Listen to stories about different homes for people and creatures and decide where they would like to live, Home by Alex T Smith, The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse by Helen Ward, and Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French and Bruce Whatley. Children write their own version of The Town and Country Mouse and use The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch by Ronda and David Armitage to plan best lunches. Keep diaries, make lighthouses and stormy music.

Children explore the subject of volcanoes, drawing on session 6 work about Vesuvius. They are provided with a physical explanation, and then locate volcanoes around the world. They look at exactly what happens when a volcano which has been dormant, erupts. Suitable for years 3 and 4. Find other lesson plans and resources at www.hamilton-trust.org.uk.

Length (four days). The main aim here is to move children on from directly comparing lengths (laying one scarf against another) to measuring lengths using a repeated unit. Children measure distances in hand spans and foot lengths, realising that this will give different results if different hands/feet are used, therefore understanding the need for a uniform measure and then a standard measure. Children estimate, measure and order lengths using cubes, rulers and beads (all uniform non-standard measures), and compare lengths with strings of a given number of beads. The metre stick is introduced and used as a unit to measure with. Children look for objects longer and shorter than one metre. Find additional lesson plans and resources at www.hamilton-trust.org.uk.

Use a 'dinosaur egg' to stimulate discussion about eggs and dinosaurs. Have fun with a range of activities, count and sound out words (Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow and Adrian Reynolds, How do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague), pelmanism, Top Trumps and Dinosaur Dash. Make various dinosaur-related objects, 'steal' dino eggs and draw and label dinosaurs.

Discuss families and the various roles within them, read the following stories My Mum, My Dad, Me and You, all of which are by Anthony Browne and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus and Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late by Mo Willems. Children write a book about someone who cares for them using similes and also notices for family members. They learn their address too. Activities include paper people, house plans, family portraits and names.

Use the Animated Tale The Baby and the Rocket to introduce children to information texts. Compare facts and fiction. Make a large rocket and use photos of the construction to write instructions. Lots of activities for children to investigate both planets and rockets.

Taking inspiration from I Love You Blue Kangaroo by Emma Chichester-Clark, children share favourite toys and write descriptions. They talk about toys from long ago with a visitor, learn about old bears and make a class toy museum of old and new toys writing factual statements for displays.

When it rains in a rainforest it pours! Children find out about monsoons around the world before creating a tissue paper collage to stick to the window of the classroom; you can almost imagine the monsoon outside! Suitable for years 3 and 4. Find other lesson plans and resources at www.hamilton-trust.org.uk.

Children use Google Earth to locate the highs of the Britain. They move on to locate special places to them from holiday spots to football stadiums! Suitable for Years 1 and 2. Find other lesson plans and resources at www.hamilton-trust.org.uk.