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.
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:
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:
National Geographic for Kids
National Geographic for Kids offers an exciting opportunity to inspire Primary-aged children to push the boundaries of knowledge, uncover new insights about the natural and cultural worlds, and strengthen their connections to both these worlds and one another. Through their platform, National Geographic provides a wide range of lesson resources across subjects such as History, Science, Geography, English, Maths, PSHE, and Art & Design. These materials are designed to captivate young learners and enrich their understanding of the world around them. Follow the link below to explore these resources and bring the spirit of discovery into your classroom!
Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month and it’s a great time to introduce your students to a wide range of women throughout history. It is important to tell students that it wasn’t until 1928 when all women received the right to vote in the United Kingdom. The official UK Parliament’s website has created a wonderful illustrated workbook for students of a primary age to learn about a wide range of women from different backgrounds who have impacted UK laws and equal rights. One of the women included is Barbara Castle who was one of the longest-serving female MPs in British history. To learn more follow the link below:
Votes for Women
March is Women’s History Month and in celebration of the achievement of all the women who campaigned for women’s equality the UK Parliament’s website have create a lesson activity for students aged between 7-14. This lesson activity includes an audio drama telling the story of Suffragette Constance Lytton and her fight for women’s right to vote. The accompanying activity pack offers engaging ideas and exercises designed to help students explore the suffrage movement, including a debate, a letter-writing task, and a research activity. Follow this link to find the resources:
Lunar New Year
In the West, we celebrate the New Year at the end of December and the beginning of January. Many of you and your students are likely looking back fondly on this event. However, in China, the New Year is celebrated according to the Lunar Calendar. This means their New Year begins on 29th January 2025 and concludes 15 days later with the spectacular Lantern Festival. The Chinese New Year is a vibrant cultural celebration and an excellent opportunity to broaden your students’ understanding of global traditions. This year, we’ll be welcoming the Year of the Snake, following last year’s Year of the Dragon. To help your students learn more about this fascinating event and enhance their cultural capital, check out the fantastic resources available on BBC Teach. They offer a variety of engaging materials designed to bring the Chinese New Year to life in your classroom. With this second link you can see what animal relates to the year you and your students were born in so you can find out which animals you are. This is perfect for mixed form groups.
Holocaust Memorial Day: Resource Support for Teachers
Monday, 27th January, marks Holocaust Memorial Day, an important occasion for schools to reflect on the Holocaust during World War II and the genocides that have occurred since. Teaching this topic can be challenging, even for experienced History teachers, due to its complexity and emotional weight. To support educators in addressing this sensitive subject, the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust has created a comprehensive collection of resources designed for all educational settings. Whether you’re looking for lesson plans, activities, or guidance on how to approach these discussions with care and respect, these resources can help you navigate this critical part of history with confidence.
Teach Students Cyber Security Skills
Whether you’re an IT teacher aiming to improve students’ understanding of cybersecurity, a History teacher with a passion for technology, or a Primary teacher keen to broaden your students’ horizons, this is essential reading for you! In this engaging activity from the brilliant Cyber Skills Live, students learn cybersecurity techniques through the real-life example of defending Stirling Castle. The activity covers vital concepts such as data servers, physical security, incident response, and what made Stirling Castle so formidable. You can complete this activity as a class, or students can work independently or in pairs. It’s a flexible and hands-on way for them to develop cybersecurity skills. In a world where personal data is increasingly online, understanding how to protect themselves from cyber threats is crucial for students. This activity equips them with the essential tools to navigate the digital world safely. As students grow up in an era defined by constant connectivity, learning how to safeguard their digital identity and prevent data breaches is more important than ever. Furthermore, as technology continues to evolve, future career opportunities in cybersecurity will expand, making it a highly valuable skill for employability across a wide range of industries. Click on the link below to try it out!