Awarded an OBE for Services to Education, Clive Davies has designed and built these schemes around progression and enquiry. Focus Education resources are of the highest educational quality.

Focus Education

Pzaz is a specialist, primary science provider, with schemes written for the non-specialist primary teacher. Created by a science education expert, Pzaz covers every statement of the National Curriculum for Reception to Year 6.

Reception - Year 6, Science

Pzaz

VotesforSchools provides award-winning PSHE resources to prompt discussion on challenging issues. Young people learn about everything from politics to climate change to ensure they have an informed opinion of the world, and are equipped with all they need to know when they leave school.

Years 1-6, PSHE

Votes For Schools

Created by primary specialists, Teacher of Primary offers a bank of in-depth, highly specialised lessons so that schools and teachers can focus on the particular learning goals of their setting.

EYFS-Year 6, Maths, English & Science

Teacher of Primary

PE Resources Bank firmly believes in the power of Physical Education and transforming young people’s lives. PE Resources Bank aims to provide high quality teaching materials for staff to use and promote a genuine love for learning. 

PE Resources Bank

Master The Curriculum

Striver

KS2 Gems

Guinea Pig Education

Livello is a specialist literary provider, they offer half-termly units built around highly engaging and exciting books that will inspire a love of reading while teaching comprehension, grammar and composition. Start from the books they love, succeed with strategies from Livello.

Years 1-6, English

Livello

Learning Mole uses fun and engaging animations to capture childrenâ€™s imagination and inspire curiosity. Use Learning Moleâ€™s videos as a perfect jumping off point to start great discussions and stimulate learning.

EYFS-Year 6, Maths, English, Topic & PSHE

Learning Mole

Music Playtime has been created by a Key Stage 1 and Early Years Music education specialist. The schemes are built in recognition of the fact that most primary teachers are not music specialists. Access the knowledge and the ideas you need to feel confident teaching music.

Music Playtime

1Decision

Active Music Digital

All Aboard Learning

Flashcards to add to your GCSE and A-Level revision lessons.

Years 10-13, Various

Quizlet

Sir Linkalot is the award-winning future of spelling. Students learn to spell any word they want from 'was' to 'onomatopoeia' by watching short, funny animations. Never fail a spelling test again!

Sir Linkalot

Get The Buzz! is a specialist in Maths Games for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. Engaging maths games can help to build an enjoyment for maths and can consolidate learning so that all students are benefitting.

Years 1-6, Maths

Get The Buzz

All students can enjoy and improve their achievement in mathematics. It is no longer acceptable to say that only certain types of people can learn mathematics. Can Do Maths provides resources to support teachers and parents to help children and students believe they 'Can Do Maths'.

CanDo Maths

PlanBee is the hive of ready-to-use primary resources for KS1 and KS2, with time-saving resources for busy teachers!

KS1 & KS2

PlanBee

Max Maths is a specialist primary school maths provider that uses the Singapore Mastery Approach to follow the Cambridge Primary maths curriculum framework.

Max Maths

Everyone can do maths: Everyone can! White Rose is used in most UK Primary schools and is the most trusted primary maths provider in the UK. Everything White Rose offers is created by maths experts and directed at teachers using a mastery approach to teaching maths.

White Rose

<h3>Row Row Row Your Boat</h3><p>The children love doing rowing actions in time with this song, sitting one behind the other with legs out to the sides. I like to do the original verse first, with the ending Life is but a dream - this way, the children enjoy the 'naughty' version about the crocodile even more! The song is so well known that I have not written out the words.</p>                                                                                                                                                    

Seaside

Row, row, row your boat - Song

<h3>Baby Shark!</h3><p>I had to include this one, and it's with the kind permission of the owners, Pink Fong. After watching the video, the children could learn the song, if they don't already know it, by singing along with the video and doing the actions. Then sing it unaccompanied with the actions. You could add some rhythmic percussion eg shakers to help keep everyone in time.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                

