Science
Sugar dissolving investigation report
Complete a short investigation report with a question, prediction, variables, teacher-approved method, repeated results, graph, conclusion and evaluation.
England
Get pupils thinking before you reveal the answer.
Teaching the National Curriculum in England? Explore ideas for your key stage and subject. Prepare a discussion, model a method or build practice that helps you see what pupils understand.
Choose for your class
Start with an idea, then check the age range, learning goal and subject content against the curriculum or programme your class follows.
Start with the thinking you need.
Choose a task, inspect the source and decide what pupils should explain for themselves.
Compare fractions.
Keep the whole equal. Connect a bar, a circle and a number line before comparing fractions and explaining a claim.
RepresentCompareExplain
Leave something for pupils to explain.
Explain why two representations show the same amount, then justify a new comparison.
Try the teaching idea, then explore the full activity.
Resources for this teaching context
Explore tasks relevant to this teaching context. Check the learning goal and the programme version your class follows.
History and social studies
The Space Race: timeline and significance
Sequence selected events from 1957 to 1969, calculate intervals and use stated criteria to support a judgement about historical significance.
Computing
Algorithm flowchart and pseudocode canvas
Represent a problem-solving algorithm using suitable flowchart symbols and pseudocode notes, then check its branches against normal, boundary and error cases.
Languages and literacy
Analytical essay planner: how reports frame a school travel trial
Plan a multi-paragraph essay that compares how two fictional reports frame the same school travel proposal for different readers.
History and social studies
Analytical essay planner: causes of the First World War
Develop a historical argument that answers the question, supports claims with identifiable evidence and weighs an alternative cause before reaching a judgement.
Art and design
Art and portfolio reflection
Evaluate how an artwork developed, identify a technique or decision that worked, and plan a specific next step.
Art and design
Art critique and gallery feedback
Give feedback on artwork that names a visible strength, asks about an artistic choice and suggests one kind, actionable next step.
Art and design
Art technique experimentation
Test watercolour and pencil techniques, describe the effects observed and choose techniques for particular visual purposes.
Art and design
Artist study: The Great Wave
Describe visual features, explain selected artistic and printmaking choices, and use one compositional idea in an original response.
Languages and literacy
Assignment revision prompt cards
Review a draft in order by checking its purpose and ideas, its format and then its spelling and punctuation.
Maths
Bar models: books for the class library
Compare book quantities with a bar model, calculate the total and remaining books, and explain how each step changes the library count.
Maths
Bar-model problem solver
Represent relationships in word problems with bar models, write linked number sentences and check a solution with units.
Languages and literacy
Book recommendation poster
Create a book recommendation that gives identifying details, a personal response and a reason a friend might enjoy the book.
Languages and literacy
Book review and reading log
Record reading, support an opinion with a reason and recommend books to an audience.
Geography
Coastal town case study: choose a response
Sort case facts from unanswered questions, compare two coastal responses and justify a choice using evidence.
History and social studies
Why war came in 1914: cause and consequence organiser
Sort historical causes and events, explain causal links and support a judgement about the relative importance of causes.
Languages and literacy
Lady Macbeth: character and theme analysis
Explain how Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth and how evidence from different parts of the play shows her changing relationship with ambition, power and guilt.
Languages and literacy
Compare Scrooge and Fezziwig
Compare Scrooge and Fezziwig as employers using textual evidence, then explain how Scrooge changes across the five staves.
Computing
Debug a coordinate programme
Trace a short coordinate programme, compare its actual and expected output, diagnose a logic error and write a corrected programme.
Computing
Bug hunt: fix Python errors
Predict program behaviour, identify and explain one bug per snippet, and use a trace table to follow changing values.
Art and design
The colour wheel: mixing and relationships
Classify colours on a wheel, explore mixing and compare tints, shades and tones through written or visual experiments.
Languages and literacy
Two Londons: comparative essay planner
Plan a comparative essay that answers the question and uses evidence and analysis from both poems in each body paragraph.
Languages and literacy
Power, paired: comparing two poems
Compare how two poems present power by analysing paired quotations, linking a shared idea to a difference and supporting a final judgement.
Languages and literacy
What happens next? eight still-frame prompt cards
Use one visual still prompt to infer setting and mood, then draft two possible continuations without treating the prompt as a finished story.
