I've worked in primary teaching for over 10 years and specialise in creating fun and engaging educational resources, particularly for Geography and History.
I've worked in primary teaching for over 10 years and specialise in creating fun and engaging educational resources, particularly for Geography and History.
This lesson is part of Exploring the United Kingdom, a Geography unit designed for KS1 and lower KS2 (Y2-4).
The presentation helps students understand the difference between human and physical geographical features. It then challenges them to classify famous UK landmarks as either human or physical.
There are two engaging activities included:
Partner activity:
Students sort pictures/descriptions of UK landmarks into human and physical geographical features.
Individual activity:
Students match pictures of UK landmarks to their descriptions. This is differentiated three ways:
Easier – Students match 8 features to their descriptions.
Medium – Students match 12 features to their descriptions.
Harder – Students write a description of each UK landmark using a word bank.
Extension – Students sort the UK landmarks into human and physical geographical features.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This lesson is designed for KS2 children. It can be taught as a stand alone lesson but is also available as part of two wider units, both of which are available on TES:
-Earthquakes
-Volcanoes & Earthquakes
First the presentation looks at how the Earth’s crust is split into tectonic plates. It then examines the causes of earthquakes, how they occur at the fault lines between tectonic plates and what the hypocentre and epicentre of an earthquake are.
There are three different activities to choose from which can be done in Geography and/or Literacy lessons. These include:
Quiz Activity
Students watch a video clip about earthquakes and answer comprehension questions about it. This is differentiated two ways.
Cloze Procedure Activity
Students fill in the blanks in an explanation text about earthquakes. This is differentiated two ways.
Writing Activity
Student write an explanation text about earthquakes. This is differentiated three ways and comes with vocabulary and sentence starter prompts.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the first lesson in Mountain Environments, a Geography unit designed for students in upper KS2 (Y4-6).
First the presentation introduces students to the topic and looks at some of the activities people do in mountains. It then introduces the key features of a mountain range.
The activity challenges students to identify the key features of a mountain environment. It is differentiated three ways:
Easier – Students identify 8 key features of mountains.
Medium – Students identify 10 key features of mountains.
Harder – Students label the key features of mountains in their exercise book.
Extension – Students match mountain vocabulary to their definitions.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This lesson is part of Exploring Spain, a Geography unit designed for upper KS2 students (Y4-6), but can also be taught as a stand alone lesson.
The presentation first recaps the climate zones of the world (i.e. tropical, temperate & polar zones) and locates Spain within these.
It then looks in more detail at Spain’s weather, climate zones and the climate of Madrid. Students are then encouraged to find clues about Madrid’s weather using a climate graph.
This lesson includes two activities:
Comprehension activity:
Students interpret climate graphs for Madrid and London and compare the climates of both cities.
ICT activity:
Students create their own climate graph for Madrid using Microsoft Excel.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
These colourful worksheets are a great way for students to learn the location of Europe’s countries and capital cities. They can be used with all ages from KS1 to KS4.
They are ideal for atlas work and can be used either as an introduction to Europe for younger students or to extend the geographical knowledge of older students.
There are three differentiated activities:
Activity 1 - Identifying the countries of Europe:
Shorter activity - Students write in numbers for each country (20 or 38 countries).
Longer activity - Students write in the name of each country (20 or 38 countries).
Activity 2 - Identifying the capital cities of Europe:
Shorter activity - Students write in numbers for each capital city (20 or 38 capitals).
Longer activity - Students write in the name of each capital city (20 or 38 capitals).
Activity 3 - Identifying the countries and capital cities of Europe:
The answers for this activity need to be written in an exercise book.
Shorter activity - Students find the names of 20 countries and their capitals.
Longer activity - Students find the names of 38 countries and their capitals.
N.B. All activities can be printed to A4 paper. Some may need to be expanded to A3, depending on the size of students’ writing.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This set of resources is designed for teaching the Great Fire of London KS1 History unit. You can download the planning for free here. It is suitable for Year 2 children and more able Year 1 children.
The presentation introduces the Great Fire of London and the Stuart period. The activity helps children place the event within the context of other historical events from 0AD to the present.
There are two differentiated worksheets:
- one challenges children to place 8 historical events on a timeline
- one challenges children to place 8 historical events and their dates on a timeline
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the planning overview for The Great Fire of London. This exciting History unit has lessons and differentiated activities/worksheets designed for KS1. It is suitable for Year 2 children and more able Year 1 children.
All the resources described in the unit plan are available on TES, either as individual lessons or as a bundle. Lessons include:
L1 - Introduction and timeline activity
L2 - Finding out about the Great Fire of London from Samuel Pepys’ diary
L3 - Sequencing the events of the Great Fire of London
L4 - Understanding why the Great Fire of London spread so quickly
L5 - Exploring how London changed after the Great Fire
L6 - Understanding how fire safety has changed since the Great Fire
Optional FREE lesson:
Unscrambling sentences about the Great Fire of London
If you like this resource, please review it. I will happily send you a free resource of your choice in return for a review or useful feedback.
