Monday with Year 1
Maths
9:30am
Activity Type:
Flashcard
Curriculum coverage
Mathematics > Geometry - Position and direction
We’re starting off the day with my Year 1s looking at 3D shapes. It’s been a while since we covered the subject last, so I’m just testing their recall using the 3D Shapes – recall flashcards. They’re great on the whiteboard, allowing us to go at the pace of the slowest.
Knowledge refreshed, the children test themselves individually, using the interactive worksheet activity, How many faces?
English
11:00am
Activity Type:
Quiz
Curriculum coverage
English > Reading - comprehension
It’s English time, and Busy Things has created a Lesson library, that is so easy to tap into!
Today, I’ve chosen to look at the delightful story, The New Neighbours, by Sarah McIntyre. For this, Busy Things provides an outline lesson plan, an extract from the book, book review and book jacket activities, and a comprehension quiz.
Once the children had completed the Comprehension quiz, we discussed the answers together, but I could have set it to automatically mark.
Topic
1:30pm
Activity Type:
Jigsaw
Curriculum coverage
Geography
Science
When it comes to topic work, Busy Things really comes into its own. Whether you’re looking at climate change, Ancient Egypt or the Tudors, there are just so many well-researched, information-rich activities.
Today, we started to look at climate change and the impact it’s having, using the Climate change around the world activity. The children loved seeing real-world examples and found the jigsaw format really inclusive.
Computing
2:30pm
Activity Type:
Game with printable
Curriculum coverage
Mathematics > Geometry - position and direction
Computing
Computing is an area, that some of my pupils are really strong at, and others less so, so I find it really helps to pair up a stronger and weaker pupil.
Today, the children worked together on Path Peril, logically and systematically calculating the best route. The children think it’s hilarious when the bird sees stars, having bumped into the wall!
To reinforce the learning individually, I sent the children home with the accompanying printable.
Marking
3:30pm
It's the end of a long day but having looked at the results of the activities we’ve clocked up today, I can see we’re making good progress. I understand who has and hasn’t understood what we’ve been doing and make a note to catch up with some of my pupils tomorrow. Still a few books to mark but Busy Things certainly helps keep the workload manageable!
Lesson preparation
6:00pm
All that leaves me to do is to choose the activities I want to use tomorrow. It only takes a few minutes to locate what I need using the Curriculum browser (right) and pinning functionality, and once done, I’m confident I’ve got robust, differentiated activities that the children will enjoy!
This is great day-to-day but invaluable if a colleague or supply teacher needs to stand in.
What our teachers say...
“The difference that Busy Things has made to our provision and children’s learning is phenomenal. Its adaptability and ease of use for both teachers and children make it a highly accessible and valuable resource.”
Sam O’Regan, Wheatfield Primary School
What our teachers say..
Try some of our other activities for yourself!
Phonics screener
KS1 English
Create your own practice worksheets for the Year 1 phonics screening check.
Curriculum coverage: English > Word reading
Download an example here:
Miner birds
KS1 Maths
Be the first to collect 20 worms by answering addition and subtraction questions.
Curriculum coverage: Mathematics > Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Eco worm world
KS1 Science
Keep your worms happy and healthy by looking after them and their environment.
Curriculum coverage:
Science > Environment and climate change
Geography > Human and physical geography
Citizenship > Environment and climate change