Maths
Birds at our bird feeder: collect and graph data
Pupils should convert all six tallies to frequencies, draw bars at two birds per square and answer comparison questions using the chart. They should also specify where, when and for how long a proposed survey would run.
Languages and literacy
Gail the Snail: ai and ee reading
Read words containing ai and ee, follow a short illustrated story and answer questions by referring back to the text.
Languages and literacy
Storm warning: sensory descriptive writing
Plan and write a descriptive paragraph that builds atmosphere using sensory details, figurative language and a wide-to-close structure.
Art and design
Design a science fair poster
Generate and evaluate layout thumbnails, select a focal point and plan a readable, balanced science-fair poster.
Computing · Wellbeing and personal development
Online choices: digital citizenship discussion
Discuss safer, kinder responses to online situations and identify who can help when a pupil is concerned.
Geography
Debate a school rain-garden location
Use fictional school site notes and stated constraints to compare two rain-garden locations and justify a group decision.
Languages and literacy
Talk it through: discussion and debate cards
Contribute to a discussion by giving reasons and examples, challenging ideas respectfully and explaining whether or why a view changed.
History and social studies
Evacuated, 1939: historical perspective writing frame
Write an imagined first-person diary using accurate historical context, sequence, senses and feelings.
Maths
Find the error: expand and solve
Find an incorrect expansion, correct the equation and verify the solution by substitution.
Geography
Outdoor fieldwork: what is on the ground?
Record ground-cover observations in four equal parts of a teacher-selected plot and compare two plots without disturbing wildlife.
Geography
River data: calculate a fictional discharge
Use a fictional river data set to find mean depth, cross-section area, mean velocity and discharge with units.
Maths
Money maths: interest, sale prices and budgets
Calculate simple interest, percentage reductions and additions, currency amounts and a basic budget, showing working and units.
Design and technology
Describe and compare food: sensory evaluation
Use sensory terms to describe and compare samples and explain a preference using recorded evidence.
Maths
House numeracy quiz: questions and scoreboard
Solve short number problems and follow a points system to record individual and house totals.
Maths
Fractions three ways: show, compare and share
Represent fractions visually, recognise equivalent fractions, compare values and find a fraction of an amount.
Languages and literacy
Francophone files: explore two French-speaking places
Research and compare two French-speaking places, recording sourced facts and writing a short postcard in French.
Languages and literacy
French sound chart: spelling and pronunciation
Recognise selected French spelling patterns, match them to example words and practise saying them.
Maths
Investigate a quadratic: graph and features
Calculate and graph a quadratic function and connect its algebraic forms to key graph features.
Languages and literacy
French listening: la journée de Camille
Identify the topic and retrieve key details, including a speaker’s likes and dislikes, from a short French account of a teenager’s weekday and weekend.
Languages and literacy
Four sentence types: recognise and punctuate
Identify four sentence types and use suitable end punctuation in a set of examples and original sentences.
Geography · Maths
Read the data: climate graph and population pyramid
Read values from climate and population graphs, calculate with units and support an interpretation with data.
History and social studies
Was it significant? Judge with the 5 Rs
Apply significance criteria, support ratings with evidence and compare the significance of two historical subjects.
Science
Plan a fair test: variables, method and results
Plan a fair test with a clear question, variables, repeatable method and appropriate safety steps.
Science
Floating and sinking: test shape as well as material
Record predictions and observations for eight familiar objects, compare plasticine in two shapes and use the results to write a conclusion.
Science
Bees and pollination: know, wonder and learn
Use an inquiry chart to connect prior ideas, questions and information learned from a short text.
Design and technology
Make it: plan an acrylic phone stand
Plan a logical manufacturing sequence with tools, protective equipment, checks and a response to likely problems.
Geography
Map reading: Kestrel Vale with teacher notes
Locate places with four- and six-figure references, describe direction and distance, and justify a site choice with evidence from a fictional map.
Design and technology
Compare materials: test, rank and choose
Compare material properties using consistent tests and justify a product choice with recorded evidence.
Maths
Proof organiser: angles and reasons
Build a geometric proof by recording statements, reasons and a conclusion in a logical order.
Maths
Do now fluency grid: practise across the week
Practise a range of number calculations accurately and notice which skill needs more practice.
Languages and literacy
Las asignaturas: vocabulario y opiniones
Recognise ten Spanish school-subject names and state a preference with a reason, using me gusta with a singular noun phrase and me gustan with a plural noun phrase.
