OUTDOOR LEARNING 5- TO 11-YEAR-OLDS
1. Working outdoors
Give students an idea of what working outdoors involves with this plan from Growing Schools. They will learn how to handle tools safely, develop their coordination and build respect for others.
2. Mathematics: symmetry
Draw a circle on the ground for each student, then encourage them to work creatively with symmetry by placing classroom objects in both halves to form a pattern.
3. Mathematics: measuring
Your class will need to work as a team as they investigate different ways to measure the size of their playground. Follow-up ideas for use in the classroom are also available.
4. Mathematics: mazes
Use chalk to set up a mathematics maze for some outdoor numeracy fun. Children must jump the right number of squares if they want to reach the centre quickly.
5. Mathematics: fractions
Practise ordering fractions in this fun outdoor activity, in which children use mini whiteboards to work out which fractions and decimals are greater than, less than or equal to each other.
6. Science: habitats
Do you know your earwigs from your caterpillars? Do your students? Encourage children to make observations about local habitats with this lesson plan and worksheet.
7. Gardening: herbs
If you have limited outside space, maximise the potential of your school grounds by using these guidelines to build a book-shaped herb garden.
8. Activity ideas
Need inspiration for outdoor activities? These ideas and games, from number hunts to giant dominoes, are easily adaptable for early years and primary classes.
9. Phonics bingo
Hide these phonics flash cards outdoors, then get children to find and match them to the words on their bingo sheet. The first student to match all the sounds wins.
10. Gardening: sowing seeds
Teach children about the issues facing farmers, such as climate change, by getting them to plant their own seeds and chart their progress as they grow.
Find these lesson plans at bit.lyPrimary LessonsJuly19
NATIONAL PARKS WEEK UK, 29 JULY - 4 AUGUST
1. Introduction
This resource pack includes a PowerPoint, student booklet and factsheets bursting with information about seven of the UK’s national parks.
2. All in a day’s work
What do national park wardens do? Students work independently to find out in this lesson from OrdnanceSurvey.
3. Quarrying role play
Students act as quarry managers, residents or park representatives and debate whether a quarrying development should go ahead in a national park in the North of England.
4. Managing tourism
National parks are meant to be used but what effect does tourism have on them? This presentation considers environmental pressures and offers suggestions on how they might be resolved.
5. Revision dominoes
Play your way through revision with these dominoes, which test knowledge of key terms - such as “sustainable development” and “accessibility” - and help students to recall important facts and figures about national parks.
6. Brecon Beacons
Introduce the concept of national parks with a case study on the Brecon Beacons in Wales, shared by NGfLCymru.
7. Conflicts and impacts
This PowerPoint explores geographical location, the impact of tourism and the needs of people who use national parks, introducing students to a wide range of views.
8. Peak practice
No satnavs: students practise map skills and consider political, economic, environmental and demographic factors in a lesson on Snowdonia National Park in Wales.
9. Yorkshire Dales
What are land-use conflicts? Teach students about the groups affected, their viewpoints and how conflicts arise with these handouts on a national park in the North of England.
10. Conflicts
Using a conflict map, students identify and learn about the views of nine people who want to enjoy their local national park - but they all have conflicting ideas on how to preserve it.
Find these lesson plans at bit.lyNationalParksWeek2013
SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES
1. Transition toolkit
Transition can be a tricky time for young people with autistic spectrum disorders. This resource from autismeducation
trust summarises the common issues and offers practical solutions. bit.lytransitiontoolkit
2. SEN identifiers
Get to grips with the differences between frequently used special educational needs labels, such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, with the help of Matt Grant’s checklist. bit.lySENChecklist
3. All change
How will the upcoming changes to the special needs system in England affect you? See Kerin’s overview. bit.lySENChanges
TOP FIVE ASSEMBLIES
Crossing the tracks Britain has approximately 6,500 level crossings. Show students how to stay safe during the summer break in an assembly about railway safety. bit.lyRailwaySafety
Be one of a kind Use this assembly script based on Danny Wallace’s bestselling book Join Me to inspire your students to carry out random acts of kindness. bit.lywallaceassembly
Stop the rot Reveal the negative impact of litter and highlight what can be done to stop it. bit.lylitterassembly
It all adds up Explore how different cultures have contributed to the history of numbers, then show your students the importance of mathematics in everyday life. bit.lynumeracyassembly
Mind your manners Engage your students with a dingbats guessing game on good manners. bit.lymannersassembly.
