I am an experienced Primary school teacher with over twenty years experience in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. I have made and used all of the interactive topic based lesson plans, power-points and resources in this shop with my classes. I hope you enjoy using them with your classes too.
I am an experienced Primary school teacher with over twenty years experience in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. I have made and used all of the interactive topic based lesson plans, power-points and resources in this shop with my classes. I hope you enjoy using them with your classes too.
Improving memory skills.
Power-point of 54 slides. There are 36 one-a-day memory activities to practise with pupils to improve visual and auditory memory skills. The activities are structured week by week to gradually challenge whilst providing practise. For individual pupils or a small group working with an adult.
I have used these activities with children of all ages who struggle to remember/recognise alphabet, phonics, HFW and basic numbers. The activities need to be carried out daily to enable the children to practise and improve. Useful for a TA or SEN TA supporting a group in the classroom.
Week 1 & 2: There are six individual picture games (for each week) to help pupils practise retelling a story with picture prompts or from memory. Pupil record grid (for adult use) is included to enable the adult to see the visual memory progress of each child and identify any issues or areas for further practise.
Week 3: There are six picture sequence/list activities for pupils to retell a short story with or without picture clues.
Week 4: Number sequence recall. Six activities for the adult to use with a child or small group to improve auditory memory skills. Recording sheet for pupil use is provided.
Week 5: Colour sequence recall. Six activities for the adult to use with a child or small group to improve auditory memory skills. Recording sheet for pupil use is provided.
Week 6: Listen and draw sequence activities. Full instructions for the adult are provided plus a pupil record sheet for adult assessment of pupil progress.
KS1/Y3 Powerpoint lesson (s) of 65 slides on the topic ‘Norman castles.’
Learning Objectives:
• To recognise and name the features of castles.
• To explain who William of Normandy was, where he came from and what he was famous for doing.
• To compare the similarities and differences between motte and bailey and stone built castles.
• To explain how the first castles were made.
• To give reasons why castles were built in specific places and in specific ways.
• To recap the features of a castle using the correct historical words.
• To know that castles were gifts or rewards in Norman times.
• To make a non-fiction booklet about castles.
The slides are easy to follow and devised to encourage partner/trio discussion and collaboration through key questioning and small group activities. The slides can be divided easily into four separate lessons (following the learning objectives) or interchanged depending on how quickly or in depth you want to take over each aspect of this topic. Slides 1-5 use pupil knowledge as a starting point assessment through a ‘what am I?’ activity. Slides 6-13 focus on features of castles. Slides 14-22 focus on William the Conqueror and include a paired map activity using atlases. Slides 23-36 look at early motte and bailey castles and include a short clip from Youtube. Included is a simple DT planning sheet for pupils to design then build a motte and bailey castle and a separate comparison worksheet. Slides 37-45 focus on castle defences and include a labelling worksheet and an ‘attack and defence’ activity. Slides 46-48 encourage pupils to consider the purposes of castles in war and peace time. Slides 49-59 can be used as a castle features class quiz or a paired assessment. Slides 59- 63 look at famous castles belonging to Normans. Slide 64 is a non-fiction template for pupils to use to make notes about their knowledge of Norman castles. The final slide offers a suggestion for making a ‘castle’ booklet.
Dinosaur comprehension cards. Set of 12. KS1/lower KS2. Each card includes a simple information about a dinosaur and eight questions for pupils to retrieve from the text. Simple layout for pupils to find information easily and an engaging picture of each subject on the card. Can also be used without the comprehension questions as a reference resource for pupils to research a dinosaur independently.
Dinosaur fact cards. Set of 12 KS1/KS2. Can be used as a game to help pupils learn the names and characteristics of the individual dinosaurs. Use also as a reference resource for research work on Dinosaur topic, Science /non-fiction writing. Each card has a brief fact about location, date, appearance, teeth, fun fact and a general information section. Simple layout for pupils to find information easily and an engaging picture of each dinosaur.
Dinosaurs included: Triceratops, Stegosaurus, T-Rex, Diplodocus, Velociraptor, Brontosaurus, Pterosaur, Parasaurolophus, Nodosaur, Iguanodon, Spinosaurus, Scutellosaurus.
Tudor History full Y6 6-8 weeks unit of work ‘Off with their heads!’ covering the following learning objectives:
• To know the names and order of the Tudor monarchs.
• To know who was important in Tudor government and which people were the most powerful.
• To understand why it was important for Henry V111 to marry Catherine of Aragon.
• To explain why Henry V111 needed a healthy male heir and consider solutions.
