Teachers - Bring Cinderella to Life with this Skill-Building Lesson! Do you want an engaging new way to have students climb the beanstalk with Cinderella? This interactive lesson uses the classic fairytale to advance collaboration, thinking, self-regulation, and independent learning - four essential skills research shows boost achievement. The step-by-step plans break down the story structure, then have students complete a story mountain to map the plot. Higher order questions analyze traditional tale elements and messages. Reflection activities connect learning processes to outcomes. Differentiated tasks allow choice in showing competencies gained. The ready-to-use format simplifies preparation with icons linking each activity to targeted skills. Embedded teacher CPD summarises supporting evidence and suggests concrete ways to nurture metacognition. By blending a beloved narrative with research-backed methods, this cross-curricular lesson empowers success across ability levels. Let Cinderella cast her spell on student growth in your classroom this year! This hits the main reasons for using the lesson, connecting fairy tale engagement to the focused skills development. Highlighting the plot mapping, analysis questions, reflections, and differentiation clearly explains the interactive formats. The CPD insights and skill-matching icons showcase built-in teacher supports.

Teachers - Unhood New Skills with this Red Riding Hood Lesson Do you want an engaging new way to have students reflect on the classic tale of Red Riding Hood? This interactive lesson uses the well-loved story to advance collaboration, thinking, assessment, and metacognition - four essential competencies confirmed by research to enhance achievement. The step-by-step plans have students analyse text features, write a diary entry from the wolf’s perspective, and read a newspaper parody. Reflection questions connect processes to outcomes. Peer review activities build evaluative abilities. Differentiated tasks allow choice in demonstrating skills gained. The ready-to-implement format simplifies preparation and icons match activities to targeted skill development areas. Embedded teacher CPD summarises supporting evidence and suggests ways to apply insights from peer assessment. By blending a timeless narrative with research-backed methods, this cross-curricular lesson empowers deeper understanding across ability levels. Let Red Riding Hood lead the way to student growth this year! This hits the main reasons for using the lesson, linking engagement to focused skill building. It explains the interactive formats like the diary and parody. The CPD insights and skill-matching icons clearly showcase built-in teacher support.

This ready-to-use KS2 lesson, The Emperor’s New Clothes (I), offers a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning through a well-crafted blend of storytelling, structured activities, and evidence-based strategies. By using the familiar tale of The Emperor’s New Clothes, pupils are introduced to essential Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills, including collaboration, critical thinking, peer assessment, and metacognition. Story Treatment: The lesson starts with pre-reading activities that provide context and key vocabulary, such as “impostor” and “swindler,” ensuring pupils are prepared to engage fully with the story. The narrative is presented in segments, allowing for pauses where pupils can discuss, predict, and immerse themselves in the emperor’s world. This structured approach not only strengthens comprehension but also prompts pupils to explore deeper themes, such as vanity, deception, and the courage to speak the truth. Engaging Activities: Collaborative Group Work: Pupils work in groups with designated roles (chairperson, scribe, presenters) to discuss and predict what happens next in the story. This structure promotes active participation and teaches pupils how to contribute meaningfully in a group setting. Character Analysis: The lesson encourages pupils to describe the emperor using four key perspectives: appearance, behaviour, speech, and thoughts/feelings. This activity deepens their understanding of character traits and motivations, reinforcing analytical thinking. Peer Assessment: A peer review process allows pupils to evaluate each other’s work, fostering constructive feedback and collaborative learning. Metacognitive Reflection: Pupils are guided to reflect on their learning process through metacognitive activities, enhancing their ability to understand and improve their thinking skills. The iconic conclusion of the story, where a child reveals the emperor’s folly, is used as a springboard for class discussions about the story’s moral, emphasizing the value of honesty, resisting peer pressure, and having the courage to speak up. Teacher Support: The lesson includes a five-minute CPD activity focusing on the importance of collaboration, supported by research that highlights the benefits of cooperative learning for both educational and workplace success. This lesson is an excellent resource for teachers looking to integrate storytelling with skill-building, fostering an environment where pupils develop key learning skills through enjoyable and hands-on engagement.

