10 LESSON PLANS
World Population Day, 11 July
1. Population dominoes
How do we measure quality of life? What do we mean by population density? Get students thinking about global communities with a game of population dominoes.
2. Population control
Divide students into two teams and encourage them to argue for and against population control, using China’s one-child policy as a case study.
3. Human impact
What is the effect of a rising human population on other species? What impact does it have on the land and on natural resources?
4. Family demography
How much does it cost to bring up children and how do populations change over time? Find out with this selection of resources that investigate birth and death rates and ageing populations.
5. Limiting factors
Help your students to analyse graphs with this PowerPoint, which considers factors that limit populations and includes information about plant and animal species.
6. Rising population
Explore population growth in the UK since the Second World War, focusing on the impact of immigration and improved health services. Get students to discuss the birth of the National Health Service.
7. It’s a small world
If the Earth’s population was represented in a community of 100 people, what would it look like? Find out in a lesson on population and compound growth.
8. Population explosion
Roll the dice to increase the population of a country. The higher the number, the fuller the country becomes until the population begins to encroach on unused land. Ask students to write about the impact this would have.
9. India and the UK
How much bigger is India’s population than that of the UK? What are the differences and similarities between the two countries? Students find out in this selection of activities.
10. Circles of life
Turn students into analysts in a lesson on Venn diagrams and ask them to weigh up the social, economic and environmental impact of population growth. Which is the most significant?
Find these lesson plans at bit.lyWorldPopulationDay2013
10 LESSON PLANS
Bastille Day, 14 July
1. Bastille Day for children
What is Bastille Day? Why is it celebrated? Find out about one of the most important events in French history with a selection of worksheets and activities.
2. La Fete Nationale
Introduce students to Bastille Day, and to key words such as liberty, brotherhood and equality, with a wordsearch starter activity.
3. Le quatorze juillet
Use this PowerPoint to start a class discussion on why people celebrate Bastille Day and what a revolt would look like today.
4. Bastille crossword
What is the definition of a republic? Which part of the French national motto means equality? Students find out - and practise their French - with this crossword.
5. La Revolution francaise
Test your students’ French vocabulary and inference skills in a lesson that compares and contrasts the Fete de la Bastille with Bonfire Night in the UK. Why are they still celebrated?
6. Musical history
Take your students back in time to the French Revolution and the Norman conquest of England - and show them teachers at their best - in these musical history lessons performed by teachers.
7. Non-French speakers
Do you confuse bonjour with au revoir? Fear not. Celebrate Bastille Day - and brush up on your French - with PowerPoint lessons for teachers who last spoke the language at school.
8. Famous French melody
Try a spot of classroom karaoke with different versions of the famous French melody Au Clair de la Lune. Ideal for introducing French culture and traditions.
9. Bastille Day quiz
What was the Bastille and when and why was it captured? How did King Louis XVI respond? Test your students’ knowledge with this quiz from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
10. Symbolic day
Tell the story of the national holiday - and show how its cultural impact continues today - in a lesson that uses Widgit Symbols.
Find these lesson plans at bit.lyBastilleDay2013
5 assemblies
Longing for a lie-in With the summer holidays and the chance of a lie-in nearly upon us, this assembly takes a light-hearted look at the importance of sleep.
bit.lyWhySleep
Nutrition What is healthy eating? Get students thinking about health and diet in this image-based PowerPoint assembly.
bit.lyDietAssembly
You’ve got a friend Ask students what they value most in a friend and introduce them to some inspiring quotes about friendship. bit.lyFriendshipAssembly
Would you intervene? Put the story of the Good Samaritan into a modern context and pose a series of moral questions.
bit.lyDoYouIntervene
Time for peace Perfect for the end of term, this assembly is a multi-faith and multicultural reflection on peace with calming visuals. bit.lyTime4Peace
3 SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES
1. Make counting count
Take a look at gepocock’s range of counting activities for children working at a low mathematics age, including recognising numbers, multi-sensory counting and games. bit.lyEarlyCounting
2. Super support
What is the best way to support special needs students in mathematics and English? Check out Matt Grant’s guide to intervention strategies. bit.lyLitNumIntervention
3. Multi-sensory magic
Five fun-filled ideas from TES Autism in Schools that use texture and sensory aids to help children develop their fine motor and manipulation skills. Links to recipes are included.
bit.lySensoryFun.
