I have over 30 years experience in the classroom and as a school leader, and specialize in writing and developing arts based and creative curriculums. Over the years I have run courses throughout the UK, written regularly for the TES and had a number of resource books published. I have set up this shop to share lessons and schemes of work that children enjoy, and teachers enjoy teaching. Hope you find them useful!
I have over 30 years experience in the classroom and as a school leader, and specialize in writing and developing arts based and creative curriculums. Over the years I have run courses throughout the UK, written regularly for the TES and had a number of resource books published. I have set up this shop to share lessons and schemes of work that children enjoy, and teachers enjoy teaching. Hope you find them useful!
Easy to follow PowerPoint art lesson for KS2
Perfect for Years 5 and 6
Lots of images and easy to follow explanations and examples
The lesson covers the following points…
What is Anglo-Saxon Art?
What examples of Anglo-Saxon Art are there?
Where can I find Anglo-Saxon Art?
What are the features of Anglo-Saxon Art?
The children are then challenged to design their own Anglo-Saxon sword handle.
Resource sheets with hand drawn examplesof the key features are provided.
The PowerPoint guides the children and teacher through the design process - step by step - with hand drawn illustrated examples for each slide.
Everything you need for a successful lesson!
What caused the fall of the Mayan civilization?
This KS2 history lesson explores possible scenarios and causes.
Children work in ‘Time Teams’ to discuss and formulate ideas.
A clear and informative PowerPoint is used to introduce the lesson.
Print off a set of ‘Clue Cards’ for each Time Team.
Use the printable worksheet so the children can record and explain their ideas.
Everything you need for the lesson, simply download, print and away you go!
This PowerPoint and lesson is designed to contextualise the Industrial Revolution, and set the scene for the changes it brought about.
It outlines what life was like in England in the early 1700’s before the Industrial Revolution. It spends some time examining how the lower classes lived and worked at this time.
We look at how some new inventions started to change life for these people, and how towns and cities rapidly grew alongside canals and railways.
Children are shown how these changes had both positive and negative impacts and brought about vast contrasts for people living in the countryside and those in the cities.
Challenge the children to predict the impact of the changes through a series of carefully structured prompts.
Finally we look at the impact on social class the Industrial Revolution had, and how a new class – the middle class – sprang up as a result.
A great lesson to set the scene before tackling the Industrial Revolution in more detail.
This Unit of work on Symbolism in Art is suitable for both KS2 and KS3.
There is a wealth of information and resources laid out in chronological order – simply decide on how long you wish to spend on each aspect of the topic.
During the project we look at:
What are Symbols: We look at what symbols are and how they are used in art. Pupils then analyse Holbein’s ‘The Ambassadors’ and investigate the symbols found within the painting. Many fascinating and intriguing stories are hidden within this painting. Unpick the stories by interpreting the symbols.
Sketching & Drawing: The children are challenged to invent their own symbols for a number of abstract nouns.
Investigating Colour: The children learn that colours can be used as symbols too.
Using colours as symbols is introduced through a matching game, then applied to their own symbols.
Telling Stories with Symbols: Pupils use symbols and colours to illustrate a story from their own life.
Resources: Great PowerPoint packed with dozens of clear, visual information that leads the children through the topic. Print of a set of resources and information sheets for the children – including a small booklet packed with examples of signs and symbols.
Guided Reading Lesson - Fully Resourced.
Based around text from Carrie’s War.
Perfect for using as part of a WWII History Topic, or just as a stand alone guided reading lesson.
Use the printed resources, or work from the PowerPoint - recommended.
This contextualizes the text - images and explanations about air raids and evacuation of children during the war.
We then join Carrie and her brother as they are ‘chosen’ after being evacuated to Wales.
All key question types are addressed though the lesson, with highlighted sections of text leading the children to the appropriate sections of text.
A fascinating insight into life as an evacuee - children are enthralled by the experiences highlighted here - a great lesson.
Printable texts and questions so you can adapt the lesson as you see fit.
Create Your Own 1950’s Designs!
In this unit of work we investigate classic and iconic 1950’s designs and create designs in the same style.
Putting it in context: We look at the post- war years, the effects of rationing and the influence of American pop culture.
Sketching & Drawing: Children are challenged to develop their ideas using a variety of drawing techniques including continuous line drawing.
Developing a Design: Through a series of carefully planned stages, the children develop their sketch work into a 1950’s design for a plate.
Fully Resourced: Unit of work is divided into three main lessons. Each lesson has accompanying PowerPoint slides, printable worksheets and examples.
Suitable for both KS2 and KS3
In 1991, two walkers out exploring in the Alps stumbled across a 5,000 year old mummified body.
The oldest naturally mummified body ever found, ‘Otzi the Iceman’ told scientists much – but not who murdered him!
Examine the evidence and see if you can you solve this ancient murder mystery.
A captivating and fascinating assembly story.
Use the resources for a creative writing follow up, or set as a homework task.
This assembly story never fails to ignite the imagination!
A series of PowerPoint slides guide you through the story - examining different sources of evidence and encouraging the children to infer and deduce each clue.
Challenge them to justify their ideas by backing up with evidence they have been presented with.
Works beautifully as a one-off assembly story, but additional resources mean it can be turned into a writing task - either creative writing or report writing.
I have used it as the basis of whole school homework tasks - it’s an amazing story that will captivate the children and fire their imaginations.
PowerPoint and printed resources for KS2 Guided Reading session.
Story of Daedalus and Icarus - perfect for Greeks topic or as a one-off.
All key question types covered.
This lesson examines some Mayan beliefs, rituals and ceremonies.
We learn about the role that making sacrifices had in their belief system.
What are your views on what happened?
Do you think what they believed was right?
Then we look at the beliefs and practices of the Spanish at this time.
How are they different and similar to the Mayans?
How do you think the Mayans and Spanish perceived each other?
Can you back up and explain your reasons?
A PowerPoint presentation with printable resources.
Model answers included.
Here are a hand drawn PDF collection of primary classroom resources to include with your History Topics.
Each project is designed to be completed independently in a single lesson with light supervision, using paper, card, glue and colouring materials.
Simply print off the resources on card and the children should be able to navigate through the tasks with the minimum of teacher input.
All activities can be carried out on A4 card, although some work better in the larger size of A3.
Children love doing these tasks - and additional ‘Try one Yourself’ rescources challenge them to create their own designs using the paper engineering skill they have just learned.
Select tasks that re-create famous scenes from history - each one will turn, move, pop up or reveal.
The tasks include: Pop-up Greek Gods
Greek Heroes and Monster Wheels
Pop-up Eruption of Vesuvius
A moving Stephenson’s Rocket
3-D Viking Ship in a Box
Tessellating Egyptian Shapes
3-D Pop-up Benin Mask
Beheading of Mary Queen of Scots!
Simply download the PDF’s and print off a set!
What was life like for the lower class in Victorian Britain?
A wealth of amazing resources documenting living conditions in towns and cities during the Industrial Revolution.
Photos, illustrations and shocking first hand accounts of daily life.
The stories will fascinate and challenge the reader - these resources pull no punches and never fail to inspire and engage the reader.
Use the resources to challenge your children to write and present a speech that will be delivered to parliament.
The speeches should be designed to persuade members of parliament to introduce new laws that will improve the living and working conditions for the lower classes.
Guidance and additional reading material included in the pack.
Suitable for KS2 and KS3