Baby shark - Video

<h3>A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea</h3><p>This is an ideal song for doing actions that go with the words. In subsequent verses, it's fun to substitute the silly words: <em>chop, chop, chop</em>, <em>knee, knee, knee</em> and <em>Chestnut tree</em>, as demonstrated in the recording. In case you are wondering, I don't know why we sing <em>chop, chop, chop</em> since it doesn't rhyme - but perhaps it's better than using the only other rhyming possibility <em>wee, wee, wee</em> (just don't go there!)</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                    <ul class="simple lyrics">            <li>A sailor went to sea, sea, sea</li>            <li>To see what he could see, see, see</li>            <li>And all that he could see, see, see</li>            <li>Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea</li>    </ul>

A sailor went to sea, sea, sea - Song

<h3>In the Sea Ã¢â‚¬Â¦ On the Boat! (developing listening skills)</h3><p>This is a version of a listening skills game that I learned from my good friend, Stephanie, with whom I worked for several years. The children loved it! Put two, long rows of joined-together skipping ropes on the ground, about a metre apart, and curve the ends round to meet, making a boat shape. Inside the lines of rope, the children are on the boat; outside the lines they are in the sea. Alternate between calling out, 'On the boat!' - the children jump into the 'boat' - and, 'In the sea' - the children jump into the sea. </p>                                                                                                                                                                                <h4>Extension Activity (timbre)</h4><p>The game is great fun just as it stands but you could extend it by playing, for instance, a drum for <em>In the sea</em> and a tambourine for <em>On the Boat</em>. The children have to listen very carefully to just the instrument without the words.</p>                                                                                                                                                

In the sea â€¦ on the boat! (developing listening skills) - Video

<h3>At the Bottom of the Sea </h3><p>You'll need to teach the song first before playing this game. The children take turns to be a fish, swimming in and out of the other children who are sitting in their own space on the floor, singing the song. When the song stops, the 'fish' taps the shoulder of the nearest child who then becomes the fish. The game ends when each child has been a fish so the swimming fish must only tap a child on the shoulder who has not yet had their turn. </p>                                                                <ul class="simple lyrics">            <li>At the bottom of the sea</li>            <li>All the fish are swimming</li>            <li>Here and there and everywhere</li>            <li>They&#039;re swimming in the ocean</li>    </ul>                                                                                                                                                    

At the bottom of the sea - Song

<h3>A Sea Sound Picture</h3><p>Collect together lots of seaside items that can make a sound eg a spade against a bucket, pebbles in a bag, a bouncy beach ball. Ask the children to choose a seaside sound that they can make as part of a seaside sound picture in which they take turns to make sounds and also make sounds at the same time, just like it would be on the beach. Encourage creativity with vocal sounds, found sounds (eg pouring water into a bucket) and body sounds too. Make a recording of the sound picture for the children to listen to. </p><p>Here is one we made earlier! We used: walking on gravel, bouncing a ball, pouring water, shaking shells in a bag, picking up and putting down large pebbles, vocal sshhh sounds and blowing sounds for the breeze. Shall I tell you or not? ... We cheated a bit by using a rainstick and the passing car is there because we recorded it outside.</p>                                                                                                                                                    

A sea sound picture - Song

<h3>Stepping Over the Waves Game (a performance piece)</h3><p>You'll need plenty of space needed Ã¢â‚¬â€œ it could be outdoors in summer, or in the hall. I saw it done by a dance company and it's actually really easy!</p><p>Half the class lies end to end in 4 rows of around 4 children. They roll slowly towards the other children who walk, in 4 rows of 4 children, towards them and step over them as if stepping over waves. This looks very effective from the front and can be used in an assembly or school performance Ã¢â‚¬â€œ but not recommended on a raised stage in case someone rolls off!</p><p>You could use any suitable music, but this sea sound-effect works particularly well:</p>                                                                                                                                                    