This lesson resource, “Looking at the Start of Treasure Island,” is designed for KS2 pupils to engage with classic literature through evidence-based learning (EBL) techniques. Here’s an overview to help you decide if it’s suitable for your class: Key Features: Textual Engagement: Pupils explore an extract from the beginning of Treasure Island, answering questions that range from basic recall to higher-order thinking, fostering both comprehension and critical analysis. Creative Writing: The lesson encourages pupils to write an alternative opening for the story, focusing on descriptive techniques such as powerful verbs and adjectival phrases. This supports creativity and language skills. Collaborative Learning: Pupils work with partners for a thinking skills activity, where they discuss and agree on answers, which helps reinforce teamwork and communication. Peer and Self-Assessment: Through peer assessment activities, pupils review each other’s work, enhancing feedback skills and reflective thinking. A self-assessment activity encourages personal reflection on writing strengths and areas for improvement. Teacher CPD: Included is a five-minute CPD for teachers, focusing on understanding higher and lower-order questioning, making this resource valuable for both pupil learning and teacher development. Skills Developed: The lesson is crafted to build multiple EBL skills, including collaborative, thinking, self-assessment, and peer assessment, which align with research-based practices to enhance pupil learning outcomes. This resource would suit a classroom looking to balance literary analysis, creativity, and collaborative skills within a structured, research-supported framework.

This lesson, “The Pirate Code,” is a comprehensive, evidence-based learning (EBL) resource designed for KS2 pirates exploring pirate stories and the social dynamics aboard pirate ships. The lesson focuses on understanding the Pirate Code—a set of rules pirates had to follow—through activities that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and independent learning. Key components of the lesson include: Background on Pirates and the Pirate Code: Pupils learn the historical context of pirates, the need for a code of conduct, and the unique consequences pirates faced if they broke the code. Collaborative Thinking Skills Activity: Encourages pupils to work in pairs to discuss the importance of specific pirate rules, such as maintaining clean weapons and forbidding fights among crew members. Higher and Lower Order Questions: Pupils engage with a range of question types, from comprehension to analysis, helping them to understand both the practical and ethical reasons behind the Pirate Code. Metacognitive Reflection: Includes a “metacognitive thinking activity” where pupils reflect on which questions they found easier and why, promoting self-awareness in their learning process. Independent Learning and Peer Assessment Activities: Pupils complete individual tasks like labelling parts of a galleon (a type of ship associated with pirates) and engage in peer assessment, discussing with a partner to compare answers and refine their understanding. Teacher CPD (Continuing Professional Development): A five-minute CPD section for teachers introduces metacognition, offering tips to support pupils’ reflective thinking and strategies for integrating metacognitive questioning in the classroom. Each EBL skill is clearly marked with unique icons, making it easy for both pupils and teachers to identify the focus of each activity. This lesson is ideal for fostering deeper engagement with historical content while building essential learning skills through structured reflection and peer interaction.

“Shiver Me Timbers!” is a Lower KS2 creative writing resource that brings pirate adventures to life, engaging Year 3 and 4 students in a collaborative, hands-on learning experience. This lesson focuses on building vocabulary, story structure, and characterisation by guiding pupils to create and describe their own pirate characters. With scaffolding support, pupils can explore pirate-themed language, use sea slang, and incorporate adjectives in their writing. They will also develop key learning skills such as collaboration, peer assessment, and metacognition as they review each other’s work, promoting a deeper understanding of descriptive writing. This resource includes a five-minute evidence-based CPD activity that supports teachers in implementing effective peer assessment. Grounded in research, this mini-CPD session provides guidance on how peer assessment can encourage students to take greater responsibility for their own learning. Teachers are prompted to reflect on how clear criteria and structured peer feedback help pupils engage more deeply with the assessment process. The activity also includes a practical action step, suggesting ways to embed peer assessment into classroom routines, enhancing pupils’ autonomy and fostering a supportive peer-learning environment. This CPD is a quick yet impactful tool for refining classroom assessment practices.

