A complete lesson for lower KS2 to introduce the concept of multiplication and represent it as repeated addition using examples based on everyday objects. The resources comprise both a step-by-step powerpoint and 2-way differentiated worksheets (in the ‘make your own’ worksheet format). The latter are word documents are therefore editable should the format/style/sizes not suit you. In terms of strategy, the worked examples are calculated using ‘grouping’, which pupils can then apply themselves either with concrete manipulatives or jottings on a whiteboard. The worksheets allow for the calculations to be represented in the ‘bar method’ format as well if you require this.

A tarsia puzzle for practice with telling time from an analogue clock. The challenges comprise “o’clock”, “half-past”, “quarter to/past” times, as well as times to the nearest 5 minutes and nearest minute. In addition, there are added challenges that test pupils’ knowledge of certain ‘time facts’ (e.g that there are 24 hours in a day and 12 months in a year) that are on the LKS2 curriculum but best taught through continuous provision rather than discrete lessons. Can be used in pairs or individually. Includes missing number problems to challenge pupils’ reasoning. As an extension, why not challenge pupils to create their own puzzle with similar calculation problems? **Note: This puzzle works best when enlarged to A3 **

This resource works best when enlarged to A3 and/or printed on card rather than paper. You then cut along the lines (or ask your TA very nicely!) to create a reasoning puzzle for your pupils. This puzzle can be done in mixed ability pairs or set as an extension. A great way to assess your pupils’ grasp of fraction-related content near the end of a unit, I’ve found tarsia puzzles to be great for engagement - and for those who complete it, perhaps they can create their own!

These differentiated resources are ideal for lower KS2 children when you are teaching how to apply knowledge of rounding and using the inverse to check calculations. For each question, the numbers involved are represented pictorially and the line between green and yellow backgrounds helps pupils to see if they need to round up or down. Each question has these steps: Round the two numbers to the nearest 10 Add/subtract these rounded numbers in the space below (‘estimate’) Do the calculation using the actual numbers and see if the estimate was close Put the three numbers in the calculation into the ‘Singapore bar’ template in the third cell (largest number in the top cell). Do an inverse calculation to check For the ‘2 Chillies’ resource, there is no scaffolding for the children’s calculations.

Use these differentiated resources in a practical 3D shape lesson in lower KS2 on prisms and non prisms. You will need to source the items for the children to investigate: balls Toblerone boxes Smartie boxes fruit cans or similar matchboxes teabags (the ‘pyramid’ (tetrahedron) kind) pencils ice cream cone wrappers toothpaste boxes There is a template that starts pupils off at the ‘1 chilli’ (i.e. easiest) level and allows them to choose how their level of challenge progresses from there. Ask your TA to trim the activities along the black lines into rectangles and pupils can come up to collect the one they want when ready!

A complete lesson for lower KS2 on telling the time to the nearest 5 mins. The resources comprise a step-by-step powerpoint presentation, a laminatable sheet of blank clocks for pupils to use to represent the times given in the guided activities and three differentiated worksheets for the main activity. There is also a discussion-based plenary. Please note: pupils should already be able to read time to the nearest 15 minutes before you teach this lesson and should know how many minutes are in one hour. It’s also recommended that you have teaching clocks with moveable hands for both the pupils and a larger one for you and/or your TA.

A lesson for KS1 on Sikh places of worship, featuring a video which edits together the most useful parts of older content that give a tour of a Gurdwara for a child audience. Activities are differentiated three ways and include a challenge for any fast finishers. The plenary is a short, quickfire quiz.

A lesson for KS1 on why humans need to look after creation and how climate change could cause big problems for children today when they grow up and their own children in the future. Includes a video and the pupil activity is differentiated three ways.

A lesson for KS1 on the story of Good Friday in which pupils work in groups to dramatise the story, then use this to retell what happened in ‘storyboard’ form. Lesson includes a video recounting the key events of the story. The pupil activity is differentiated three ways.

This is a lesson for KS1 on what science tells us about how the universe and world was made, including the theories of the ‘big bang’ and evolution. The lesson features a video of the book ‘Grandmother Fish’ and is followed by a pupil activity that is differentiated three ways.