Stepping over the waves game - Song

<h3>Seaside story sound picture (texture, structure)</h3><p>Before you begin, download and print out Seaside Story. First, the children listen to the recording below, then ask them where they think it is and what is happening. Notice and draw attention to the fact that the sounds are happening at the same time (<em>thick texture</em>), not on their own, one after the other (<em>thin texture</em>).</p>                                                                                                                                    <p>Next, ask the children think of all the sounds they might hear on holiday near the sea. Then the children go in groups, with a classroom assistant, to the music corner to experiment with using body sounds, found sounds and instruments to create seaside sounds. Some of the sounds might be made on their own (<em>thin texture</em>) and some at the same time as others, creating a <em>thicker texture</em>.</p><p>When each group has had their turn at the music table, explain that you are going to make a <em>sound picture</em> in which each group makes the sound they are responsible for at the right time in the story. Then read the story and ask for suggestions of who should make which sounds, and where. The story starts and ends with silence. When everyone is ready, read the story accompanied by the sounds, and make a recording of it. </p><h4>Extension</h4><p>A really effective thing to do next is to show the children, by indicating silently, when to make the sounds without the story being read, creating a purely musical performance. Record this too and, after the children have listened to both, ask them which version they prefer, and why. Finally, the children could make a big timeline graphic score, showing what happens where.</p>                                                                                

Seaside story sound picture (texture, structure) - Song

<h3>Fishy Moves</h3><p>First, the children listen in a still, quiet way to Aquarium from Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals. One way to achieve 'still and quiet' is to ask the children to find a big space on the floor and lie down pretending to be a starfish, with eyes closed. Make sure they are far enough apart not to nudge each other!</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Fishy moves - Video

<h4>Moving to the music</h4><p>Next, ask the children to move to the music, keeping feet very quiet. If you have floaty dance scarves, this is an ideal time for the children to use them to express the graceful musical phrases. </p><p>I'll share a secret with you now. When I was a child of this age, we had a radio programme in which we had to pretend to be swaying trees and suchlike. I thought it was daft and didn't realise until later in life that moving to music and doing silly things was FUN. That's why I nearly always join in with the children!</p>                                                                                                                                                                                <h4>Discussion</h4><p>After listening and moving to the music, show the video so that the children see the instruments being played - notice that there are two pianos as well as orchestral instruments.</p><p>After watching, you might like to respond to the children's own comments and then you could ask, 'What makes this music sound like fish gliding through water?' (Logically, it doesn't - but imagination is a wonderful thing!) Ask for lots of describing words for the music and help the children with including using Elements of Music Words such as tinkly <em>timbre</em> for the high notes on the pianos, and the swishy, gliding sound of the glass harmonica near the end. You can't see it in this video but I suspect that the part is played on a glockenspiel, which will be a bigger version of the tuned percussion instruments with shiny, metal bars that children have in school.</p>                                                                                                                                                <p>Floaty scarves are lovely to use and you can buy a pack cheaply online. </p>                                

Moving to the music - Video

<h3>Ship's Statues</h3><p>The children dance around the room to the music. Stop the music every so often and, each time the music stops, call out which position the children must freeze in:</p><ul><li>Pirate Ã¢â‚¬â€œ stand on one leg</li><li>Sea snail Ã¢â‚¬â€œ curl up</li><li>Ship's Captain Ã¢â‚¬â€œ salute</li><li>Starfish Ã¢â‚¬â€œ spread out on floor</li></ul>                                                                                                                                    <h4>Listening extension</h4><p>After the game, take the opportunity to ask the children about the music, for example:</p><ul><li>What did you like best about the music?</li><li>Was the tempo of the music fast or slow?</li></ul>                                                                                

Ship's statues - Song

<h3>A Seaside Holiday Game</h3>                                                                <p>I remember the excitement of having a new beach ball when we went on holiday as children! Here's a game that could also be played by a family on the beach. </p>                                                                                                                                                                                