Please contact me at eddiebray@yahoo.co.uk.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This lesson is part of Understanding Trade, a Geography unit designed for students in upper KS2 (Y5-6).
The presentation starts by recapping what imports and exports are. It goes on to look at the UK’s top ten exports – mainly manufactured products – and the human and physical factors which help UK exports in this area.
In the activity, students use Microsoft PowerPoint to create a table of the UK’s top ten exports. They then use an online chart maker to produce either a pie chart or bar graph to illustrate this data. It is differentiated three ways:
Easier – Students use step-by-step instructions with some data already filled in
Medium – Students use step-by-step instructions
Harder – Minimal instructions – IT experts only!
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This free lesson is an ideal introduction to the geography of the British Isles for students in KS1 and KS2. It is also part of Exploring the United Kingdom, a Geography unit designed for KS1 and lower KS2 (Y2-4).
The colourful presentation teaches students the countries, capitals and seas of the United Kingdom and Ireland. The activity worksheets are differentiated four ways:
Easier – Students identify the countries & capitals of the UK and Ireland (with a map prompt).
Medium – Students identify the countries & capitals of the UK and Ireland (with vocab & map prompt).
Harder – Students identify the countries & capitals of the UK and Ireland (with vocab but no map prompt).
Hardest – Students identify the countries, capitals and seas of the UK and Ireland (no vocab or map prompt).
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This lesson is part of Understanding Trade, a Geography unit designed for students in upper KS2 (Y5-6).
First the presentation introduces the banana trade and the concept of ‘supply chains’. Students are then challenged to sequence the banana supply chain in a group activity.
The Banana Split game, produced by Cafod, is then introduced. This is a great way to help children understand the uneven distribution of power and money in the supply chains of many of every day foods. There is also an activity sheet for students to complete as they progress through the game.
Finally the Fairtrade movement is introduced as a way for consumers to improve the conditions of workers in developing countries around the world. In the plenary, Fairtrade is also linked to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the free planning overview for Volcanoes & Earthquakes. A vocabulary page and topic title page are also included.
The unit is designed for KS2 students and includes twelve fully-planned lessons complete with differentiated activities and worksheets.
All the resources described in this unit plan are available on TES, either as individual lessons or as a bundle. Lessons include:
L1 – Understanding the structure of the Earth
L2 – Investigating the structure of a volcano (FREE)
L3 – Locating the world’s famous volcanoes
L4 – Investigating the five deadly features of a volcanic eruption
L5 – Understanding tectonic plates
L6 – Exploring the effects of volcanic eruptions on Montserrat
L7 – Why do people live near volcanoes?
L8 – Understanding the causes of earthquakes
L9 – Investigating the five deadly features of an earthquake
L10 – Researching earthquakes using Wikipedia
L11 – Locating the world’s biggest earthquakes using latitude & longitude
L12 – Writing a fact file about a famous earthquake
A FREE newspaper report template is also included in this unit.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This lesson is part of a wider unit called Exploring St Lucia and is designed to teach KS2 students about a contrasting non-European country.
This lesson looks at similarities and differences between St Lucia and the UK including:
– location in the world
– population
– languages
– currency
– heads of state
– physical geography
– types of employment
In the partner activity students sort statements about the countries into two groups – those describing St Lucia and those describing the UK. It is differentiated two ways:
Easier – Students sort statements about St Lucia and the UK (using stickers and a worksheet).
Harder – Students sort statements about St Lucia and the UK (completed in an exercise book).
Extension – Students think of similarities & differences between St Lucia and the UK.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
For more Geography resources, check out www.teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the free planning overview for London Zoo, a fun introduction to one of the world’s most famous zoos. A topic title page is also included.
This cross-curricula unit is designed for KS1 and lower KS2 students (Y2-4) and includes fully-planned lessons complete with differentiated activities and worksheets.
All the resources described in this unit plan are available on TES, either as individual lessons or as a bundle. Lessons include:
L1 – Writing a fact file about London Zoo
L2 – Taking a tour of London Zoo
L3 – Using compass directions at London Zoo
L4 – Using grid references at London Zoo
L5 – Matching animals to their habitat
L6 – The history of London Zoo
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
For more Geography resources, check out www.teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the free planning overview for Exploring St Lucia, a colourful introduction to the geography of St Lucia, a beautiful tropical island in the Caribbean. A topic title page is also included.
The unit is designed for students in KS2 and includes six engaging lessons complete with differentiated activities and worksheets.