A complete lesson on reading inference for Y3/4 with an information text on the dangers of Arctic oil drilling as the focus text. The powerpoint pre-teaches tricky vocab and outlines the strategy pupils should use. There is then an example question before the pupils answer the questions themselves. The questions are differentiated 3 ways but all are inference questions as this is the target skill.

Please see the first lesson in this series: www.tes.com/teaching-resource/y3-4-reading-inference-fiction-arctic-tale-set-in-canada-11917970 as this lesson is the follow-on. A complete lesson on reading inference for Y3/4 with the second part of an Arctic-themed adventure story as the focus text. The powerpoint pre-teaches new vocab and recaps the strategy pupils should use. There is then an example question before the pupils answer the questions themselves. The questions are differentiated 3 ways but all are inference questions as this is the target skill.

A complete lesson on reading inference for Y3/4 with an Arctic-themed adventure story as the focus text. The powerpoint introduces the characters, pre-teaches tricky vocab and outlines the strategy pupils should use. There is then an example question before the pupils answer the questions themselves. The questions are differentiated 3 ways but all are inference questions as this is the target skill. One you have done this lesson, please see ‘part 2’ for more: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-11917973

A lesson for Y5/6 that takes some of the themes of the final sections of The Journey , e.g refugees arriving in a new and strange country, and uses them as the inspiration for writing haikus. The lesson begins with a ‘diamond 9’ activity to get children discussing the feelings that a refugee finally stepping into safety might experience. There is then a brief recap on syllables using a fun paired game. Pupils are then introduced to haiku as a form and, through good and ‘not so good’ examples, draw out the success criteria themselves. For teachers less confident with spontaneous shared writing, there is a ‘crib sheet’ with key questions and ‘think out loud’ points. For the independent activity, pupils can select an image to write a haiku about and the help sheet has examples for each image which pupils can use to base theirs on if needed.

An assembly that I used during an assessment day for an deputy head position (I got the job!) This is a presentation with some embedded videos (links to YouTube - please check that they work with your school’s firewall/intranet before using) that starts with the famous ‘marshmallow test’ before exploring the life stories of three very different ‘geniuses’ (Einstein, Michael Jordan, Steve Jobs) and relating their successes and struggles to the growth mindset. Pupils are then confronted with three scenarios and asked to think what a person with a growth mindset would do and what a person with a fixed mindset would do in each of them.

A resource for Y1/2 on the story behind Lent and Shrove Tuesday. Features a video that explains the key beliefs and practices of Christians. The pupil activities are differentiated three ways (‘mild’, ‘spicy’ and ‘hot’)

A lesson for KS1 on the five pillars of Islam, with three differentiated activities for pupils to choose between and a quiz for the plenary.

A complete lesson for any primary age group about the importance of mental health. The lesson introduces the concept of mental health and then introduces pupils to the idea of mindfulness and how it can help to refocus our thoughts and feelings and leave us calmer and more content. There are two main activities: one a ‘meditation’, during which the teacher tells a short story and the children follow the instructions in the narrative to control and slow their breathing. Following this, the independent activity is a choice of mindfulness colouring activities.

This is a Y3/4 topic (geography) lesson on polar environments. The lesson teaches pupils how we measure temperature, how the celcius scale works and what temperatures you would typically expect to record in given scenarios. If your school has access to a class set of thermometers, you could add an extra section where pupils measure temperatures around the classroom/school premises. The main activity involves researching the winter and summer average highs/lows in different parts of the world, including one location each in the Arctic and Antarctic. It is intended that pupils work in mixed ability pairs and they will need an ipad and an atlas in each pair.

This is a complete writing lesson for lower KS2 during which pupils will write a biography of Mo Farrah. It is structured as an assessment piece that could take place either before the start or at the end of a unit on biographies. However, it is adaptable if you wish to use it in another way. The resources comprise a step-by-step powerpoint with embedded videos, a list of the major facts in Mo’s life and a word bank to assist pupils’ writing.