• To order the names of Henry V111’s wives and children and explain whether Henry’s marriages solved his problems.
• To explain how and why the religion of England changed during Henry V111’s reign.
• To explain how England was ruled after Henry V111’s death.
• To consider the reign of Mary Tudor and judge the impact of her rule on England.
The power-point contains 98 slides which include the 6/8 week planning grid. There are interactive pupil tasks, prepared factsheets to guide pupil research, a range of worksheets and tasks to scaffold the Tudor family tree, ruling hierarchy etc. Also sentence starter exercises and drama activities, sorting activities (Catholic and Protestant), letter and portrait discussion stimulus and link to You tube clip. There are also opportunities for pupils to complete written tasks and summaries.
My class of Y6 enjoyed these lessons and particularly engaged with the drama tasks of Conscience Alley and Hot Seating.
I made this resource for Y5 to research simple facts about their sporting favourites in a practical and fun way. the children loved to activity and really enjoyed reading each-other’s work which we made into a colourful display. Useful fun activity for any event in the annual sporting calendar (World Cup, Olympics, Rugby etc).
I made this template for KS2 to make simple topic research and information gathering more practical and fun but I have also used it with groups in KS1. The children cut out the ‘head and shoulders’ template and decorate it as their chosen historical character (it could be anyone from the past eg. Kings & Queens, explorers, inventors, designers etc). Then the children cut out the paper strips and complete the spaces beneath the headings.
They make a colourful and informative class display and the children love reading each other’s contributions.
A fun resource for pupils to make as a start of term or new class activity to share with friends/teacher and create a colourful display where every child can be represented.
I used this template with KS2 pupils but it can also be used with KS1.
KS2 Geography – Discover the Arctic Circle power-point lesson of 42 slides.
Learning Objectives
I must find the Arctic in my atlas.
I must recognise the symbols for the points on a compass.
I should identify the lines of latitude and longitude on a map or globe.
I should explain the term ‘Arctic Circle’.
I could describe where the Arctic Circle is in the world using geographical vocabulary and name some places located there.
The lesson uses pupil starting points and encourages partner and group discussion. Written tasks are built into each stage of the lesson following a discussion task, map or globe work. The introduction asks pupils to describe the arctic landscape and arctic animals using a selection of photographs. They use this information to build up a picture to guess the place. There are slides which demonstrate the features of the arctic and two linked worksheets for pupils to complete.
The lesson moves onto a simple explanation of latitude and longitude and the points on the compass. Pupils will need a map or globe to explore the tasks fully and identify the Arctic Circle and the countries and seas within it.
There are 2 YouTube links – a latitude and longitude song (great fun!) and a short clip about Arctic wildlife which could be used as a starter for a follow up lesson.
There is an optional assessment task at the end of the lesson.
KS2 Geography – Deserts power-point lesson of 45 slides.
Learning Objectives
To recognise the features of a desert.
To explain the differences and similarities between tropical and polar deserts.
To locate deserts on a map.
To identify countries where deserts are located.
To understand that some plants, animals and humans can survive in the desert.
The lesson uses pupil starting points and encourages partner and group discussion, map or atlas work. The introduction asks pupils to describe the desert climate following a simple experiment.
The pupils are asked to locate the 10 largest deserts on a world map following a youtube clip.
The lesson moves onto a simple explanation of the features of hot deserts and polar deserts with a Venn diagram comparison activity. Pupils will need a map, atlas or globe to explore the tasks fully and identify the desert regions.
There is a simple reference to landlocked deserts and more detail about people and animal adaptation in the desert which could be used as a starter for a follow up lesson.
There is a simple Google Earth task at the end of the lesson.
Lesson works well with topics linked to Adaptation, Weather and climate, Mapwork, and Hot countries.
Sun and summer: Bundle of 6 resources.
Resource 1. Sun safety complete powerpoint lesson. Written mainly for KS1 but can be easily adapted. Powerpoint of 17 slides which promotes small group and paired discussion about sun safety. Can be used as a complete lesson or adapted for an assembly. The first slides look at fun in the sun and lead into some simple facts about the sun following a short paired talk session to assess pupil knowledge. Pupils are encouraged to look at different photographs of the sun (sunset, sun rise, in space) and describe features. There is a very simple slide on Vitamin D and UV rays linked to health. The children can discuss how to protect themselves in the sun and when to wear sunscreen. The final slide is an example of a sun safety poster which pupils can use as a basis to design their own for the rest of the school (and which can be used as an assessment of their learning).
