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:
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:
Learning with dog themed lessons
Dogs are truly man’s best friend, and with these fun, engaging lessons from Dogs Trust, you can inspire your pupils while fostering a love for learning. Designed to captivate students through a dog-themed context, these lessons are a fantastic way to bring your curriculum to life. Covering a wide range of subjects including: English, Maths, History, and Business Studies these resources are perfect for integrating creativity and real-world connections into your teaching. Whether you’re a canine-enthusiast teacher or have dog-loving students, these lessons are sure to spark interest and excitement in the classroom. Follow the link to learn more:
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:
Can you rob a bank?
CyberSkills Live have developed a fantastic resource intended to teach learners about ethical hacking. Hacking is a buzz word in the technology space, and they are the demons we fear in the dark. This activity will put students into the shoes of the cybercriminal and show them how to conduct ethical hacking. They will learn the important skills of: Remotely accessing, gaining log in details and moving funds. Through this activity, students will develop key skills such as: Here’s what the activity involves: This is an incredibly fun and interactive activity for your students, but be warned, you might find yourself “hacked” by one of them! Follow the link to try it out!
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!
Children’s Mental Health Week
Children’s Mental Health Week will take place from 3rd to 9th February 2025, with this year’s theme being ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself’. The campaign aims to help young people across the UK develop greater self-awareness and embrace what makes them unique. This is an incredibly important initiative, and to support you, we’ve included links to a variety of lesson resources designed to help you explore this vital topic with your students. Even more excitingly, The Walt Disney Company has partnered with the campaign, using characters from its 2024 summer blockbuster, Inside Out 2. This film delves into the emotions of young people, making it the perfect companion to this year’s theme. The resources, tailored for both Primary and Secondary students, are engaging and ready to use in your classroom. Follow the link below to access them and start planning your lessons!