Australia and New Zealand will co-host the ninth FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. 32 teams will compete, up from 24 at France in 2019.

When is the Women’s World Cup 2023?

The Women’s World Cup 2023 takes place between 20th July and 20 August 2023.

Women’s World Cup 2023 reading challenge

Join the National Literacy Trust and Lioness Leah Williamson at a free online Great FIFA World Cup 2023 Reading Challenge event on Thursday 20th July 2023.

Pupils will engage in fun and interactive reading and writing activities and will have the chance to submit questions.

Make World Cup predictions using real-time stats

With major sporting events come great opportunities to bring the rich world of statistics into the primary classroom. Football provides vast amounts of data with which many children will already be familiar – top goal scorers, league tables, numbers of passes, red cards.

Maths lessons are the perfect opportunity to harness the enthusiasm for the game in order to challenge mathematical thinking. Download Aidan Severs’ KS2 football statistic maths lesson plan.

Disney Shooting Stars training

Help girls unlock their inner superheroes and get lost in the magic of Disney storytelling, all while getting physically active.

Designed to be delivered at breakfast club, lunchtime or after school, The Disney inspired Shooting Stars training course from the FA is free for primary school staff and comprises an online training course made of five separate modules:

• Introduction
• The fundamentals
• Put it into practice
• The Disney experience
• Bring it to the playground

Free KS1 football poetry resource pack

Harness pupils’ enthusiasm for football by reading the football poem included in this free Plazoom KS1 World Cup resource pack. They’ll look at how verbs are used, before writing their own poems.

The download contains teaching notes and slides, a poem, football images, a poetry planning sheet and themed writing paper.

KS2 World Cup oracy activities and worksheets

This Key Stage 2 World Cup resource pack from Plazoom asks pupils to create an oral commentary to accompany images from football matches, clips of football matches or school football activities.

They’ll explore the language commentators use and identify how they show enthusiasm when speaking, before writing a short sports article that takes into account different viewpoints.

Describe settings with Frank Lampard

Written by Frank Lampard, the Frankie’s Magic Football series is the perfect combination of magic and football to inspire creative writing. With each adventure taking place in a different location (from the prehistoric land of dinosaurs to the jungles of Brazil), the books prompt children to consider the idea of setting in story writing.

This KS1 football literacy lesson plan encourages children to think about the techniques involved in good descriptive writing and how powerful language, adjectives and sensory description can create different effects.

Motivate footy fanatics with pop art

It’s tempting to think that using the World Cup to engage children’s learning has to involve copious amounts of PE. However, making links between football and other subject areas can be a powerful motivator for children whose main interest is sports.

This KS2 football art lesson plan shows how the movements of favourite footballers, combined with pop art, can inspire an eye-catching art project.

KS2 book topic – Kick by Mitch Johnson

Kick by Mitch Johnson focuses on young boy Budi who lives in Jakarta, Indonesia. Instead of going to school he has to work at the local factory making football boots.

This special book covers poverty, child labour and crime, while maintaining an undertone of humour, hope and bravery.

Read the book in class and use these cross-curriculular UKS2 activity ideas to extend children’s understanding of the novel.

Develop decision-making in games

This KS3/4 PE lesson plan is based around improving students’ decision-making skills no matter how chaotic a game gets.

It helps boost skills, confidence and character, while thinking about game-winning tactics as well as technique.

The physics of football

In 1997, Brazilian football player Roberto Carlos’ free kick hooked dramatically to the left and landed in goal. How did he do it?

Watch the video then answer quiz questions and learn more at TEDEd.

Football School writing resources

These KS2 resources were created for the 2018 World Cup but can easily be adapted.

The authors of the Football School series have set pupils an exciting challenge to write a lesson for their favourite subject, but with a World Cup twist. 

Head to the National Literacy Trust website to get the resource, handouts, a poster and printable certificates.

You can also download a Football School activity kit so children can design their own team kit, mascot, crest, stadium and more.

KS3 maths worksheet – percentage changes

This KS3 maths football worksheet asks students to use calculate percentage changes in footballers’ salaries over time.

More ideas and resources

Football reading lists

Check out the National Literacy Trust’s list of recommended football reads for children aged 0-12. We’ve also got our own list of football book recommendations here.

Using football to improve behaviour

Read about how Chris Baylis used Premier League Primary Stars to improve the behaviour of KS1 boys, focusing on the values of respect, fair play and teamwork.