Resource 2. The sun and our planet. EYFS/KS1 power-point of 36 slides. This power-point can be used as a complete stand-alone lesson or as an additional spin off to related topics which encourage the pupils to think about the sun and how it affects earth. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides and activities including a simple riddle, a short youtube clip, paired talk activities, a practical ‘ordering planets’ activity and an assessment challenge to make a booklet about the information learned. Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points. Useful alongside lessons or topics on sun safety, summer, space and planets etc.
Learning objectives
• To know that the sun is the centre of the solar system.
• To know some interesting facts about the sun.
• To name the eight planets which orbit the sun.
• To organise the planets in order of closeness to the sun.
• To explain how the sun affects our planet.
Resource 3. EYFS Weekly plan ‘The sun and the wind’. This is a weekly cross curricular plan for an EYFS topic based on Aesop’s fable ‘The sun and the wind’. It has been planned to include the learning and ideas for one week of teaching and includes differentiated planning in Literacy and Numeracy for HA, MA and LA groups. Includes non-negotiable vocabulary and linked learning activities in each area of learning. Links well with topics on ‘Being kind’, ‘Circles’ and ‘Weather’.
Resource 4. ‘All about the sun’ factsheet template. KS1 factsheet template about the topic of the sun. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own ideas for a non-fiction factsheet or booklet. There are heading prompts to help pupils develop ideas.
Resource 5. EYFS/KS1 summer picnic activity sheet. Learning objective : I can choose and name at least 8 things to put in a picnic basket.
A simple observation and identification activity for pupils before undertaking an out of school visit (to the beach, woods, park). Pupils draw what they will need for a picnic. There is a simple picture/word key at the bottom of the worksheet to help pupils identify 8 common items found in a picnic basket. Can be used as a follow up activity for topic work on ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’, seaside, summer, ‘We’re going on a picnic!’ by Pat Hutchins etc.
Resource 6. EYFS/KS1 Beachcombing activity sheet.
Learning objective : I can find and name at least 8 things found on a beach.
A simple observation and identification activity for pupils while on a visit to the beach. Pupils draw what they find in the empty bucket. There is a simple picture/word key at the bottom of the worksheet to help pupils identify 8 common items found on a beach.
‘All about the sun’ factsheet template.
KS1 blank factsheet template about the topic of the sun. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own ideas for a non-fiction factsheet or booklet. There are heading prompts to help pupils develop ideas.
Great to use following Science /sun safety/space lesson or drama. Can also be reused with most topics: My family, heroes, current or historical characters, explorers, travel, Halloween, etc.
The sun and our planet. EYFS/KS1 power-point of 36 slides.
This power-point can be used as a complete stand-alone lesson or as an additional spin off to related topics which encourage the pupils to think about the sun and how it affects earth. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides and activities including a simple riddle, a short youtube clip, paired talk activities, a practical ‘ordering planets’ activity and an assessment challenge to make a booklet about the information learned. Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points. Useful alongside lessons or topics on sun safety, summer, space and planets etc.
Learning objectives
• To know that the sun is the centre of the solar system.
• To know some interesting facts about the sun.
• To name the eight planets which orbit the sun.
• To organise the planets in order of closeness to the sun.
• To explain how the sun affects our planet.
Qatar today: Series of 6 KS2 power-point Geography lessons.
Each lesson is broken into short focused activities. There are opportunities for pupils to recall prior learning, participate in a short quiz, take notes from a YouTube clip, scrutinise and compare population graphs and weather charts (included on slides), research native animals and use maps and atlases to locate Qatar’s key cities and geographical features. Each set of slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the geography of Qatar as well as simple cultural information such as greetings in Arabic at the beginning and end of lessons.
Great to link with cross curricular topics such as Asia, Deserts, World Cup, etc.
Lesson 1
Learning Objectives
I must find Qatar in my atlas.
I should recognise some of the features of Qatar.
I could describe where Qatar is in the world using geographical words.
Lesson 2
Learning objectives
I must be able to spot the main features of Qatar.
I should find and label the features on my map.
I could write a description about two features.
Lesson 3
Learning Objectives
I must describe a desert climate.
I should explain the temperature in different locations.
I could interpret the climate data and temperature chart for each month.
Lesson 4
Learning objectives:
I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’.
I should interpret the population table and identify the challenges for living in Qatar.
I could compare population graphs for Qatar cities and explain population issues.
Lesson 5
Learning Objectives
I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’, ‘desert climate’ and ‘weather’.
I must order the five most populated cities in Qatar.
I should explain how the location of Qatar’s cities affects population size.
I could explain how the weather and climate support the life of the Qatar people.
Lesson 6
Learning Objectives
I must identify some features of natural beauty in Qatar.
