I made this fun booklet for my KS2 pupils to practise maths in a ‘real life’ situation based on planning a Christmas party for 200 KS1 pupils. After completing this task, the children actually did plan a party for KS1! They were amazed at the actual cost of the items and gained a real insight into planning for an event. There are 7 tasks in total with a task summary table for pupils to record their summaries at the end of each task. The pupils have a budget of £400 and must make decisions based upon their budget and costs of items such as food and entertainment. Task 1 Party timetable – working out a timetable around set times. Task 2 Total cost of food for 200 children. Percentage and fraction of children’s votes for a particular buffet type. Cost per head and total costs. Task 3 Total number of tracks for the whole party. Numbers of tracks for the dancing sessions using multiplication and addition skills. Task 4 The cost and name of the cheapest show. Calculating the actual costs of two shows plus extras and deciding on the cheapest option. Task 5 Total drinks cost for 200 children. Options for drinks and total costs. Task 6 The cheapest option for party hats Task 7 Total cost of all prizes.

Flashback story template KS1 & 2 Flashback story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own story with a flashback writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing flashback stories and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and plan the structure of their story. Great to use following drama. Can also be used with topics : Adventure, Explorers, personal experiences.

KS1 & 2 Myth story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own mythological writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing myths and spaces for pupils to develop writing in note or bullet point format when planning their own character description, setting and story structure. Great to use following a ‘Myths’ writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with topics: Myths and Legends, Ancient Greece, Greece, Heroes and Heroines/Superheroes.

KS2 Geography – Deserts power-point lesson of 45 slides. Learning Objectives To recognise the features of a desert. To explain the differences and similarities between tropical and polar deserts. To locate deserts on a map. To identify countries where deserts are located. To understand that some plants, animals and humans can survive in the desert. The lesson uses pupil starting points and encourages partner and group discussion, map or atlas work. The introduction asks pupils to describe the desert climate following a simple experiment. The pupils are asked to locate the 10 largest deserts on a world map following a youtube clip. The lesson moves onto a simple explanation of the features of hot deserts and polar deserts with a Venn diagram comparison activity. Pupils will need a map, atlas or globe to explore the tasks fully and identify the desert regions. There is a simple reference to landlocked deserts and more detail about people and animal adaptation in the desert which could be used as a starter for a follow up lesson. There is a simple Google Earth task at the end of the lesson. Lesson works well with topics linked to Adaptation, Weather and climate, Mapwork, and Hot countries.

Victorian Christmas Traditions. KS1 and 2 power-point of 58 slides (including worksheets). This power-point can be used as a complete stand-alone lesson which can be edited into topic sections or as an additional spin off to related topics which encourage the pupils to think about how a Victorian Christmas is celebrated and how the traditions we know today originated. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides, and lots of additional fun linked activities including a quick dictionary definition exercise, a short youtube clip, book exercises (written tasks), paired talk activities, 11 worksheets. Christmas traditions covered are: Tree, decorating the tree and the home, presents, crackers, cards, dinner, entertainment and games. Learning objectives • To know the origins of Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom. • To compare Christmas traditions today with Victorian Christmas traditions. • To express opinions and views about Victorian Christmas and compare what it was like for rich people and poor people. • To work co-operatively with a partner or small group to discuss answers and ideas about Christmas traditions. Worksheet 1: Matching task. Victorian and present-day Christmas tree decorations. Worksheet 2: Venn diagram – rich and poor Victorian Christmas. Book activity: Label the evergreen decorations. Worksheet 3: Write a message / joke for a cracker. Worksheet 4. Follow Instructions. How to make a Christmas cracker. Book activities: Christmas cards. Worksheets 5,6,7: 3 blank templates with a Victorian border for Christmas card designs. Worksheet 8: Work out the Figgy Pudding recipe used by the Victorians but written in old English. Worksheet 9: Blank plate templates for a Victorian and present-day Christmas dinner. Worksheet 10: 6 Victorian Parlour games on cards. Worksheet 11: Victorian traditions blank writing summary for each tradition. Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points. Useful alongside lessons or topics on Christmas, celebrations, Winter, entertainment, Victorians.