What England footballer Leah Williamson learnt at school

Arsenal and England defender Leah Williamson looks back on the efforts her school made to help her realise her footballing ambitions.

The post Women’s World Cup 2023 – Best football lesson plans, resources and ideas for KS1-KS4 appeared first on Teachwire.

Fashion truly is an artform; from practical items that launched decades-long trends like denim jeans, to the modern displays of architectural ensembles at the Met Gala.

The clothes we put on our bodies not only keep us warm and covered, but can also express elements of our identity to those that don’t even know us.

Encourage and excite the future designers in your class with this six-week series of art lessons focused on the colourful and unique world of clothing design.

In this learning sequence, pupils will develop an understanding of the thought processes and design thinking skills associated with this creative career.

Additionally, they will design a spectacular outfit for a chosen celebrity to wear to an event of their choice! 

KS2 art curriculum

The national curriculum for art and design aims to ensure that all pupils:

• Produce creative work, exploring their ideas and recording their experiences.
• Become proficient in drawing, painting, sculpture and other art, craft and design
  techniques.
• Evaluate and analyse creative works using the language of art, craft and design.
• Know about great artists, craft makers and designers, and understand the historical and
  cultural development of their art forms.

Learning objectives

Throughout this six-week plan, children will learn to:

• Know what fashion design is and what a fashion designer’s job entails. 
• Create an outfit mood board and exercise some principles of ‘design thinking.’ 
• Design a fabric swatch and create a colour palette.
• Create fashion illustration outfit designs including a front and back view. 
• Design complementary accessories for an outfit. 
• Create branding designs for their fashion house, including a name and logo. 

Adele Darlington is an EYFS teacher and art lead in Rutland. She is also the author of 100 ideas for primary teachers: art published by Bloomsbury. Follow Adele on Twitter @mrs_darl

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The production’s acclaimed cultural learning programme, Wicked Active Learning, promotes curriculum enrichment, personal development, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, self-confidence, career pathways, and the delivery of cultural capital.

The programme supports classroom-based learning through a range of free resources and lesson plans, and learning outside the classroom with ticket discounts, exclusive benefits, official workshops, Q&As, and free resources to assist in the organisation of school trips.

A venue preview video and school trip guide provide everything needed to complete a risk assessment and book an enriching school trip.

Tickets, workshops, and Q&As can be booked directly with the production’s in-house education team, who can be contacted via telephone, email, or live chat for expert advice and support.

Classroom-based learning

Free downloadable lesson plans, script extracts, production images, and theatre-maker career videos support the delivery of SMSC, PSHE and citizenship, literacy, and oracy teaching, as well as English, music, drama, and art and design programmes of study.

Lesson plans inspired by, and themed to, the production include:

• Anti-Bullying (KS2-4) lesson pack

• Diversity + Inclusion (LKS2, UKS2) lesson pack

• Fake News + Propaganda (Primary) lesson pack

• Self-Confidence (Primary) lesson plan

• English (KS2-4) lesson packs

• ESOL/EFL English (Intermediate) lesson pack

• Drama (KS3-4) lesson plans

In support of English and Art + Design teaching, there are also free written and visual resource packs for teachers, designed to inspire further lesson ideas.

The 26-page English Teacher resource pack looks at the literary inspirations behind the musical, other famous prequels and sequels, the witches and wizards of myth and legend, the magical worlds of fantasy fiction, the history of magic, and the enduring legacy of Baum’s ‘Oz’.

The Art + Design Teacher resource pack looks at the production’s acclaimed design elements, including set, costume and lighting. 

Music learners can watch a free video of composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz discussing the musical themes and inspirations of his score, including the song ‘Defying Gravity’, which is a set work for Pearson Edexcel GCSE music and included (together with ‘The Wizard & I’ and ‘No Good Deed’) in the repertoire of the ABRSM’s new ‘Singing for Musical Theatre ARSM’ diploma.

Learning outside the classroom

A class or year group trip to Wicked provides an enriching live London theatre experience, supporting cultural and social education, personal development, self–confidence, the capacity to think imaginatively and creatively, and the delivery of cultural capital.