Languages and literacy
French school subjects: vocabulary and sentences
Use French school-subject vocabulary, an opinion phrase and an adjective to form a short reasoned sentence.
Maths
Multi-step problem solver: revision-pack budget
Break a budget problem into unit costs, total cost, revenue and surplus, then check the result with a second method.
Maths
Multi-step problem solver: event budget
Calculate event income and costs from unit prices, then find the surplus and check it with an estimate.
Maths
Problem solver: understand, plan, solve, check
Solve a multi-step problem by identifying known information, ordering calculations and checking the result.
Maths
Multiplication and division practice
Recall selected 6, 7 and 8 multiplication facts, find a missing factor, and use a known multiplication fact to calculate a related division fact.
Music and performing arts
Music listening and appraisal
Describe and compare selected musical elements using appropriate vocabulary, and support an opinion with a specific observation from a piece.
Music and performing arts
Music notation and rhythm practice
Name selected note values, keep a steady beat while clapping, and compose bars that contain four beats in 4/4 time.
Languages and literacy
Narrative writing planner
Plan and write a short narrative with an ordered beginning, build-up, problem, resolution and ending, using sentence punctuation and selected descriptive vocabulary.
Languages and literacy
Non-fiction text features organiser
Identify common non-fiction text features, explain their purpose for a reader, and retrieve stated facts efficiently by skimming and scanning.
Maths
Number-line practice
Represent addition and subtraction within 20 using forward and backward number-line jumps, and use those jumps to find a difference.
Science · Maths
Nutritional analysis worksheet
Calculate the energy contributed by protein, carbohydrate and fat, compare a meal per 100 g, and state where the numerical inputs came from.
Languages and literacy
French talk cards: ask, answer and swap
Ask and answer familiar French questions in a full phrase, take turns and use a clarification request when needed.
Languages and literacy
Oral language and conversation cards
Ask and answer familiar questions in Spanish using a full sentence, then combine two answers into one longer spoken or written sentence.
Languages and literacy
Oral presentation planner
Plan and organise a short oral argument with a clear point, relevant evidence, an explanation, a counter-argument, a reply and a conclusion linked to the opening.
Languages and literacy
Paragraph planning frame
Plan and write a persuasive paragraph with a clear point, relevant evidence, an explanation of why it matters and a link back to the question.
PE and health
PE learning and sportsmanship reflection
Describe a PE skill practised, identify an example of fair play and set one specific target for a future lesson.
PE and health
PE performance rubric
Use shared PE descriptors to select a performance level, support it with observable evidence and choose a realistic next target.
PE and health
PE station and fitness circuit cards
Follow a station card to practise a movement, use its teaching points and select an appropriate variation while following the stated safety directions.
Languages and literacy
Phonics and language-pattern sorting
Hear and sort familiar words by their initial sound or rhyming ending, then give an example that fits a chosen sound pattern.
Languages and literacy
Phonics and spelling home practice
Read and spell the printed sh words by looking closely at the spelling, recalling it after covering, writing it and checking the result.
Languages and literacy
Phonics sound cards
Say the initial sound for each pictured item and connect that sound with the supplied example words, using clear oral practice with familiar names.
Languages and literacy
Read and build words with ai, ay and a-e
Read, sort and build words with the taught long-a spellings ai, ay and a-e, then use one in a sentence.
Languages and literacy
Build and read words with sh and ch
Read, sort and build words with the taught graphemes sh and ch, then write and read them in a sentence.
PE and health
Overarm throw: observe, practise, improve
Observe an overarm throw from an identified self, peer or teacher perspective, record visible evidence and set a measurable practice target.
PE and health
Physical-skill observation checklist
Identify five parts of an overarm throw, observe them across attempts and give a partner one safe, specific practice suggestion.
History and social studies
Picture dictionary and vocabulary reference
Explain selected medieval England vocabulary, match historical terms with their meanings and use at least three terms in a short evidence-focused paragraph.
Science
Picture sequencing sheet
Sequence the pictured stages from seed to new seeds and retell the sequence using clear ordering words and plant vocabulary.
Maths
Place value and column calculation
Represent three-digit numbers in hundreds, tens and ones, partition them and calculate addition or subtraction in columns, exchanging when required.