Mexico 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 Mexico’s key cities and geographical features. Each set of slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the geography of Mexico as well as simple cultural information such as greetings in Mexican (Spanish) at the beginning and end of lessons. Great to link with cross curricular topics such as ‘Aztecs’, ‘Rainforests’, ‘Weather’, ‘Early civilizations’ etc. Lesson 1 Learning Objectives I must find Mexico in my atlas. I should recognise some of the features of Mexico. I could describe where Mexico is in the world using geographical words. Lesson 2 Learning objectives I must be able to spot the main features of Mexico. 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 tropical 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 Mexico. I could compare population graphs for Mexico cities and explain population issues. Lesson 5 Learning Objectives I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’, ‘tropical climate’ and ‘weather’. I must order the ten most populated cities in Mexico. I should explain how the location of Mexican cities affects population size. I could explain how the weather and climate support the life of the Mexican people. Lesson 6 Learning Objectives I must identify some features of natural beauty in Mexico. I should identify and research some of the areas of natural beauty which come from Mexico. OR I should identify and research some of the animal, fish and birds which come from Mexico.

KS2 Pompeii powerpoint lesson of 30 slides broken into short focused activities. There are opportunities for pupils to watch and take notes from a YouTube clip, scrutinise and compare photographs and paintings and use maps and atlases to locate Italy, the Bay of Naples and Pompeii. Each slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the history of Pompeii as well as simple information about Vesuvius. Great to link with cross curricular topic such as Italy, Volcanoes, Ancient Rome, Early civilizations etc. Learning Objectives I must find Pompeii in my atlas. I should recognise which the country where Pompeii is located. I could explain what Pompeii was like and what happened in 79AD by looking at and comparing ‘before’ and ‘after’ photographs and information from books and the internet. Extension I could research Pompeii and make an information booklet.

KS1&2 Christmas Nativity story sequencing activity. Learning objective: To sequence and retell the Christmas story in order. Pupils cut out the boxed images and descriptions and sequence the story onto a storyboard template. There are three templates attached which support differentiation and reading levels. Higher Ability (Timeline 1) template is numbered only and pupils order the story into the numbered boxes. Middle Ability (Timeline 2) is differentiated using key words from the main text in the numbered boxes. Lower Ability (Timeline 3) order the story into the numbered boxes with the support of key sentences which they can match to the main text. After completing the activity the pupils can retell the story using the timeline sequence as a prompt.

KS1 & 2 Biography planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own factual biographical writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing biographies and spaces for pupils to develop the structure of the biography about their chosen person or animal. Great to use following History /famous people/animals lesson or drama. Can also be used with most topics: My family, heroes, current or historical characters, explorers, travel, Halloween, etc.

The Moon. KS2 power-point of 41 slides. This power-point can be used as a complete stand-alone lesson or as an additional spin off to related topics which encourage the pupils to think about the Moon and how it affects Earth. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides and activities including short youtube clips, NASA clips, paired talk activities, homework moon observation (diary activity) and a challenge to make a quiz about the information learned. Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points. There are worksheets which support the power-point including: A Moon description activity, Word Mat, Lunar sequencing, Phases of the Moon factsheet, Phases of the Moon sorting cards (make 2 sets and play ‘pairs’ or ‘snap’, a high tide and low tide worksheet, how the Moon causes tides worksheet, Moon Diary template. Useful alongside lessons or topics on Space, Sun and Planets, Space travel, The Sky. Learning objectives • To understand the relationship between the Moon and the Earth. • To recognise and explain the ‘Phases of the Moon’. • To use key scientific vocabulary about the Moon in descriptions and explanations for example: satellite eclipse phases rotation axis orbit • To know that gravity from the Moon and Sun has an effect on Earth.

Peru today: Series of 6 KS2 power-point Geography lessons. Each lesson is broken into short focused activities with supporting worksheets and maps. 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 Peru’s key cities and geographical features. Each set of slides contain images to help pupils ‘get a feel’ for the geography of Peru as well as simple cultural information such as greetings in Peruvian (Spanish) at the beginning and end of lessons. Great to link with cross curricular topics such as ‘Incas’, ‘Rainforests’, ‘Weather’, ‘Early civilizations’ etc. Lesson 1 Learning Objectives I must find Peru in my atlas. I should recognise some of the features of Peru. I could describe where Peru is in the world using geographical words. Lesson 2 Learning objectives I must be able to spot the main features of Peru. 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 tropical 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 Peru. I could compare population graphs for Peru cities and explain population issues. Lesson 5 Learning Objectives I must explain the definition of the term ‘population’, ‘tropical climate’ and ‘weather’. I must order the ten most populated cities in Peru. I should explain how the location of Peruvian cities affects population size. I could explain how the weather and climate support the life of the Peruvian people. Lesson 6 Learning Objectives I must identify some features of natural beauty in Peru. I should identify and research some of the areas of natural beauty which come from Peru. OR I should identify and research some of the animal, fish and birds which come from Peru.

