentiated activities (two are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint- tasks can link with writing in literacy)
The tasks are linked to an Ancient Greek topic (writing to a Greek Goddess), although this can be very easily adapted to suit any topic.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Everything you need to teach a States of Matter science topic for a half term.
7 lessons, including planning, PowerPoints and resources. Mastery questions included throughout. Plus an end of topic assessment paper and answer paper.
Lesson plans and PowerPoints are explicit and easy to follow.
Where equipment is needed for experiments, equipment lists are provided on the lesson plans and PowerPoints. There are also step by step guides for completing the experiments on the PowerPoints.
All lessons have 3 differentiated follow-up tasks. Most are provided, the rest are on the PowerPoints.
All lessons have an interesting starter, either a brain-teaser mastery style question or a zoomed in photograph to identify (that is relevant to the topic).
Lessons recap, revisit and build upon children's prior knowledge. The repetition during the recapping sections of the lessons are great for supporting children with retaining information.
Throughout the lessons, there are thought provoking 'mastery' style questions, to encourage children to reason and explain.
There are opportunities for peer assessment.
We are learning to's include:
to compare and group materials;
to identify states of matter and their properties;
to investigate freezing and melting/ to conduct a fair test;
to observe when different materials change state when heated or cooled;
to understand an irreversible change;
to identify evaporation and condensation in the water cycle;
to explain the processes of evaporation and condensation.
Opportunity to develop science skills is also covered.
Links to 2014 National Curriculum is made clear on each lesson plan.
Some activities are linked to an Ancient Greek topic through hooks, letters and instructions (not all lessons), however this could be VERY easily adapted to another topic.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
How to make a cloud in the classroom! Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity
The seventh (final) in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to explain the processes of evaporation and condensation.
An interesting mastery question for a starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Recaps, revisits and builds on children's prior knowledge from previous lesson on the water cycle, evaporation, condensation and precipitation. .
Develop's children's scientific explanations of evaporation and condensation, through participation in an engaging experiment.
Step by step explanation of how to make a cloud in a class. Equipment is easy to obtain, a list is provided on the planning an in the PowerPoint.
As the experiment needs the use of boiling water and a match, a warning is given on both the PowerPoint and in the planning, to be shared appropriately with the class to keep children safe.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (2 are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint).
Opportunity for written peer assessment as a plenary (included within tasks 1 and 2 and provided separately for group 3)
As an engaging hook, the follow up activity is linked to the Ancient Greeks (writing instructions for the King of Gods and God of the weather, Zeus). However, this could very easily be adapted to another topic.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activity resources.
The first in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum.
We are learning to compare and group materials.
Children begin by working in groups and making their own decisions on how to group a range of materials and reason their choice to the class.
Opportunity for children to consider what the states of matter are and identify these within their own environment to make their learning meaningful.
Children start to explore the properties of materials.
Some 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning.
3 differentiated activities (2 of these are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint)
Lesson PowerPoint, easy to follow, explicit planning and activity resources.
The second in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum.
We are learning to identify states of matter and their properties.
An interesting mastery question for a starter - 'If sand can be poured from one container to another, does this mean that it is a liquid?'
Recaps children's prior knowledge.
Develop's children's knowledge of the states of matter and their properties - specifically around particles.
Links to Ancient Greek topic as covers the Ancient Greek who first suggested particles.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
3 differentiated activities (2 of these are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint. It has strong links to literacy)
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activities for identifying invertebrate groups and developing children's understanding of invertebrates that live in their local environment. Lots of mastery thinking required.
The sixth (final) in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Living Things and Their Habitats,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to understand how environments change and the dangers this can cause for wildlife.
An interesting 'who am I?' starter to intrigue children. Clues reveal themselves one at a time and explore each of the invertebrate groups covered in the last lesson.
Recaps, revisits and builds on prior learning on living things.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge about habitats and how they change - both through natural causes and the impacts of humans. Lots of critical thinking and explaining required.
Learning walk around the locality required - children to look out for ways humans have changed the environment - both positive and negative. Opportunity for children to discuss what they saw, particularly any positive impacts.
How do humans harm habitats? Explores deforestation, what it is and the impacts.
Opportunity for children to consider why humans harm the environment and the impacts.
Opportunity for children to consider ways to improve the environment that are relevant to their locality.
Children work in mixed ability groups to develop, carry out and evaluate a plan to improve their environment.
Lots of 'mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
This may actually take 3-4 lessons:
Introducing the learning and taking the learning walk.
Creating an action plan
Carrying out the mission
Evaluating the mission and sharing with the class.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity for grouping living things.
The first in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Living Things and Their Habitats,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to group living things.
An interesting mastery starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Encourages children to consider what a living thing is.
Opportunity for children to work in mixed ability groups to come up with their own ways to group living things and to be able to share this and reason their choices with the class.
Develop's children's scientific explanations of how something is grouped as a plant or an animal.
Lots of 'mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Interesting Minions related hook to engage all children in the follow up task.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (all of which are provided as well as being explained on the PowerPoint)
Opportunity for verbal peer feedback as a plenary (with prompt on the PowerPoint).
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
7 lesson plans for the Y4 states of matter science topic, covering:
Comparing and classifying materials.
Properties of solids, liquids and gases.
Melting and freezing.
Changing states.
Reversible and irreversible materials.
Condensation and evaporation.
Water cycle.
Clear teaching points and questions for extension.
3 differentiated activity ideas and ideas for experiments.