I should identify and research some of the areas of natural beauty which come from Qatar.
OR
I should identify and research some of the animal, fish and birds which come from Qatar.
KS1 & 2 Ancient Romans. Set of 5 worksheets. Label the armour on the Roman soldier, Label the clothes on the Roman man, Label the armour on the gladiator (3 worksheets). 2 Ancient Roman alphabet (Latin) worksheets .
Total set of 5 worksheets: Three separate worksheets to enable pupils to match the clothing vocabulary to the correct part of the picture (soldier, gladiator and man in toga).
There are ten items of clothing to label on the gladiator and soldier worksheets and six parts to label on the Roman man. The vocabulary list is included on each worksheet for pupil use and there is an image of a soldier, gladiator and Roman man for pupils to colour.
There are 2 simple worksheets for pupils to use to translate common words into the 21 letters of the Latin alphabet. A simple translation grid is included.
Useful activities to assess pupil knowledge of key vocabulary at the end of a mini topic on Ancient Rome, The Roman Empire, Clothes through the ages, Ancient writing.
KS2 Pompeii powerpoint lesson of 30 slides broken into short focused activities. There are opportunities for pupils to watch and take notes from a YouTube clip, scrutinise and compare photographs and paintings and use maps and atlases to locate Italy, the Bay of Naples and Pompeii. Each slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the history of Pompeii as well as simple information about Vesuvius.
Great to link with cross curricular topic such as Italy, Volcanoes, Ancient Rome, Early civilizations etc.
Learning Objectives
I must find Pompeii in my atlas.
I should recognise which the country where Pompeii is located.
I could explain what Pompeii was like and what happened in 79AD by looking at and comparing ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs and information from books and the internet.
Extension
I could research Pompeii and make an information booklet.
KS1 & 2 Myth story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own mythological writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing myths and spaces for pupils to develop writing in note or bullet point format when planning their own character description, setting and story structure.
Great to use following a ‘Myths’ writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with topics: Myths and Legends, Ancient Greece, Greece, Heroes and Heroines/Superheroes.
EYFS/KS1 Beachcombing activity sheet.
Learning objective : I can find and name at least 8 things found on a beach.
A simple observation and identification activity for pupils while on a visit to the beach. Pupils draw what they find in the empty bucket. There is a simple picture/word key at the bottom of the worksheet to help pupils identify 8 common items found on a beach.
Mexico today: Series of 6 KS2 power-point Geography lessons.
Each lesson is broken into short focused activities. There are opportunities for pupils to recall prior learning, participate in a short quiz, take notes from a YouTube clip, scrutinise and compare population graphs and weather charts (included on slides), research native animals and use maps and atlases to locate Mexico’s key cities and geographical features. Each set of slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the geography of Mexico as well as simple cultural information such as greetings in Mexican (Spanish) at the beginning and end of lessons.
Great to link with cross curricular topics such as ‘Aztecs’, ‘Rainforests’, ‘Weather’, ‘Early civilizations’ etc.
Lesson 1
Learning Objectives
I must find Mexico in my atlas.
I should recognise some of the features of Mexico.
I could describe where Mexico is in the world using geographical words.
Lesson 2
Learning objectives
I must be able to spot the main features of Mexico.
I should find and label the features on my map.
I could write a description about two features.
Lesson 3
Learning Objectives
I must describe a tropical climate.
I should explain the temperature in different locations.
I could interpret the climate data and temperature chart for each month.
Lesson 4
Learning objectives:
I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’.
I should interpret the population table and identify the challenges for living in Mexico.
I could compare population graphs for Mexico cities and explain population issues.
Lesson 5
Learning Objectives
I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’, ‘tropical climate’ and ‘weather’.
I must order the ten most populated cities in Mexico.
I should explain how the location of Mexican cities affects population size.
I could explain how the weather and climate support the life of the Mexican people.
Lesson 6
Learning Objectives
I must identify some features of natural beauty in Mexico.
I should identify and research some of the areas of natural beauty which come from Mexico.
OR
I should identify and research some of the animal, fish and birds which come from Mexico.
EYFS/KS1 summer picnic activity sheet.
Learning objective : I can choose and name at least 8 things to put in a picnic basket.
A simple observation and identification activity for pupils before undertaking an out of school visit (to the beach, woods, park). Pupils draw what they will need for a picnic.
There is a simple picture/word key at the bottom of the worksheet to help pupils identify 8 common items found in a picnic basket.
Can be used as a follow up activity for topic work on ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’, seaside, summer, ‘We’re going on a picnic!’ by Pat Hutchins etc.
