Summer holiday reading challenge. This activity is aimed at KS1 and KS2 pupils as a reading challenge for 20 days over the summer holiday break to encourage them read a variety of texts and reading materials to keep up their reading skills while they are away from school. The 20 activities are fun and varied and children can share their experiences when they return to school in September. I gave a certificate and small rewards for number of challenges completed eg 1 challenge – sticker, 2-5 challenges – bookmark, 6-10 challenges – badge, 11-15 challenges – pencil and notepad, 16-20 challenges – frisbee or small game.

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!

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.

Set of two Book review blank templates. KS1 and KS2. A quick review resource for pupils to use to comment on books they have read in class, as part of World Book Day or library events. Space to write a short summary, draw a favourite character and rate the illustrations and text difficulty. Great to use in a class library for pupils to share ideas about their favourite fiction and non -fiction texts.

Knights and castles story template KS1 Historical story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own ‘Knights and castles’ story writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing historical stories and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and ideas for the structure of their story. Great to use following a History writing lesson, a visit to a castle or topic related drama lesson. Can also be adapted for most History topics eg: Norman Castles, Explorers, Travel, Romans, Egypt, Saxon Britain etc.

EYFS Weekly plan ‘I can sing a rainbow’ This is a weekly cross curricular plan for an EYFS topic based on the song ‘I can sing a rainbow’. 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 ‘Colour’, ‘Reflections’ and ‘Weather’.

This is a weekly cross curricular plan for an EYFS topic based on the story of Noah’s Ark. 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 ‘Rainbows’, ‘Water’ , ‘Animals’, ‘Helping others’ and ‘Weather’.

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’.

EYFS /KS1 Matching pairs cards. Set of 40 picture cards (20 pairs) for pupils. Useful for matching and pairing games, stimulating language and for memory games (eg Kim’s game). Cut each picture, laminate or cover and pupils can use the cards more than once. Alternatively, the images can be used for pupils to use as part of a glue/stick activity. Images include general everyday items and objects for example: mop and bucket, train and track, flower and vase, socks and shoes etc.

EYFS/KS1 school trip template. Simple layout and prompts help pupils create a short review of a school outing or visit with pictures or text. Useful as a follow up to visits when asking pupils to remember sequencing of events, specific aspects of learning and summarising their own views.

EYFS /KS1 Matching pairs cards.Set 2. Set of 40 picture cards (20 pairs) for pupils. Useful for matching and pairing games, stimulating language and for memory games (eg Kim’s game). Cut each picture, laminate or cover and pupils can use the cards more than once. Alternatively, the images can be used for pupils to use as part of a glue/stick activity. Images include general everyday items and objects for example: baby and pram, eyes and glasses, tree and leaf, clown and circus tent etc.

KS1/KS2 Matching pairs character cards. Set of 48 cards (24 pairs) for pupils. Useful for matching and pairing games, stimulating language and for book quizzes. Cut each picture, laminate or cover and pupils can use the cards more than once. Alternatively, the images can be used for pupils to use as part of a glue/stick activity. Images include the names of paired characters from books and movies for example: Pumba and Timon, Romeo and Juliet, Peter Pan and Wendy, Dr Who and the Daleks.

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.

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.

England today: Series of 5 KS1 power-point Geography lessons. Each lesson is broken into short focused activities. There are opportunities for pupils to recall prior learning, watch a BBC clip, scrutinise and compare population graphs and weather charts (included on slides), use maps and atlases to locate England’s within the UK and identify geographical features. Each set of slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the geography of England. Great to link with cross curricular topic such as Maps and Plans, United Kingdom, Seaside, All about me, Local Study. Lesson 1 Learning objectives To find England in an atlas. To recognise the key features of England. To describe the location of England using geographical vocabulary. Tasks: Atlas and globes needed, country matching activity. Lesson 2 Learning objectives To recognise the main geographical (physical) features of England. To find and label the physical features of England on a map. To describe the physical features of England using geographical vocabulary. Tasks: Atlas work, label a map, self-evaluation task. Lesson 3 Learning Objectives To identify the different settlements in England. To describe the characteristics of different English settlements. Task: Dictionary definition, ordering settlements, worksheet. Lesson 4 Learning objectives: To identify the physical features of seaside areas in England and say whether they are natural or human. To describe the characteristics of different English seaside places. Task: Identifying seaside features. 2 worksheets. Lesson 5 Learning Objectives To know the capital city of England. To explain what a capital city is. To identify the physical features of cities in England and say whether they are natural or human. Tasks: comparing features of different places. Worksheet.