Science
Process flowchart organiser
Represent a process in order, explain each step in their own words and show where a cycle returns or repeats.
Computing
Test and improve a working school-garden quiz
Test a working quiz against agreed criteria, record observed results and justify one improvement with evidence.
Design and technology
Product testing and evaluation
Test a prototype against specified criteria, record results and use evidence from tests and user feedback to justify an evaluation.
Languages and literacy
Reading comprehension and translation
Find information in a short German text, connect key words with English meanings and translate simple sentences using the postcard as a model.
English reading
The Keeper’s Lantern
Find stated details, use context to consider word meaning, support an inference with a quotation and summarise the story briefly.
Languages and literacy
Reading discussion question cards
Take turns discussing a text, use evidence to support an idea and record one response from the group’s conversation with a quotation or passage detail.
Languages and literacy
Reading vocabulary and strategy bookmark
Choose a useful reading strategy, use a prompt to apply it and record vocabulary with a meaning or example for later reading.
Maths
Reasoning prompt cards
Explain a mathematical claim using an example, representation or calculation, then listen to a partner’s reasoning, compare approaches and explain why.
Music and performing arts
Music practice log: focus, evidence and next target
Record a focused practice goal, what improved, what remains difficult and a next target across individual or ensemble sessions.
Music and performing arts
Rehearsal and practice log
Record practice, choose a strategy for a musical challenge and set a specific target for the next lesson or rehearsal.
Science
Nature hunt
Find and record examples of natural features, say where they were noticed, compare rough and smooth textures and make a drawing or rubbing from a safe surface.
Science
Pondweed and light: CER writing frame
Use two or more values with units to support a claim, connect a pattern to a science idea and judge how strong the evidence is.
Languages and literacy · Science
Write a science explanation in English
Write a connected English paragraph that makes a claim, quotes a result and explains what the evidence does and does not show.
Languages and literacy
Write the moment: a scaffolded English scene
Describe a moment from a visual prompt in clear English, choose only the sentence frames that help and reread for sequence and detail.
Languages and literacy
Plan a classroom task in English
Write a short sequence of connected English sentences that describes how a group begins a classroom task and works together.
Languages and literacy
Écrire sur les matières scolaires
Write one short paragraph of five connected French sentences about school subjects, using a preference, a reason and suitable adjective agreement.
Languages and literacy
Build a clear evidence sentence from survey results
Build a sentence that reports two values accurately and a second sentence that states a limitation.
Languages and literacy
Tell the Moment: Year 4 EAL writing scaffold
Build five to seven clear sentences about who is present, where the scene happens, how a character feels and what happens next.
Languages and literacy
English talk cards for learning together
Use a clear English phrase to enter a conversation, ask for clarification and respond to a partner’s idea.
Languages and literacy
Sentence-starter speaking cards
Use a starter phrase to express an observation, preference, feeling, idea, question or request during a supported conversation and listen to a partner.
Music and performing arts
Row, row, row your boat
Follow a musical line, use dynamic and breathing cues, enter at the agreed point and maintain a part while other groups sing.
Science
Sorting and classification mat
Classify changes and types of substance using the definitions on the mats, then give a reason for each classification.
History and social studies
Great Fire sources: compare two viewpoints
Use source labels, dates and short classroom summaries to compare what a private diary and an official newspaper report can show, while identifying what remains unknown.
History and social studies
Two Great Fire accounts: origin, date and purpose
Use source labels, dates and short classroom summaries to compare what a private diary and an official newspaper report can show, while identifying what remains unknown.
Languages and literacy
Spelling the shun sound
Recognise the -tion ending, break a word into parts, spell target words from memory and use them in a sentence.
Languages and literacy
My story
Tell a short story in a familiar context and represent the child’s words through drawing, dictation, tracing, copying or writing.
Languages and literacy
Billy Goats Gruff: story mapping and retelling
Identify characters and setting, sequence key events and retell a story in your own words using time-joining words.
Languages and literacy
Goldilocks cards
Put six story pictures in order and retell the sequence using first, then and last.
PE and health
Tactics board
Interpret court markings, map player movement with the key and explain why a tactical choice may help the team.
Languages and literacy
Translation practice
Use grammar and vocabulary clues to translate sentences about school and free time accurately, connect ideas and check spelling and accents.