Benefits provided to schools/colleges include:

• Book directly with the in-house education team

• Save over 60% on school class and year group tickets

• Free teacher ratios (10:1 secondary / 5:1 primary)

• Extra tickets purchasable at the applicable school group rate

• Official workshops (Wellbeing, Anti-Bullying, and Musical Theatre)

• Post-show Q&As

• Free venue preview video

• Free school trip guide including risk assessment supporting resources

• Coach/minibus set down/pick up directly outside the venue

• One minute from National Rail and London Underground stations

A school trip to Wicked also provides the opportunity to visit one of London’s most unique theatres and heritage buildings, originally built as a ‘Super-Cinema’ in 1930.

A detailed history of this 2,328-seat Art Deco venue is included in the free resources.

For more information, call 020 7183 5109, email Hello@WickedActiveLearning.co.uk or visit www.WickedActiveLearning.co.uk

Savings and Benefits featured may not apply when booking through third party agents, and only apply to the London production. See website for details and T&Cs. ©2023 WLPL. All rights reserved.

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For years Father’s Day cards came in only three varieties: classic cars, DIY/gardening and sports (think vintage-style illustrations of dartboards, golfers, footballers or fishing equipment).

The message was always pretty much the same too. Put your feet up, dad. Read the paper. Have a beer. Smoke a pipe. Briefly remember when you got to do things (before us kids ruined all that), then maybe have an afternoon nap.

Now that Millennials are parents, Father’s Day cards also often feature Spider-Man, Darth Vader, Superman and the Incredible Hulk (because what’s better than likening your father to an out-of-control raging monster?).

Rather than going down the generic route of indulging today’s dads in a store-bought card adorned with his favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, get your pupils crafting to create personalised Father’s Day gifts.

When is Father’s Day?

In the UK, Father’s Day 2023 takes place on Sunday 18th June.

JUMP TO A SECTION

• Craft activities
• Literacy activities

Craft activities

Creative cards

This colourful owl card is a cute little option.

Alternatively, this monster hug card will be great fun for kids to make.

And something that’s keeping up to date with the modern world is this cheeky little ‘World’s Best Dad’ Google search card…

This card puts a bit of a twist on the ol’ hand print gimmick.

So too does this Monsters Inc-inspired design.

This one might require a bit of sneaky help from someone other than dad at home, but it’s a lovely touch if you can pull it off. Just make sure you don’t ruin his favourite Italian brogues.

Here’s another unique alternative to standard Father’s Day activities, and it requires very little to make. Check out the brief instructions here.

Super Dad gift

Chocolate, and compliments? This one is a winner. Download the required templates and instructions here.

Father’s Day colouring

These simple and free Father’s Day colouring designs are a cheap and cheerful way to help kids create something to give to dads. Simply print out, cut round and colour in!

Father’s Day goodie bags

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a father in possession of a good neck, must be in want of a tie.

Either that, or it’s another one of those stereotype things.

But if you there are any tie-loving dads around then this fun little gimmick is a good way to wrap any Father’s Day gifts.

In the frame

For those dads who know their Gambits and Rogues from their Silver Surfers and Punishers (or have at the very least seen The Avengers and The Dark Knight), being compared to their favourite comic book heroes is about as safe a bet to please as you can get.

If the kids (or dads) can bear sealing away a few little plastic toys then this picture frame is a very cool idea.

If they can’t, then this alternative option just means printing out some pictures and adding the lettering.

The wordplay does rely on you only using Marvel superheroes, however, so if you’re not sure do check. You don’t want an angry dad insisting that Batman shouldn’t be here because he’s a DC character, while little Jimmy cries his eyes out.

By the book

These printable pages, when combined with a small, cheap photo album and a bit of crafting, can create dad’s very own book.

Photo cube

This photo cube idea is as simple as it is flexible. You can take and print photos off in your school/nursery, or children can just draw pictures of themselves, family members, pets, their house, or all sorts of things.

Or, if you have more time and resources, these ‘Dad’ letter blocks look absolutely great.

School of rock

Perhaps a more reasonable claim than ‘world’s best’, telling dad he rocks opens up many a stone-based piece of punny artwork. This DIY picture frame is a neat idea.

Or for a simpler version try this one. Even easier? Just try painting some rocks:

World’s best dad…certified

Ignoring the obvious absurdity of giving out multiple ‘World’s Best Dad’ certificates (did they all come in joint first place? Who even judged this competition?) this age-old sentiment always goes down well. These free printable certificates can be decorated however each child wishes.

Literacy activities

Father’s Day activities KS1 pack

This Father’s Day activity from Plazoom gives pupils the opportunity to write a newspaper report about the World’s Greatest Dad.

