6-12 June 2015
Saturday
Plastic’s not fantastic
The Fifa Women’s World Cup kicked off in Edmonton, Canada, with 24 teams competing. Controversy continues to follow Fifa, with players complaining about the risk of injury from artificial turf.
Sunday
Now we have sticks
Teachers in touch with their inner Christopher Robin rushed to the World Pooh Sticks Championships near Witney, Oxfordshire, to vie for the not-to-be-pooh-poohed title of world No 1.
Monday
Read all about it
Education secretary Nicky Morgan declared the mainstream media somewhat less than outstanding, accusing it of “putting people off” the teaching profession by only covering negative stories, TES reported.
Tuesday
Better-than-OK coral
Coral Triangle Day celebrated the staggering biodiversity of an area of the Pacific Ocean that is home to 2,000 species of reef fish. Try this lesson with your class: www.tesconnect.comCoralExplorer
Wednesday
Political animals
Want to make sure your students are future voters? Discuss politics in the classroom. A University of Edinburgh survey of 16- and 17-year-olds found that schools were the main factor in determining civic attitudes.
Thursday
Keeping her head
Henry VIII married Catherine of Aragon on this date in 1509. He divorced her 24 years later, sparking a chain of events that ensured today’s teachers have plenty to choose from in their Tudor topic planning.
Friday
Blue notes
If you’re feeling blue after the death of BB King, why not suggest an impromptu field trip to Chicago? Sure, it’s unlikely, but you just might be able to attend one of the world’s largest free blues festivals.
13-19 June 2015
Saturday
A royal knees-up
Happy birthday, Your Majesty! The Queen will celebrate her official birthday by attending the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Next year she will turn 90 on 21 April - her actual birthday.
Sunday
New blood
Teachers already give plenty of blood, sweat and tears in the classroom, so why not give a little more on World Blood Donor Day. Donating saves lives - and you get a nice cup of tea and a biscuit.
Monday
The great charter
Today is the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta by King John. The British Library has asked children to draft “Magna Carta for the digital age”. Find out more at www.tesconnect.commagna-carta
Tuesday
For a brighter future
It’s Youth Day in South Africa and the Day of the African Child, commemorating protests by black schoolchildren in Soweto in 1976 against the poor quality of their education. Hundreds of students were shot.
Wednesday
One of the five pillars
Preparations will begin at sunset for the first day of Ramadan tomorrow. Throughout the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, strict fasting is observed during hours of sunlight.
Thursday
He met his destiny
As any avid history and pop fan will tell you: at Waterloo, Napoleon did surrender. Today marks the bicentenary of the Duke of Wellington’s momentous victory over French forces at the Battle of Waterloo.
Friday
Lapping it up
Racing to complete your marking? Spare a thought for Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, who is practising at 200 miles per hour in a sweaty Formula One car to prepare himself for the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend.