KS2 Geography – Discover the Arctic Circle power-point lesson of 42 slides. Learning Objectives I must find the Arctic in my atlas. I must recognise the symbols for the points on a compass. I should identify the lines of latitude and longitude on a map or globe. I should explain the term ‘Arctic Circle’. I could describe where the Arctic Circle is in the world using geographical vocabulary and name some places located there. The lesson uses pupil starting points and encourages partner and group discussion. Written tasks are built into each stage of the lesson following a discussion task, map or globe work. The introduction asks pupils to describe the arctic landscape and arctic animals using a selection of photographs. They use this information to build up a picture to guess the place. There are slides which demonstrate the features of the arctic and two linked worksheets for pupils to complete. The lesson moves onto a simple explanation of latitude and longitude and the points on the compass. Pupils will need a map or globe to explore the tasks fully and identify the Arctic Circle and the countries and seas within it. There are 2 YouTube links – a latitude and longitude song (great fun!) and a short clip about Arctic wildlife which could be used as a starter for a follow up lesson. There is an optional assessment task at the end of the lesson.

Edward Teach – Captain Blackbeard. Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in their life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous person in a range of genres (newspaper report, biography, letter or diary writing, fiction, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise. Linked topics: Pirates, Famous people, Ships and the Sea.

George Stephenson Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in their life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous person in a range of genres (newspaper report, biography, letter or diary writing, fiction, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.

Ancient Rome KS2 power-point of 24 slides. Learning Objectives • I must explain where the Romans came from using geographical vocabulary. • I should retell the legend of Romulus and Remus • I could explain BCE and AD • I could order a timeline of Ancient Rome from 753BCE to 79AD. Includes activities for pupils to locate Rome/Italy using an atlas, a simple story of how Rome was founded, timeline activity to distinguish BCE and CE. Useful to link in with topics on The Roman Empire, Time, Calendars, Beginnings.

Mystery story template KS1 & 2 Mystery story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own mystery writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing mystery stories and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and plan the structure of their story. Great to use following an writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with a range of topics : Seasonal mysteries, Explorers, Different countries, Travel, Halloween.

The sun and our planet. EYFS/KS1 power-point of 36 slides. This power-point can be used as a complete stand-alone lesson or as an additional spin off to related topics which encourage the pupils to think about the sun and how it affects earth. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides and activities including a simple riddle, a short youtube clip, paired talk activities, a practical ‘ordering planets’ activity and an assessment challenge to make a booklet about the information learned. Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points. Useful alongside lessons or topics on sun safety, summer, space and planets etc. Learning objectives • To know that the sun is the centre of the solar system. • To know some interesting facts about the sun. • To name the eight planets which orbit the sun. • To organise the planets in order of closeness to the sun. • To explain how the sun affects our planet.

Set of 128 fun activity cards for the pupils who always finish before the rest of the class. The activities are easy to organise (just cut out, laminate and put in a lovely box) answers can be written in a jotter, busy book or on activity paper. I put these cards in a box in an ‘Early Bird Tray’ with all of the resources the pupils would need eg. a couple of atlases, a tape measure, dictionary, dice, number spinners and some lined and plain paper. I explained the use of the tray to the whole class and gave a brief ‘10 second slot’ at the end of the day for any pupils to share their answers with the class. It was amazing how many finished their class work to get onto the Early Bird Activities! I have used these cards with Y2,3,4 and lower ability Y5,6.

EYFS /KS1 Christmas Snap matching cards. Set of 20 simple picture cards (10 pairs) for younger pupils. Useful for matching games, stimulating Christmas vocabulary and for memory games (eg Kim’s game/Snap). 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 simple everyday items and objects associated with Christmas for example: Santa, christmas tree, holly, snowflake etc.

A set of four creepy pictures for pupils to describe using spooky vocabulary and phrases. Useful for writing a single descriptive paragraph rather than a whole story. Great to link to topics on ‘Halloween’, Night and Day, Darkness, Sci-Fi etc