Children will explore why their dads are special, covering aspects of PSHE, and use the worksheet to create their very own newspaper report.

There is also a version of the newspaper which allows pupils to write about an alternative significant male (uncle, grandfather, step-dad) in their lives.

Father’s Day similes poem KS2 activity pack

These Father’s Day activity from Plazoom will give pupils the opportunity to write a poem about their dad (or another significant male in their life) using similes, with a model text if required.

They will discuss why their father is special, covering aspects of PSHE, gathering ideas as a class.

Father’s Day writing prompts

These Father’s Day-themed writing prompts will get children thinking and writing about the experiences and memories with their dads. The writing prompts are perfect for creative writing, gift giving, dictation or group work in school.

Printable worksheets

There’s a wealth of Father’s Day activities for you to use at enchantedlearning.com, including:

• A ‘My Father’ acrostic poem template
• A Father’s Day word hunt
• ‘The best advice your father gave you’ essay topic
• 8 adjectives to describe your father
• Father’s Day spelling word questions

Find them all here.

Father’s Day KS1 comprehension worksheet

This 10-question worksheet revolves around Father’s Day at an imaginary family’s house (called the Robertsons).

Each section gives a few sentences about what family members are planning for Father’s Day, then asks a range of comprehension questions to test children have fully understood.

The post Father’s Day activities – Cards, crafts and learning resources for EYFS, KS1 and KS2 appeared first on Teachwire.

Coronation of King Charles III – fun, free celebration-themed activities

The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) is bringing the Coronation celebrations to your classroom through the wonder and excitement of STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Our resources are packed full of free themed activities to keep children engaged in the run-up to the big day. Join in and find tea party ideas to inspire numeracy and design and technology skills with your 4–11 year olds.

The activities for both KS1 and KS2 are mapped to the curricula with lesson plans and presentations alongside the printables, so you’ll have everything you need to hand. Why not get your whole school and PTA involved?

Certificates to congratulate your students and posters to brighten up your classroom

Are you looking to reward your students for their hard work? Did you know that we have a range of freely downloadable certificates to award achievements in maths, science and technology, or left blank for you to fill in another subject?

Or if you’re interested in adding a bit of colour to your classroom, we have a number of posters available to print. Show children the amazing possibilities that a career in STEM has to offer with this free 100 jobs in STEM poster, or brighten up your room with this poster showcasing the real-world use of robotics.

Maths resources – the Pi’s the limit with these ideas for KS1 and KS2

Maths plays a key part in all of our lives so we have grouped some of our most popular maths resources here for you.

Don’t forget that our resources are free and easy to use and customise within your lesson plans. Many are cross-curricular too, so will include an element of maths within them to help your students understand how it underpins so many of our actions every day.

Why not grab a ‘pizza’ the action to understand fractions through a pizza-cutter approach or solve multiplication problems with a fun bingo activity? Explore the free maths resources now!

If your pupils try any of our activities, we’d love to see your final creations or ideas, so please share your pictures with our social media channels, tagging @IETeducation. We can’t wait to see them!

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Recent research by The British Science Association, however, shows that this isn’t what young people want, nor feel they need in order to prepare themselves for the future. In their view, they’re pigeonholed – forced to select between distinct scientific or creative pathways, and missing out on opportunities to develop multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving in process.

The shift of focus towards STEM and away from STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and maths) over the last decade plus has only exacerbated this trend, and seen creative subjects become increasingly relegated in importance.
It’s therefore no surprise that one of the key concerns raised by the BSA’s Future Forms research was a lack of access to practical teaching – something highlighted by students in science and art pathways alike.

Budgetary pressures

Tight budgets and increasing costs for schools have forced many to reduce their practical offering. Both science and art subject areas make regular use of perishable items – chemicals, paints and so forth – which can only be used once, which doesn’t help. Nor does the lack of teachers, particularly in science subjects.

Shockingly, one science teacher I spoke to informed me that he’d previously been forced to teach groups of 90 in a school hall when no teachers, not even a supply, could be found. When pressures like that take hold, practical offerings will often be the first to go.

However, budgetary pressures aren’t the only thing both subject areas share. There are some genuinely exciting ways of addressing these issues, while also giving students more of the connected approach between the two that they so desperately want. Let’s look at some examples of art history and science working in union, and see what we can take from them.

