This Key Stage 2 lesson on the myth of King Midas is a thoughtfully crafted resource designed to deliver essential Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills within a captivating story framework. It enables pupils to engage with the myth’s themes and structure while building crucial learning skills, making it an ideal tool for any KS2 teacher aiming to enrich their curriculum.
Key Features:
Engaging with Myth: The lesson centres around the story of King Midas, emphasising key elements such as character motivation, moral lessons, and the influence of the gods. Pupils will explore how myths convey lessons through a narrative, specifically the pitfalls of greed and the importance of thoughtful choices, with relatable activities like summarising key plot points and analysing the character’s transformation.
This lesson offers a balanced approach, combining literacy and moral exploration with evidence-based learning strategies, making it an invaluable resource for developing independent, reflective, and collaborative learners. With minimal preparation required, it is a robust addition to a KS2 curriculum, aligning with core educational objectives while engaging pupils in meaningful, skill-focused learning.
This engaging, ready-to-use lesson on The Fox and the Crow fable for KS2 is designed to build key Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills through a classic tale. The lesson includes activities that develop advanced learning skills such as collaboration, thinking, peer assessment, metacognition, independent learning, and self-assessment.
In this lesson, pupils explore the features of fables, read The Fox and the Crow, and answer a series of higher- and lower-order questions that encourage deep thinking. Activities include analysing the fable’s moral (“Flatterers are not to be trusted”) and breaking down the story into key events. Pupils also participate in a collaborative peer assessment to discuss and refine their answers, reinforcing understanding through teamwork.
This lesson offers a comprehensive approach to fables, aiming to deepen pupils’ critical thinking while building essential learning skills. There is even a concise five-minute CPD activity on collaborative skills which supports professional development.
Complete Lesson: The Three Types of Myth
This ready-to-use lesson is designed for Key Stage 2, focusing on three primary types of myths: those that teach a lesson, explain a phenomenon, or set characters on a challenging quest. It uses engaging activities to develop essential skills in collaboration, self-assessment, and peer assessment, aligning with Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) principles.
Lesson Highlights:
Structured Learning of Myth Features - Students explore the characteristics of each myth type through examples like King Midas, making abstract ideas accessible and memorable.
Collaborative Activities - Paired tasks develop teamwork and help students refine their understanding through shared insights. These exercises also include guided report writing, enabling students to practise factual writing while applying what they’ve learned.
Self and Peer Assessment - The lesson includes structured opportunities for self-reflection and peer feedback, enhancing learning retention and encouraging positive reinforcement among students.
Teacher Support - A quick CPD section offers insights into fostering a classroom environment supportive of self and peer assessment, with actionable reflection questions to ensure best practices.
This lesson, complete with a report-writing scaffold, assessment templates, and CPD guidance, is an excellent choice for any teacher looking to build key thinking skills while introducing myths in an engaging and interesting manner.
This complete lesson on the key features of fantasy stories is designed for upper primary pupils (Key Stage 2). Priced at just £3 for whole school use, it provides a comprehensive exploration of the genre using Alice in Wonderland as a core text. The lesson emphasises three key educational skills: collaboration, thinking skills, and peer assessment, all supported by evidence-based learning (EBL) principles.
Lesson Highlights:
Key Fantasy Story Elements: Through guided activities, pupils learn about fantasy story staples such as real vs. imaginary settings, characters (both good and bad), and magical portals.
Interactive Activities:
Higher and Lower Order Questions: Engage pupils in critical thinking.
Collaborative Poster Design: Pairs of pupils create a poster showcasing fantasy story elements, reinforcing the material through visual creativity.
Peer Assessment: Pupils review and give constructive feedback on their peers’ posters, honing evaluation skills.
Teacher CPD:
Includes a five-minute evidence-based CPD segment on collaboration, with practical tips for teachers on maximising pupil learning through peer interaction.
This lesson combines literary analysis with skill-building exercises, making it an ideal choice for primary teachers looking to introduce fantasy literature in a meaningful, interactive way.
Lesson Title: New Paragraphs and New Worlds – A Science Fiction themed English Lesson
Dive into the imaginative world of science fiction with New Paragraphs and New Worlds, a fully resourced, ready-to-use lesson for Key Stage 2 designed to develop essential writing skills. This engaging lesson empowers pupils to craft paragraphs by understanding when to start a new one based on changes in time, setting, characters, dialogue, or action within a story. By working with sci-fi story extracts, pupils explore advanced storytelling techniques, making learning both educational and fun.
Key Features:
Target Skills: Five Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills, including collaboration, critical thinking, peer teaching, and self-regulation, enabling pupils to develop advanced learning capabilities.
Structured Activities: Interactive exercises guide pupils through the distinct characteristics of science fiction and the five essential reasons for starting new paragraphs.
Writing Practice: Story extracts prompt pupils to add new paragraphs, with guidance on tense, perspective, and dialogue to strengthen creative writing.
Collaborative Learning: Paired and independent tasks encourage discussion, helping pupils consolidate understanding by teaching peers.
Teacher Support: A 5-minute CPD on peer teaching for teachers, highlighting research-backed strategies to enhance collaborative classroom environments.
This resource is perfect for teachers seeking an engaging, research-backed writing lesson that develops critical literacy skills through an immersive, story-based approach. This lesson is available for only £3 for whole-school use, making it an affordable and impactful addition to any classroom.
This complete, ready-to-use lesson, “Diagon Alley - Numeracy,” takes primary pupils on an engaging, numeracy-focused journey through the magical world of Diagon Alley from the Harry Potter series. It combines elements of storytelling with practical numeracy exercises, immersing pupils in problem-solving related to potion-making and wizarding shop items. The activities require pupils to apply their skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division as they work with fantasy currency (Galleons, Sickles, and Knuts) and manage shopping lists for potion ingredients and magical items.
By integrating these elements, the lesson is designed to enhance both numeracy skills and imaginative thinking, providing a unique context that aligns with pupils’ interests. This lesson is ideal for teachers looking to add an interactive, fantasy-based approach to their teaching, encouraging active participation and a fun, memorable learning experience for pupils.