The Commonwealth Class education pack is a dynamic, exciting resource for teachers who want to teach young people about Commonwealth values like rights and responsibilities, protecting the environment and what people need to lead healthy lives. The pack contains cross-curricular activities, short films and discussion guides with learning outcomes that link to key skills, curriculum subjects and Commonwealth values. The activities can be used to support lesson planning and teaching across your curriculum. The flexible and wide ranging materials are mainly targeted at 7-14 year olds.

193 world leaders have committed to The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to help make the world safer, fairer and more just for everyone. There 17 Sustainable Development Goals aim to accomplish three things by 2030: tackle extreme poverty fight inequality and injustice protect the planet. The resource challenges you and your students to discuss the 17 goals and think of practical solutions to contribute to a more sustainable world. Exploring the themes of the SDGs is an excellent way to get your students thinking about their wider community and environment, while also delving into the life obstacles faced by others.

This resource pack provides ideas for discussion, activities and a framework to help you use social entrepreneurship as an engaging project in your school. It is designed to encourage students to develop an awareness and understanding of how business can help to address social problems as well as gain practical experience in planning and setting up their own social enterprise. From projects on social responsibility, the impact social enterprises can make, and successful entrepreneurship, the pack allows students to increase their knowledge of social innovation whilst also develop core skills for learning, life, and work. It will also enable students to develop personal skills and attributes such as teamwork, confidence, and innovation.

In 2014, the Commonwealth Class project produced this exciting pack to celebrate the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The pack contains cross-curricular activities, short films and discussion guides with learning outcomes that link to key skills, curriculum subjects and Commonwealth values.

The armistice to end the First World War was signed between France, Britain, and Germany on 11 November 1918 in a railway carriage in the Forest of Compiegne, about 60 km north of Paris. It ended a global conflict in which millions of soldiers and civilians lost their lives. This terrible war touched the lives of men, women and children across the globe and continues to have lasting implications in the world today. You can use the pack to teach your pupils more about the Armistice, to reflect on peace and to plan a commemoration of the centenary of the First World War.

The Battle of the Somme was one of the bloodiest battles in history. It took place in Northern France around the River Somme from 1 July to 18 November 1916. Now, a century later, our education pack is designed to help teachers introduce aspects of the Battle of the Somme and the ways in which it is being remembered. The pack contains resources to help students develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the conflict. It covers topics including experiences of the Somme from around the Commonwealth, Pals Battalions, conscription, recruitment and remembrance today. The materials are designed to be flexible and adaptable. They can be used as starting points for individual lessons or activities, or form part of a larger cross- curricular project with a partner school overseas. This resource pack has been developed by the British Council in partnership with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, UCL Institute of Education and Big Ideas Company.

The Polish Language and Culture pack helps primary teachers introduce aspects of Polish language and culture to their pupils. It contains lesson and assembly plans, factual information and resources to help pupils develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the rich language, geography and culture of Poland. The materials are designed to be flexible and adaptable for use in a variety of settings. They can be used as starting points for individual lessons and assemblies or form part of larger cross-curricular joint projects involving collaboration over a number of subjects. Your pupils can learn how to greet a friend in Polish, get creative making paper cut-outs, and find out about many aspects of Polish culture. This education pack was produced by the British Council and the Polish Cultural Institute in London in partnership with Dwie Siostry Publishing and Templar Publishing.

India is a fascinating country with an immensely rich and vibrant culture. It has a growing economy, and a history stretching back thousands of years,a diverse mix of languages and religions. This education pack is designed to help mainstream primary teachers introduce aspects of Indian language and culture to their pupils aged 7-11. It contains lesson and assembly plans, factual information and resources to help pupils improve their core skills and develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the language and culture of India. The materials are designed to be flexible and adaptable for use in a variety of settings. They can be used as starting points for individual lessons and assemblies or form part of larger cross-curricular joint projects involving collaboration with a partner school over a number of subjects. Your pupils can learn how to greet a friend in Hindi, get creative making rangoli patterns and shadow puppets, watch an animated film by an Indian film maker and find out about many other aspects of Indian culture using our wide range of classroom resources and activities.

Russia is a fascinating, diverse country stretching over two continents with a rich culture and history. This education pack helps primary teachers to introduce some aspects of Russian language and culture to their pupils. It contains lessons and assembly plans, factual information and resources to help pupils develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of the rich language and culture of Russia and the lives of young Russians. Your pupils can learn how to greet a friend in Russian and start to decode its unfamiliar alphabet, find out about Russia’s exciting contribution to our understanding of space and make a balloon rocket. You can also sample its rich literary heritage and get to know about daily life in Russia from some of its young people. The materials are designed to be flexible and adaptable for use in a variety of settings. They can be used as starting points for individual lessons and assemblies or form part of larger cross-curricular joint projects involving collaboration over a number of subjects. Instructions to use the PDF and activate the sound files: download and save the PDF to your computer. Open the PDF and select ‘Preferences’ from the ‘Edit’ menu. Select ‘3D and MultiMedia Options’ and tick the box ‘Enable playing of 3D content’ followed by ‘OK’. In some browsers a yellow bar at the top of the PDF page will also display providing two options: select option ‘Trust this document always’.

Social enterprises trade in order to tackle social problems and improve communities, people’s life chances, or the environment. These learning resources have been designed as six lessons for pupils aged 7-14. Guided by their teachers, pupils explore examples of social enterprises started by children and adults around the world. By the end of this learning unit, pupils will have created their own social enterprise project. At the same time, they will develop a range of important core skills: citizenship, critical thinking and problem solving, creativity, imagination and innovation. An engaging way to learn about social enterprises is to get involved in running one and can improve attendance, behaviour, and enthusiasm among pupils.

The Great Languages Challenge can be completed during a planned lesson or also set as a language-themed homework task. We even have a blank version available that students can use to design their own challenges for their classmates or peers in their partner school overseas. Did you know that completing two or more international activities from these resources (or designing your own) will qualify your school for a foundation level International School Award? All you have to do is choose and complete two or more classroom-based activities linked to your curriculum. Apply and get your international work recognised. Sign up to the British Council Schools e-newsletter and be the first to hear about new resources, funding, training and global webinars!

Acting as an excellent layman’s introduction to the origins of one of the most common languages on the planet, &‘History of the English Language&’; demonstrates how language changes over time, and presents England as being multicultural right down to its roots.

An overview of the progressive facilities at a modern coal mine in Scotland, with an emphasis on the steps taken to ensure worker welfare there.

An amusing and informative introduction to the manufacture of power cables, set to an jaunty musical score.

A Techincolor film exploring the beautiful scenery and famous buildings around Snowdonia, Wales.

A miner with an injured spine is treated in a hospital before being sent to a rehabilitation centre to make a full recovery.

An overview of the industrial landscape of Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on the impact of and contribution to the Allied war effort.

A rendition of the traditional English folksong ‘Widdicombe Fair&’, accompanied by animated drawings.

Exploring the daily life of a large family in Yorkshire, ‘We of the West Riding&’ shows both their work at the textile mills and their varied leisure pursuits.

Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street, Leicester Square, and Soho during wartime.