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.
The Solar System. KS2 power-point of 31 slides (including worksheets).
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 Solar System and the planets. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides and activities including a short youtube clip, paired talk activities, 7 worksheets.
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 know the names of other cosmic bodies in the solar system.
Worksheet 1: Facts about the Sun.
Worksheet 2: Ordering the planets mnemonic.
Worksheet 3: Ordering the planets cut and stick activity.
Worksheet 4: Labelling the planets.
Worksheet 5: Cosmic objects in the Solar System.
Resource 6: Planets fact cards.
Worksheet 7: Planets research activity grid.
Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points.
Useful alongside lessons or topics on sun safety, summer, space and planets etc.
Brazil today: Series of 4 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 Brazil’s key cities and geographical features. Each set of slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the geography of Brazil as well as simple cultural information such as greetings in Brazilian (Portuguese) at the beginning and end of lessons.
Great to link with cross curricular topics such as ‘South America’, ‘Rainforests’, ‘Weather’, ‘The Amazon’.
Lesson 1
Learning Objectives
I must find Brazil in my atlas.
I should recognise some of the features of Brazil.
I could describe where Brazil is in the world using geographical words.
Lesson 2
Learning objectives
I must be able to spot the main features of Brazil.
I should find and label the features on my map.
I could write a description about two features.
Lesson 3
Learning Objectives
To identify the different climate zones in Brazil.
To describe and explain the climate found in each zone. Geographical vocabulary (northern hemisphere, southern hemisphere, equator, Tropic Cancer/Capricorn).
To explain the temperature in different locations.
To interpret a climate data and temperature chart.
Lesson 4
Learning objectives:
I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’.
I should interpret the population table and suggest reasons for how the physical features affect where people live in Brazil.
I could compare population information and explain how the population has changed in Brazil over 50 years.
This Autumn bundle has 10 worksheets for KS1 pupils:
Autumn acrostic poem templates. Autumn Acrostic poetry templates. Four blank templates with the headings Autumn, Scarecrow, Leaf and Farmer. Each poem has a corresponding word mat of Autumn words help pupils start a new line of their poem. The shorter poem templates can be used with younger or SEN pupils.
Autumn months sentence work and an Autumn label to decorate.
Fruit and vegetables. Matching to labels and saying where the vegetable grows (ground, tree, bush, hedge, field).
Autumn survey for an autumn walk
Autumn clothes ordering the clothes in the correct boxes (Autumn or Summer).
The journey of bread. Picture sequencing.
Grain foods. Listing food made from wheat, oats and corn (labelled image to help).
Breadmaking ordering the statements.
Hibernating animals. Dictionary definition work and cut and stick animals into categories.
Activity mat. Fun mat with jumbled autumn words, a maze, symmetrical drawing, wordsearch.
Useful to build into a lesson or for early finishers.
Pirate knowledge board game. For 2 players. KS1.
Learning Objective
To practise and remember important words (vocabulary) about Pirates.
To work with my partner to remember facts and information about pirate life.
To test my own knowledge.
Learning objective and rules included.
Pupils need a dice or a spinner and a counter each. This is a traditional style board game where the children work their way around a trail from start to finish answering the pirate general knowledge questions as they go. Correct answer wins 1 square forward, incorrect answer wins 1 square backwards.
The first person to reach the finish square is the Pirate Champion!
I laminated this game for durability and its increased size when I wanted to include up to 4 pupils in the game with an adult to support younger pupils.
Useful as an assessment activity or a fun way of developing knowledge in a Pirates topic.
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.
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.
3 Biographies of Nelson Mandela simplified into three differentiated pieces for HA, MA, LA (Versions: 1= HA, 2= MA, 3= LA) aimed at Y2 & KS2. Each simplified biography is up to one page long. Can be used to identify features of biographies, to aid understanding of how to structure a biography and support content understanding. Also, can be used to support historical research when writing a diary, newspaper report, letter.
Christmas comprehension cards. Set of 20. KS1/lower KS2. Each card includes a simple description about a Christmas related tradition, food or object and four 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 Christmas topic independently.
Comprehension card topics: Snow, reindeer, Christmas tree, Christmas pudding, presents, Father Christmas, holly, robin, Christmas stocking, Christmas pyjamas, mistletoe, mince pies, crackers, pantomime, Christmas cards, Christmas cake, lights, Christmas dinner.