Art and biology

This is perhaps the most obvious place to start. We’ve all seen Da Vinci’s illustrations of human anatomy, and can instinctively recognise that visual understanding is a key skill for any student wanting to progress in medicine or veterinary science.

Combining observational drawing of animals with a science lesson in anatomy can open up two approaches to exploring the same artifact. This is great if you have a collection of beetles in the back office, or work at a school that still dissects mice – but if you don’t, then the work of Victorian botanist and artist Marianne North could provide you with a much easier route.

Her painting depicts exotic flowers from her wide travels, and was considered by Charles Darwin to be excellent documentary material for illustrating the theory of natural selection. Her rich, in situ compositions can be used in art as an artist starting point, and in science to illuminate the differences between the plants she captured and explore general plant anatomy. With over 800 paintings to choose from, her work provides both subject areas with a rich source to draw from.

Art and chemistry

Many of what are now our most commonly used colours were originally stumbled upon by scientists attempting to create something rather different than a novel shade to welcome in a new fashion season. My favourite account relates to William Perkin – a celebrated British scientist who sought to create a synthetic quinine which, during the mid 1800s, was the only known cure for malaria.

While experimenting with coal tar, he kept producing a light purple liquid. Alongside his passion for chemistry he had once also dreamed of being an artist, and with his curiosity piqued, he placed some fabric in the liquid. He soon realised he’d created a light- and wash-proof dye in a colour we now know as mauve, which went on to become one of the most sought-after dyes of the Victorian era and made Perkins a rich man.

His tale reminds me of the sessions I completed as part of my textiles degree, where we had to mix and dye a rainbow of colour swatches. These sessions bore all the hallmarks of science lessons, complete with the careful measurement and combining of different elements, experimentation and subsequent recording, annotation and storage.

Approaching colour theory and paint mixing from the perspectives of both disciplines can provide an interesting lesson in how to record observations, while improving students’ understanding of how colours, hues and shades can be created and altered – foundational skills for scientists and artists alike.

Art and physics

Some years ago, I was teaching a group of students who became interested in long exposure light photography. This resulted in them producing images of stars at night which shows some stars having light trails that were curved and others that were straight. Off to the physics department we went, knowing that what we saw in the photos had something to do with the rotatation of the Earth, but little more than that.

We soon learned that those differently shaped light trails were to do with a combination of both the Earth’s rotation and the direction the camera happened to be facing. When tracked north to south or vice-versa, the stars’ trails appeared straight; when tracked east to west, the trails would appear to ‘curve’ into circular lines.

We didn’t stop there. After we were kindly lent some lasers to photograph, we were able to give a follow-up lesson where students learnt all about light rays, diffraction, refraction, reflection and absorption. 

The images that came out of this were abstract and ethereal, captured as they were using a range of different camera settings, aperture sizings and ISO values. We used Photoshop in postproduction to further refine the images and produce striking contrasts between light and dark areas, and expanded our explorations to include light sources from torches, glowsticks and even sparklers.

These are just three examples of ways in which you can potentially draw on vast areas of research and practice – you’ll have your own particular interests and topics that you want to explore.

But whether you’re reading this as an art teacher or a science teacher (or indeed a specialist in any other subject), it’s well worth finding out what you and another department might have in common. You may be surprised where these connections might take you.

Take it further

Why stop there? Those ‘TEM’ subjects can make for similarly perfect art partners…

Technology

Classes can use an online tool called sketchpad.cc, which lets users ‘programme’ graphics using lines of varying thickness and colour. Once a set of instructions have been issued, sketchpad.cc will execute them in a continuous loop, resulting in continuously developing compositions. Similar alternatives can be found at randomart.com and scratch.mit.edu.

Engineering

The Angel of the North is as much an engineering triumph as it is an artistic one. Its foundations extend down 20 metres and are anchored to solid rock, while the work iteself employs 700 tonnes of concrete and 32 tonnes of reinforcing steel. Classes could explore the practicialities of top-heavy sculptures and how they can be secured, touching on the mechanics of weight distribution and properties of different materials.

Maths

Curves of pursuit were originally studied to devise more effective manuevouring strategies in naval battles. As one ship pursues another, the point the former is advancing to will move, creating spiralling lines and patterns. Exploring this in lessons will enable students to practice their skills at making precise measurements, and discover the work of artist Megan Geckler, who uses curves of pursuit and wool to create remarkable installations.

