primary

Maths – Constructing 2D Shapes

Drawing a 2D shape accurately can be a nightmare but there are ways to draw them accurately that are fun too. In these activities the pupils will accurately construct several regular 2D shapes. Suitable for: Year 4 to Year 6 Learning Focus: Be able to use a compass… Read More

Science – Micro-organisms

Sixty years ago this March, one of the world’s most famous scientists, Alexander Fleming, died. Ten years earlier he was credited with discovering penicillin, the first antibiotic, which went on to save millions of lives around the world. Penicillin is a substance derived from a mould, a type of micro-organism. Read More

10 ways to increase enthusiasm for reading in your classroom

Enthusiasm: Make sure everyone understands that reading enthusiasm – regularly choosing to read even when there’s no adult around – correlates strongly with academic success, even in maths (PISA; IoE et al). Enjoyment of reading improves children’s life-chances! Self-identification: Focus all colleagues on the job of generating enthusiasm for reading:… Read More

Maths – Monopoly

This February sees the 80th anniversary of the first time the game of Monopoly was seen on sale. It still remains one of the most popular board games across the world and has spawned many local versions. It’s one of the best games for combining luck with skill and logic… Read More

Science – Radar

Radar is the detection of objects using radio or sound waves which bounce back off an object in its path. Eighty years ago radar was first developed and six years later it helped to change the course of the Second World War and, in particular, helped the RAF win the… Read More

Science – Earthquakes

Twenty years ago the Japanese city of Kobe experienced one of the most destructive earthquakes of modern times, called the Great Hanshin Earthquake. Nearly 6,500 people were killed and over 200,000 made homeless. The city’s port; the busiest in Japan, was destroyed as was the Hanshin Expressway which linked Kobe… Read More

Maths – Graphing Equations

Students will be used to solving algebra equations but in this activity, we will consider how algebra can help us to solve maths puzzles such as sequences. Suitable for: Year 4 to Year 6 Learning Focus: Represent a problem as an algebraic equation Use graphs to help… Read More

Maths: Capacity and Volume

Activity 1: How does capacity differ from volume? Suitable for: Year 3 to Year 6 Learning Focus: To recognise the similarities and differences between capacity and volume It’s no wonder that pupils get capacity and volume confused when many adults think they’re the same thing too. Capacity is… Read More

I Was There: The Fall of the Berlin Wall

25 years ago this November, one of the most despised symbols of communism and the divide between east and west; the Berlin Wall, came down. It was a momentous occasion and finally signalled the end of the Soviet era in Eastern Europe. Millions of people witnessed the occasion, either on… Read More

Science: Identifying Trees

One of the finest aspects of the English landscape, be it open countryside, forest or even urban parks is the number and diversity of our trees. Very few children these days can identify trees from their leaves and this activity will help them gain greater knowledge of how trees can… Read More