KS2 Y6 Christmas powerpoint lesson of 39 slides. Secret Agent Academy is a lesson (s) set in a ‘real’ Christmas context where pupils are ‘trained’ for a special mission to catch a villain. They create Agent Code Names and numbers, work as part of an Agent Cell, take an oath of secrecy and create common experiences eg a secret handshake. Their mission consists of 4 tasks which include cracking Substitution and Caesar codes linked to Maths problem solving challenges (equivalent numbers, comparing fractions with different denominators, sequences, missing numbers and ordering, patterns and calculations).
Slides 2-9 include an introduction to cracking codes and a go at deciphering a real code sent by Mary Queen of Scots before pupils enter the Secret Agent Academy. The Maths challenge resources are included on the slides as well as information for further teaching resource websites on Codes and Ciphers.
Learning Objectives
To save Christmas by:
Using Maths to solve problems in a real-life situation.
Appling a simple Substitution Code and Caesar Cipher to solve messages.
Solving problems using missing numbers, equivalent numbers, number facts and place value.
Applying operations and inverses using Substitution codes.
Identifying specific knowledge of English Grammar such as high frequency letters, consonants, patterns and clusters of letters, short words and frequent pre/suffixes.
KS1/2 New Year 2023 Resolution fun worksheet : Blank information template.
A simple template for pupils to complete to share facts and information about themselves in the written form of New Year Resolutions. The prompts encourage the pupils to think and reflect on their hopes and wishes (as well as challenges) for the New Year 2023, plus a space to draw a self -portrait or stick on a photo.
Great to use in January at the start of the new term as an ice breaker or warm up after the holidays.
Series of 6 Y2 and KS2 powerpoint lessons on the topic of Easter. Each lesson includes the timings for each activity at the top of each slide. There are opportunities for pupils to work collaboratively in every lesson and record and share their ideas and knowledge.
Lesson 1: (30 mins) focuses on celebrations and Easter as a celebration and begins with an initial assessment based on pupil starting points. Pupils work in small groups of 2 or 3 and create a Spider diagram and Mind Map to record their knowledge. There is an opportunity for group feedback at the end of the lesson.
Lesson 2: (30 mins) focuses on the Easter story told through a link to a story on YouTube. The pupils raise questions about the story and have a P4C debate. There are Teacher notes on slides 14 and 15 to help shape the debate session.
Lesson 3: (30mins) focuses on Holy Week through images and key questions on each slide. There is a short YouTube clip on how to make a Palm cross. The pupils will need green activity paper or card and glue.
Lesson 4: (40 mins) focuses on Maundy Thursday and the Last Supper. There is a 20 min research activity based on the painting ‘The last Supper’ (naming the disciples and finding out their responses to Jesus). Pupils will need access to books about this subject and the internet. There are opportunities for pupils to explore responses and feelings to different aspects of the story leading into the Resurrection. A template on slide 35 can be printed for pupil recording.
Lesson 5: (60 mins) focuses on the Christian symbol of the cross with a 45min Hot Cross Buns baking activity which can be either as a Teacher demonstration or as a group task.
Lesson 6: (40 mins) focuses on how Easter is celebrated today and explores some of the traditions such as Easter Bunny, lambs, chocolate eggs, daffodils etc. There are key questions for pupils to discuss in small groups and an end of unit assessment using all the information they have learnt in lessons 1-6 in the design of an Easter poster.
The final slide offers an additional Easter creative activity for pupils to follow instructions to make an Easter sheep for a card or a display. I used activity with the class when a group was completing research (Lesson 4) and a group were making Hot cross Buns (from Lesson5) with a Teaching Assistant).
I have also included a blank easter egg colouring template and an easter bunny and chick colouring template.
Creative Writing. How to make an Ethiopian wish scroll.
This factsheet tells pupils about the ancient African wish scrolls which are carried on a person (in a bag or tube around the neck or on a belt) after they have written a personal prayer, wish, affirmation, charm or talisman. There are simple instructions on how to make the scroll and some fun facts about the tradition.
A great way to make writing meaningful and fun. Useful with KS1 and KS1 topics on Africa, Mental Health, Goal setting and Affirmations, Families.
Australian Animals fact cards. Set of 36 cards depicting an animal, bird, reptile or fish found in Australia and a beautiful photographic image. Each card includes a few key facts about the animal on the card. There are also 12 key word definition cards (predator, poisonous, marsupial, nocturnal, amphibious, carnivore etc) The cards can be used to encourage recognition of the animals and their features/characteristics. Pupils can use them as a sorting exercise or as a paired or group game to sort the cards under the definition words (make a Venn diagram, sort into a list, identify common features between animals.) Can be placed in the class library area or the ‘Early Finisher’ box/tray. A double set of cards (laminated) can offer pupils opportunities for fun games such as Snap and Pairs.