Hannah Day is head of art, media and film at Ludlow College

The post STEM – What students can learn at the point where science meets the arts appeared first on Teachwire.

Early Years colouring sheets for Easter

Get into the Easter spirit with these themed colouring sheets for children in the early years. There are five designs, featuring Easter bunnies and chocolate eggs.

Footprint bunny picture

Example from ssww.com

This one is a sentimental treasure for the family. Paint each child’s feet and have them do two sets of footprints on paper – these will form the ears and feet of the bunny.

Then take a photo of each child’s face. Give each child a card bunny shape which they can then coat with cotton wool balls, scraps of wool or faux fur fabric.

Once these are dry, stick the child’s photo on the face of the bunny shape, one set of footprints to the head for ears, and the other set at the bottom of the bunny to make its feet.

Free Easter Egg hunt resources

Celebrate Easter by using this free EYFS pack from Plazoom. Design your own Easter egg using the template and search for the eggs in the Find the Easter Egg worksheet.

Next you can hide the eggs children have created around your setting and let the chaos begin!

Easter-themed maths worksheet for KS1

This single-page illustrated activity sheet has an Easter theme. Pupils are tasked with entering the missing numbers below a series of egg baskets, so that the two numbers underneath each basket add up to 10.

Early Years Easter colour-by-number sheets

Invite your early years charges to practise their colouring skills and number recognition with these Easter-themed colouring sheets. There are four unique designs, featuring Easter Bunnies and chocolate eggs. Children can follow the colours suggested or express their creativity.

Carrot footprint Easter craft ideas

Example from brisbanekids.com.au

You won’t need many materials for these speedy Easter craft ideas. They are such sweet and easy things to make. Paint each child’s feet with orange paint and have them do a pair of footprints on a piece of card or paper.

Cut out once dry. Then have the children cut some strips or fringes of green paper, which they should then stick to the top of their orange footprints. Attach a loop of ribbon to make it a hanging decoration or write a nice Happy Easter message on the other side. There you have it!

Paper mache eggs

Example from handimania.com

These simple and fun treat eggs are great to be given as presents, or for children to enjoy themselves.

Start with some small individually wrapped chocolates and insert a small handful into a balloon (this can be a bit tricky, so do this part for them), then inflate and tie them.

Hand these out to your students and have them paper mache them, and then decorate them once they are dry, with paints, sequins, glitter and such.

Once the finished products are dry, pop the balloons with a pin and pull the scraps of rubber out.

Easter egg cookies

Another easy idea that is fun and very creative. If you have the facilities at school to allow children to bake as well as decorate their cookies then fantastic – if not, you could always pre-bake egg-shaped cookies and bring them in for your students to make pretty and later take home.

Provide plenty of nice vibrant ingredients for them to decorate with, like icing tubes, sprinkles, edible glitter and chocolate chips.

Once the cookies are finished and the decorations dried, put each one in a cellophane bag and tie with a curl of coloured ribbon, ready to take home.

Easter egg picture

Example from 2createincolor.com

Here children can have collage fun that will end up Easter-shaped.

Get lots of different coloured paper, with patterns if possible, and cut into strips. Then give each child a sheet of card and let them go wild with sticking, and invite them to make the brightest pattern they can think of with the variety of prints and colours.

Once the whole surface is covered and the glue has dried, take another sheet of card the same size with an egg-shaped hole cut into the middle. Use it as the frame and mount it on top of the collage, which will produce a vibrant collage Easter egg.

Salt dough decorations

Example from thedesperatecraftwives.blogspot.co.uk

Prepare a batch of salt dough and use cookie cutters to stamp out some egg shapes, and remember to pierce a hole near the top.

Once they have dried, hand them out to your students and provide them with a bunch of decorating materials, like paints and glitter.

Allow them to dry and thread a loop of coloured ribbon through the hole to complete your egg decorations.

This is just the start of Easter crafting. There are so many ways in which you can have fun with art and make some lovely keepsakes for children to share with their families and friend.

Look around at this time of year for other inspirations – shop windows and displays are great places to look for Easter craft ideas that children will enjoy making and enjoy taking home.

Easter-themed tuff tray

You’ve probably got a number of Easter items available, so why not use them to enjoy some sensory play and incorporate them in an Easter-themed Tuff Tray like this one from Learning and Exploring Through Play?