This KS2 lesson, Why Gold Was Buried is a rich, fully resourced teaching unit centred around pirate stories to engage pupils in understanding historical concepts like bartering, trade, and the significance of gold. The lesson includes: Story Elements and Plot Building: Pupils explore classic pirate story elements such as treasure maps, good versus bad characters, and dramatic resolutions, building their own story mountain for a pirate tale. Historical Context and Critical Thinking: The lesson explains the historical reasons behind treasure burying, the role of trade routes, and the importance of gold, linking these to pirate lore. Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) Skills: Activities target metacognition, collaboration, and self-regulation, fostering higher-order thinking skills as pupils discuss, plan, and reflect on their learning. Teacher CPD: A brief evidence-based CPD section provides insights on using collaborative learning to support self-regulation in pupils. This lesson is perfect for KS2 teachers aiming to bring an exciting historical theme into the classroom while promoting essential thinking and collaborative skills.

This KS2 lesson on Comparing Myths, Legends, and Fables is a complete, evidence-based resource designed to engage pupils deeply while developing key learning skills. It offers a structured approach for pupils to differentiate between these three genres, developing a better understanding of story elements like moral, character types, and settings. Key features include: Genre Comparisons: Clear, concise summaries help pupils identify and distinguish between the features of myths, legends, and fables. Skill Development: Activities focus on collaboration, thinking skills, peer and self-assessment, and independent learning, aligned with eight evidence-based learning (EBL) skills. Engaging Activities: A mix of higher-order and lower-order questions, along with opportunities for discussion, make it suitable for a range of learners and for developing essential critical thinking skills. Teacher Support: A 5-minute CPD activity offers insight into evidence-based learning, supporting teachers in facilitating self and peer assessment. This lesson is ideal for KS2 teachers seeking to enrich their pupils’ understanding of traditional stories while building essential learning skills through collaborative and independent tasks.

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.

This complete Key Stage 2 lesson on the legend of King Arthur and the Sword in the Stone offers a rich exploration of historical myths while building essential learning skills. The lesson draws on Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) practices to develop key cognitive and collaborative skills in pupils. Key Features: Focus on Legends: Through the classic story of King Arthur, pupils engage with the structure and themes of legends, understanding elements like fact vs. fiction, heroism, and moral lessons. EBL Skill Development: The lesson integrates five core EBL skills: collaborative learning, metacognition, peer assessment, thinking skills, and independent learning. These skills are woven throughout interactive activities such as a collaborative poster design, peer assessment, and individual reflection. Ready-to-Use CPD Component: A five-minute teacher CPD activity on metacognition is included, supporting teachers in explicitly developing metacognitive strategies in their classrooms. This engaging lesson encourages pupils to delve into the legend’s themes while fostering skills that enhance self-directed and reflective learning. The clear structure and ready-made resources make it an effective and convenient addition to a KS2 classroom.

This Key Stage 2 lesson on the myth of Thor, the Norse god of thunder, offers an exciting blend of storytelling and Evidence-Based Learning (EBL) skills, making it a valuable resource for teaching myth structure, historical perspectives, and critical thinking skills. Key Features: Exploring Thor’s Myth: Pupils are introduced to Thor’s story, focusing on how myths were used to explain natural phenomena. Through the lens of this Norse myth, pupils will understand how people historically explained thunder and lightning before scientific explanations were available. Integrated EBL Skills: Collaboration: A partner-based activity prompts pupils to discuss questions about Thor’s myth, promoting teamwork and the ability to articulate ideas. Thinking Skills: The lesson includes higher and lower-order questions, helping pupils analyse the myth and compare it with others, like King Midas, to understand different types of mythological storytelling. Self-Assessment: Pupils are encouraged to review their own written myths explaining why the sky turns dark, assessing both the quality and clarity of their work and identifying areas for improvement. Independent Learning: Individual activities include writing a myth and reflecting on how people once used stories to understand the world around them. Creative Writing Task: Pupils are tasked with writing their own myth to explain a natural phenomenon (why the sky turns dark at night), reinforcing their understanding of the myth structure and encouraging creative thinking. Five-Minute CPD for Teachers: Self-Assessment Included is a quick CPD activity on self-assessment, supported by educational research on its benefits, such as increased pupil reflection and ownership of learning. Teachers are prompted to reflect on the impact of self-assessment on pupils, with a checklist to guide classroom implementation. This resource brings together literacy, history, and critical thinking, making it a robust, engaging lesson for KS2 classrooms. It requires minimal preparation and provides pupils with a memorable learning experience that emphasises historical understanding and evidence-based skills.

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.

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.

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 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.