All the resources described in this unit plan are available on TES, either as individual lessons or as a bundle. Lessons include:
L1 – Locating St Lucia in the Caribbean
L2 – Identifying the human and physical features of St Lucia
L3 – Investigating satellite photos of St Lucia
L4 – Using compass directions to locate places in St Lucia
L5 – Comparing the weather of St Lucia and the UK
L6 – Comparing St Lucia with the UK
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
For more Geography resources, check out www.teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the free planning overview for Understanding Trade, a Geography topic designed to help student understand global trade. A topic title page is also included.
The unit is suitable for KS2 students from Y5 to Y6 and includes six fully-planned lessons complete with differentiated activities and worksheets.
All the resources described in this unit plan are available on TES, either as individual lessons or as a bundle. Lessons include:
L1 – Investigating where the products we buy come from
L2 – Understanding that all products have a supply chain
L3 – Exploring the chocolate supply chain
L4 – Investigating the UK’s biggest exports
L5 – Investigating the highest value exports of different countries
L6 – Is the banana trade fair?
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
For more Geography resources, check out www.teachitforward.co.uk.
This is the free planning overview for Volcanoes. A vocabulary page and topic title page are also included.
The unit is designed for KS2 students and includes seven fully-planned lessons complete with differentiated activities and worksheets.
All the resources described in this unit plan are available on TES, either as individual lessons or as a bundle. Lessons include:
L1 – Understanding the structure of the Earth
L2 – Investigating the structure of a volcano
L3 – Locating the world’s famous volcanoes
L4 – Investigating the five deadly features of a volcanic eruption
L5 – Understanding tectonic plates
L6 – Exploring the effects of volcanic eruptions on Montserrat
L7 – Why do people live near volcanoes?
A free newspaper report template is also included in this unit.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
For more Geography resources, check out www.teachitforward.co.uk.
Our World is a comprehensive Geography topic about Planet Earth, suitable for KS1 and lower KS2 (Y1-3).
The planning overview, topic title page and vocabulary page can be downloaded for free here. Lessons include:
L1 – Completing a world map jigsaw
L2 – Identifying the continents and oceans of the world (FREE)
L3 – Where do we live?
L4 – Identifying human and natural features of the world
L5 – Investigating satellite photos of famous world landmarks
L6 – Introduction to compass directions
L7 – Identifying world climate zones
L8 – Identifying the countries and capitals of the UK (FREE)
Each lesson includes a presentation and differentiated activities/worksheets.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
Earthquakes is an exciting Geography unit designed for students in KS2.
The planning overview, topic title page and vocabulary page can be downloaded for free here. Lessons include:
L1 – Understanding the structure of the Earth
L2 – Understanding tectonic plates
L3 – Understanding the causes of earthquakes
L4 – Investigating the five deadly features of an earthquake
L5 – Researching earthquakes using Wikipedia
L6 – Locating the world’s biggest earthquakes using latitude & longitude
L7 – Writing a fact file about a famous earthquake
Each lesson includes a presentation and differentiated activities/worksheets.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
Great Missenden – A Village Settlement is a Geography unit suitable for upper KS2 (Y4-6).
Located in the Chilterns in Buckinghamshire, the village of Great Missenden was once home to famous children’s author Roald Dahl. It is a great case study for helping students understand the similarities and differences between urban and rural settlements.
The planning overview and topic title page can be downloaded for free here. Lessons include:
L1 – Locating Great Missenden in the UK
L2 – Investigating satellite photos of Great Missenden
L3 – Locating features of Great Missenden using grid references
L4 – Identifying the features of settlements
L5 – Surveying Great Missenden High Street using Google Street View
L6 – Interpreting a high street survey of Great Missenden
Each lesson includes a presentation and differentiated activities/worksheets.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.
This lesson is part of Exploring Brazil, a Geography unit designed for students in KS2 (Y4-6), but can also be taught as a stand alone lesson.
The presentation introduces students to Brazil’s six main biomes including the tropical rainforest, caatinga (desert), Pantanal wetlands, cerrado (savannah) and Atlantic Forest. Students then read an information text to find out more.
In the activity, students write an information text about Brazil’s ecosystems. This can either be done as a short activity or as an extended write in Literacy. (N.B. The activity sheets need to be enlarged to A3 size to provide adequate space for writing.)
Short Activity:
Easier – Students match statements to each ecosystem and write them in each box.
Medium – Students add titles, then match statements to each ecosystem and write them in each box.
Harder – Students add titles and write their own sentences about each ecosystem in the box.
Extension – Students label the different ecosystems on the map, including drawings of animals found in each one.
Extended Writing Activity:
Easier – Students write an information text about Brazil’s ecosystems, including an introductory paragraph.
Harder – Students write an information text about Brazil’s ecosystems, including sub-headings and an introductory paragraph.
If you like this resource, we would appreciate a review! We will happily send you a free resource in return for a review or useful suggestions/feedback. Contact us at ed@teachitforward.co.uk.