I have used these to help pupils develop work on animals and their characteristics eg: writing a factual or descriptive piece about a particular animal or shared features of two animals or a researched paragraph about current issues relating to specific animal eg protected species. Can be used by Y2 -Y6 upwards. Useful for topics on Australia, Animals, Camouflage, Habitats etc.
Transition Y6
End of year reflection activity to help pupils think about their time in Y6 and their next school. Can be linked to a range of year end activities including a stimulus for a Leavers Assembly, a diary extract or PSHE discussion.
End of Term One a day countdown fun.
Have fun with your class in the last weeks of term with this list of exciting activities and rewards. Pupils vote for the following day’s activity from the list each day. The activity with the most votes is the class activity choice. Work through the activities and practice voting and democracy at the same time!
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.
The Great Fire of London pp KS1 31 slides.
The power-point can be divided into separate sections depending on how you want to follow up some of the aspects/features depending on your class. Each set of slides includes paired discussion or individual/ paired written follow up tasks or worksheets. There are a range of strategies to keep the content interesting and interactive. Slides 2-6 introduce the topic with a 3-clue riddle, slides 7&9 focus on a sentence starter activity /worksheet about fire engines. Slides 10&11 focus on Samuel Pepys. Slides 12-15 show London in 1666 and a you tube clip about the Great Fire. Slides 16-17: Fire-fighting in 1666.
Slides 18-22 focus on the fire as seen by Samuel Pepys. Slide 23-25: How the fire started and how it spread. Slide 26-27: After the fire. Slides 28-30: Differentiated sequencing activity worksheet, teacher notes and a simple pupil comprehension worksheet.
Bonfire night and the Gunpowder Plot Y2 & KS2 power-point lesson of 39 slides.
The power-point can be divided into separate sections depending on how you want to follow up some of the aspects/features depending on your class. Each set of slides includes paired discussion or individual/ paired written follow up tasks or worksheets. There are a range of strategies to keep the content interesting and interactive. Slides 1-5 introduce the topic with a 3-clue riddle, slides 6&7 focus on a sentence starter activity and worksheet about Bonfire Night. Slides 9&10 focus on names of fireworks and a youtube clip. Slides 11-14 introduce Guy Fawkes followed by a worksheet with a simple maths calculation to work out the age of GF when he died and a geography map activity to label his birthplace. Slides 15-17: ‘Remember, remember’ rhyme and dictionary activity. Slides 18-31 focus on the story of the Gunpowder Plot plus 2 worksheet activities (identify the plotters from a source and give advice to GF about the ‘weaknesses’ of his plot. Slide 32: Speech bubbles conversation worksheet. Slide 33-35: Guy Fawkes punishment and a ‘was it fair?’ written task. Slides 36-39: A brief introduction to Onomatopoeia and a firework scene task.
KS1 & 2 Power-point lesson which can be used as a single lesson or as a stimulus for cross curricular work. 22 slides presented in simple text focusing on Valentine’s Day traditions, historical information and traditions. The lesson encourages pupils to work with a partner or small group of three to discuss and explain questions about the images and information presented on the slides. Slides include brief information on Cupid, Venus, St.Valentine, Tudor traditions and Valentine symbols. Pupils are encouraged to record their responses on a shared paper.
Crime and Punishment ‘Witch Trial’ resource pack.
The pack is based around a fictional short story set in 1649 and based on true events. A ‘Witch-Picker’ travels from Edinburgh to the North of England carrying out witch trials which resulted in the execution of over 100 people. The story includes a historical context and notes.
I wrote the story myself after being unable to find resources which helped pupils understand the concepts, beliefs, fear and motivation surrounding the persecution of individuals as witches in the 17th century rather than focus on the gore and horror of punishment.
The resource pack includes:
• Short story and historical notes.
• Historical information power-point about witches in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Seven pupil resources:
• Pupil worksheet to summarise the historical context of the story.
• Glossary Activity
• Glossary cards
• Courtroom drama activity and resources for pupils.
• Pupil activity about how the witch picker was so powerful.
• Pupil activity – Thought Pyramid and questions for small group discussion (6 sets).
• Pupil activity – match the crime to the punishment.