80th Anniversary of D-Day
June 6th marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a turning point in World War II when the Western Allies (Britain, the United States, and Canada) launched the largest seaborne invasion in history. Landing on the beaches of Normandy, France, they began the campaign to liberate Nazi occupied Europe. This is an incredibly well known event in popular culture and with the 80th anniversary it is the perfect time to discuss this event with your students. The D-Day organisation has a wide range of resources for all Key Stages where you can discuss this topic.
Celebrating Hajj
From Wednesday 4th June to Monday 9th June, Muslims around the world will be taking part in Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a deeply significant spiritual journey. All adult Muslims who are physically and financially able are expected to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. This is an excellent opportunity to introduce pupils to one of the most important events in the Islamic calendar. If you have Muslim students in your class, this can also be a valuable moment to invite them to share their experiences or family traditions related to Hajj (if they feel comfortable doing so). They are perfect for use in form time, Religious Education (RE) lessons, or even during a whole-school assembly. As they come from BBC Teach, you can be confident that they meet the standards required for use in the classroom. Follow this link to find out more:
International Nurses Day
Nurses are the backbone of the National Health Service (NHS) and on May 12th of each year International Nurses Day is celebrated. In celebration of this hard-working profession, we’ve put together a playlist of videos you can share with your students in form time, an assembly, PSHE or even a History lesson. List of videos: The Life and Work of Florence Nightingale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jONlz7vaMnU Florence Nightingale: Changing the Field of Nursing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B94Zf4Vye3Y The Life of Mary Seacole (part 1 of 3): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZDfibPtBlI
Telling stories through sculpture
Sculptures have fascinated people for centuries. Renowned sculptor Hazel Reeves has created lesson resources designed to ignite students’ excitement about this powerful art form. In the lesson students will explore how Hazel’s sculpture of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst tells a story through its stance and describes Hazel’s process, from initial drawings to final fabrication. Students are encouraged to develop their own idea for a sculpture that tells a story through its pose. This is a great chance to combine History and Art together and make an impactful difference in students understanding of what scultpors are and the process behind them. Click on the link below to access the lesson resources.
National Numeracy Day
The 21st May is National Numeracy Day and National Numeracy have a number of useful resources to celebrate this day with your students. All you have to do is sign up to access them. Maths is a core foundation for many future career paths your students may wish to take such as in science, engineering, economics, and computer science. Beyond the classroom, maths fosters problem-solving skills that are invaluable in everyday life whether budgeting, making informed financial decisions, or analysing data. If some of your students aren’t engaged by maths, sharing these real life applications might spark their interest. Follow this link to find the resources:
VE Day Arts & Crafts Celebration
8th May marks Victory in Europe (VE) Day, a significant event commemorating the Allied victory over fascism in Europe and the end of nearly a decade of devastation. The first VE Day celebration in 1945 saw millions of people take to the streets across Britain to rejoice. Crowds gathered outside Buckingham Palace as King George VI and Winston Churchill appeared on the balcony to mark the momentous occasion. Reading Museum has put together a fantastic collection of resources, allowing students (and even their caregivers) to engage in a variety of arts and crafts projects. Activities include dressing up as a 1940s child, learning to dance the Lindy Hop, and much more. This is a great opportunity to organise a community event or set it as a creative homework task. Reading Museum also offers additional resources, including an Online Activity Chart related to VE Day. To learn more about the Arts & Crafts and their other resources follow the link below:
Make shared music with Google
Google Experiments is a creative platform where innovative ideas come to life and users get to explore and have fun. Among these experiments is Chrome Music Lab, a fantastic tool for interactive music lessons that brings creativity and learning together. With Chrome Music Lab, you can create fun and meaningful music with your students. The program lets you control a variety of instruments and customise the tempo, giving you endless possibilities to experiment and compose. Mix and match instruments like Synth, Marimba, Piano, Strings, and Woodwind with percussion options like Kit, Conga, Electronic, and Blocks to craft unique sounds. Follow the link below to have a go.
Shakespeare Week
William Shakespeare can easily be classified as the most significant person in effecting the modern English language. Over 1,700 words can be linked back to his works and many popular phrases today were first used by him such as: “Break the ice”, “Wild-goose chase” and “Heart of gold”. In celebration of England’s Bard and his timeless classics the 24-30 March 2025 is Shakespeare week. What a perfect time to introduce your students to his works, and to link many popular films today to his work. After all the Lion King follows a very similar story to Hamlet (but made safe for children!) The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has a huge database of lesson resources which can be accessed for all age groups to learn about the timeless legend which is William Shakespeare. Follow this link to find out more:
Easter lesson resources
Easter is a celebratory time in schools, marking the end of the Spring term and the start of the Summer term. It is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. With these lesson resources from BBC Teach, you can introduce these concepts in small, bite-sized chunks, helping students gain a better understanding of this important religious event. Follow this link to learn more:
The Edit – A digital storytelling challenge
In today’s media-rich world, young people have unprecedented opportunities to make their voices heard. With the right guidance, they can harness this potential to share meaningful stories and perspectives. That’s where The Edit comes in, a fantastic partnership between Sky News and Adobe that empowers students aged 8-18 to create their own 90-second news reports. The Creative and Media industries are some of the most vibrant sectors in the UK, full of career opportunities for the next generation. If you have students interested in media, journalism, or digital storytelling, The Edit is a brilliant stepping stone. It’s a programme that’s easy to integrate into lesson time or enrichment clubs, and can be completed in as little as three hours. Through The Edit, students will engage with topics that matter—like Climate Change, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, and Wellbeing. You’ll receive a full classroom toolkit that guides both you and your students from planning to scripting, filming, and editing a report. Resources include student tutorials, PowerPoint slides, topic factsheets, and a report planner, all designed to make the process easy and engaging. Signing up for The Edit is a no-brainer if you’re looking to inspire your students, build their digital storytelling skills, and help them find their voices on issues that resonate. Don’t miss this chance—follow the link to sign up today!