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What’s hot?

Aliens, Jack the Ripper, Keanu Reeves.This week’s pick of the resources available on TES Connect is one of the most eclectic yet and covers two eternal mysteries – whether we can be sure that anything is real and how to make decent toast

20th June 2014, 1:00am

Tes Editorial

1. Cress to impress

What is it? A sheet to record the results of a science investigation into growing cress

Who is it for? 5-7s

Why is it hot? Pupils make predictions, ensuring their continued engagement as they wait to find out if they are right.

2. Propose a toast

What is it? Writing instructions for an alien on how to make toast

Who is it for? 5-7s

Why is it hot? It provides a fun way to introduce what might otherwise be a dry topic.

3. Farm and function

What is it? A farm-themed activity for children whose first language is not English

Who is it for? 5-11s

Why is it hot? A variety of skills are tested at different levels.

4. The tooth hurts

What is it? A lesson investigating tooth decay

Who is it for? 7-11s

Why is it hot? It uses Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach to create cross-curricular links.

5. Explore Afghanistan

What is it? A short scheme of work on Afghanistan

Who is it for? 11-13s

Why is it hot? It encourages students to use the school library, and leads on to a project explaining why the country can be described as being in turmoil.

6. Seven stories

What is it? A PowerPoint introducing the idea that there are only seven stories in the world

Who is it for? 11-13s

Why is it hot? Help students to understand how the plots of well-known books and films, including Alice in Wonderland and The Lord of the Rings, can be grouped into categories.

7. Jack pack

What is it? A presentation and resources about Jack the Ripper

Who is it for? 11-13s

Why is it hot? Students explore the mystery of Jack the Ripper and discuss misconceptions stemming from letters purporting to have been written by the killer.

8. Tightening bolt

What is it? A lesson on accuracy in maths

Who is it for? 14-16s

Why is it hot? Use the example of Usain Bolt breaking the 100m world record to illustrate that maths isn’t always exact and provide context for questions about upper and lower bounds.

9. Top drawers

What is it? A design and technology presentation on orthographic projection

Who is it for? 14-16s

Why is it hot? A clear introduction to a tricky concept.

10. Keanu as mustard

What is it? A stand-alone philosophy lesson using the Keanu Reeves film The Matrix

Who is it for? 16-18s

Why is it hot? It enthuses students by finding parallels in the sci-fi film to ideas in Plato’s cave analogy and Descartes’ Meditations on First Philosophy, all of which call the reality of the world into question.

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