Easter craft ideas using carrots

What’s the perfect art material for some Easter art? Carrots, of course! Experiment with different ways to make your mark this Easter.

Craft idea for scrap paper

A useful Easter craft idea to use up patterned colouring pages or patterned paper suitable for any age group.

Sew a spring egg cosy craft project

A cute egg cosy sewing craft suitable for stitching or gluing, includes a printable to scale template. Children will love making these cosies and would make an excellent Easter or Spring craft project.

Spring chicken card and 3D paper crafts

A set of three chicken-inspired papercrafts suitable for younger children. The set includes two card ideas, one 3D cockerel craft and printable template design. It’s a perfect Easter, Spring or farmyard craft that children will love.

Thank you to Charlotte Baldwin from IQ Cards for some of these lovely Easter ideas.

The post Easter craft ideas – Best activities for Early Years and KS1 appeared first on Teachwire.

The book features a monstrous, scary dog prowling around the exterior of a house, and one potent illustration depicts a huge amber eye peering in through the bathroom window.

It was this scene that captured the imagination of my class and inspired us all to complete our own artistic studies of eyes.

What they’ll learn

• How to complete detailed, observational sketches of the intricate details within an eye
• How to create a 3D relief sculpture
• How to combine different materials to achieve a variety of colour and texture effects within a 3D sculpture

Marc Bowen is a deputy head and primary teacher in South Wales, and is always keen to engage in professional dialogue. Contact him at marc.bowen@raglan.schoolsedu.org.uk or follow him on Twitter @RaglanVC

The post KS2 art – create your own 3D relief sculpture appeared first on Teachwire.

Pupils will find out about a range of famous artists and will learn how to draw faces using correct proportions. Throughout the lesson series, children will create a number of artworks, including a ‘split face’ portrait, transient portraits from objects and a Picasso-style face focused on colour.

They’ll also get to grips with shading and the symbolism of portraiture. We’ve provided everything you need to get started straight away.

What they’ll learn

• Draw a portrait using the correct proportions
• Complete a ‘split face’ self-portrait using a photo
• Create a portrait from a range of unusual objects
• Use different pencils to create a range of tones
• Create a portrait inspired by Picasso
• Use colour to portray emotions
• Recognise symbolism in portraits

This download contains:

• Full PDF medium term plan
• Sentence starters
• Worksheets
• Templates
• Additional resources

Julianne Britton is a qualified teacher with eight years’ experience, author of educational resources and a private tutor. Follow her on Twitter at @juliannebritton. Visit her website here.

The post KS2 art ideas – 6-week self portraits medium-term lessons plan appeared first on Teachwire.

30 Second Briefing

1. A 10,000-acre outdoor classroom 

Lee Valley Regional Park is a 26-mile-long park running through Hertfordshire, Essex and London – and that means a 10,000-acre green-space classroom! We deliver sessions at different sites up and down the park so each group can choose the best location and activity for them. 

2. A huge range of diverse topics 

Choose from geography, history, design, mindfulness and more! Our team cover a range of topics that link to the National Curriculum for KS1–4 and SEN groups as well as community groups.

Our programmes range from forest schools to discovery days covering habitats, the Stone Age, mindfulness and natural art.

3. Working as a team 

Alongside our outdoor learning programmes, we have great team-building sessions using our permanent orienteering course in the park. These sessions are perfect for secondary school children and above.  

4. Quality, experience and peace of mind 

Our qualified, DBS-checked education team hold accreditations such as the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge and APIOL. We offer a safe environment for all, with a focus on high quality risk management, so you can book with peace of mind. 

Our staff are trained in Makaton and hold Level 3 Forest School Leader awards, so you know you’re getting the best outdoor education experience. We’ll take care of everything, from managing your booking and checking what you need the session to deliver and adapting it where necessary, to supplying any kit needed.  

“Our staff are trained in Makaton and hold Level 3 Forest School Leader awards, so you know you’re getting the best outdoor education experience.”

5. Nurture their curiosity with nature 

Bring learning to life for your students! Our sessions empower children to develop their own learning and understanding of the natural world and mindfulness.

They’ll be in the moment and see nature, habitats and history up close, from meanders to minibeasts, orienteering to London 2012 legacy venues, and seeds to Stone Age tools. 

Discover how Lee Valley’s unique 10,000-acre classroom can engage your students! Visit www.visitleevalley.org.uk/outdoor-learning for more information and to book.

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