Maths
Rounding to 10 and 100
Round whole numbers to the nearest ten or hundred and explain which digit or position determines the result.
Design and technology
Technical drawing practice grid
Use vertical and 30-degree isometric directions to draw solid forms, organise orthographic views in third-angle layout and explain what the views show.
Art and design
Relief printing with lino
Plan and test a relief-print design using safe working practices, use mirror-image lettering, prepare an even ink layer and reflect on the result.
Languages and literacy
Mark it up: a classic extract
Use a glossary and purposeful annotation to explain how a writer conveys effort, then support comprehension answers with accurately copied evidence and line references.
Maths
Times-table progress record
Practise multiplication facts, use a known fact to derive another and reflect on personal practice using a score, time or strategy that feels useful.
Geography
Volcanoes and plate tectonics
Recall and explain vocabulary, Earth structure, plate-boundary processes and differences between composite and shield volcanoes using the organiser as a study aid.
Maths
Topic retrieval grid
Recall and show working for selected methods across four mathematics topics, then use errors and confidence ratings to choose a next revision step.
Maths
Sports day league: fixtures and table
Record each round-robin result consistently, calculate a league table and explain why its totals must agree.
Maths
Round-robin tournament planner
Organise a six-team round robin, record match outcomes consistently and use the stated points system and goal difference to describe standings.
Languages and literacy
Verbos en -ar: estudiar y hablar
Conjugate estudiar and hablar in the present tense and use the matching ending in a short sentence.
Languages and literacy
French verbs in the present
Choose and write the correct present-tense form of a regular -er verb, avoir or être, then translate short sentences using the intended subject and meaning.
Languages and literacy
Classroom English: talk and learning cards
Recognise six classroom participation words and use one in a short spoken sentence.
Languages and literacy
Les matières scolaires: French vocabulary cards
Recognise eight French school-subject words with their articles and use one in a French opinion sentence.
Languages and literacy
English classroom instructions: match and explain
Match six English classroom action words to their meanings and use at least three in a complete sentence.
Languages and literacy
Les consignes de classe: match and act
Recognise six French classroom commands and respond with the matching action; learners ready for grammar can also connect each command to its infinitive.
Languages and literacy
French register: choisir entre tu et vous
Identify tu and vous verb forms and choose a taught request form for a fictional situation, distinguishing polite singular vous from plural vous where relevant.
Science
Cell words: match the part to its job
Connect each plant-cell term to its job and use accurate vocabulary in a short explanation.
Science
Vocabulary matching: cells and science words
Recall selected cell structures and scientific vocabulary by matching each term to a definition or diagram pointer, then applying terms in a sentence.
Maths
Equation moves: model, practise and check
Solve Year 6 one-step and two-step equations by applying inverse operations to both sides, then verify answers by substitution.
Maths
Solving equations: watch the move, then make your move
Solve one-step and multi-step linear equations, explain operations applied to both sides and check a solution by substitution with clear working.
Languages and literacy
Writing editing checklist
Use a staged checklist and agreed editing marks to identify possible changes in punctuation, grammar, cohesion and vocabulary, then give feedback about the writing rather than the writer.
Languages and literacy
Writing feedback rubric
Use criteria to describe strengths and a next step in a piece of writing, choose a level for each row and support the judgement with evidence from the text.
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6 templates shown
Prepare it for your class.
Add the context that matters, keep the learning goal clear and check the new draft before sharing it.
- Confirm the class and prior learning.
- Check the source content and programme version.
- Keep an independent response for pupils.
Fractions three ways: show, compare and share
Copy your brief into PLAI™, then review the draft for your class.
Questions about teaching in England
Does every school in England follow the national curriculum?
Local-authority-maintained schools must follow it. Academies and independent schools can use different curricula. Check your school's current curriculum and teaching sequence before using a resource.
Does this include early years and sixth form?
This page focuses on key stages 1 to 4. Early years uses the separate Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Post-16 study follows the requirements of the chosen qualification or programme.
Is the national curriculum the same as a GCSE specification?
No. For an exam-focused task, check the current specification for your subject, awarding organisation and examination year as well as the relevant curriculum requirements.
Should I specify a key stage?
Include the key stage and subject when they affect the activity. Add the particular learning objective for a more focused task.
Does England mean the whole UK?
No. This page focuses on England. Other UK nations have their own curriculum arrangements.
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