A seaside holiday game - Video

<h3>Seaside Holidays Stories</h3>                                                                                                                                                <p>First talk with the children about school holidays and outings they have been on. Has anyone been to the seaside? </p><p>Then play a song or a piece of music that reminds you personally of holiday time (children love knowing more about you!) and tell a story about a seaside holiday, maybe your own holiday when you were a child, or Maisie Goes on Holiday. I'm a closet Peppa Pig fan and the Peppa Pig Goes on Holiday video is great fun! </p>                                                                                                                                                                    

Peppa goes on holiday - Video

<h3>Down There Under the Sea</h3><p>You'll probably need to listen to this song and sing along several times to learn it really well before teaching it, as it's easy to muddle up the words, <em>big blue ocean</em> and <em>deep blue sea</em>! You could teach it using the First Me, Then You method and then use the sound track to sing along to. The verses go in this order:</p><ul><li>Lots to see</li><li>Lots of fish</li><li>Whales and sharks</li><li>Crabs and shells</li></ul><p>For each verse, choose different instruments for children to represent the different things in each verse eg shell shakers for their verse about crabs and shells Ã¢â‚¬â€œ shake only on the words <em>crabs and shells</em>, and so on.</p>                                                                                                                                    

Down there under the sea - Song

<h3>Seaside Graphic Scores (downloadable)</h3><p>The children need to work in small groups and ideally they be able to choose from a range of untuned and tuned instruments. They could go to the music corner group by group, then come together at the end of the day for performance time. </p><h4>1/ Structured Seaside Score - Voices (structure, pulse, rhythm)</h4><p>The children understood the score quickly and we performed it first using just voices. There are three lines to this graphic score and it's read from left to right like text in a book, and like conventional notation. In line 2, the shark and the seagull sound at the same time, like in a musical score where more than one note is played at the same time.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Structured seaside score - Voices (structure, pulse, rhythm) - Video

<h4>Using Instruments (timbre, structure, texture)</h4><p>When instruments are used instead of voices, using two instruments played together in line 2 creates a thicker musical <em>texture</em>. I added a steady pulse on the xylophone, to keep everyone in time, which added another layer of complexity. </p>                                                                                                                                                                                <h4>2/ Unstructured Seaside Score (texture, timbre, pitch)</h4><p>This score is more of a suggestion and is less formally structured than the previous one so it may focus more on the elements of texture, timbre and pitch. The children have the same choice of instruments but the structure is less formal so each group of children can make their own interpretation.</p>                                                            

Using instruments (timbre, structure, texture) - Video

<h3>The Fishes in the Sea</h3><p>This is sung to the tune of The Wheels on the Bus, which you'll find in the <a href="https://music-playtime.com/member/topics/going-places/early-years/songs-and-chants">Going Places</a> unit. The tune is one of those that you'll hear sung in slightly different ways depending on who is singing but this is the one we like best:</p>                                                                                                                                                                                <ul class="simple lyrics">            <li>The fishes in the sea go swim, swim, swim</li>            <li>Swim, swim, swim,  Swim, swim, swim</li>            <li>The fishes in the sea go swim, swim, swim</li>            <li>All day long</li>            <li>__</li>            <li>The waves on the sea go whoosh, whoosh, whoosh</li>            <li>Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh</li>            <li>The waves on the sea go whoosh, whoosh, whoosh</li>            <li>All day long</li>            <li>__</li>            <li>The shells in the sea go crunch, crunch, crunch</li>            <li>... and so on</li>            <li>__</li>            <li>The birds on the sea go swoop, swoop, swoop</li>            <li>... and so on</li>    </ul>                                                                

The fishes in the sea - Video

<h3>Apusskidusski (two ways!)</h3><p>This is a traditional Swedish song, with a lovely tune, called <em>I Medelhavet</em>. Here is an approximate translation of the original words, with an additional verse that I made up. It's a song for a mother or father to sing to their child, but you could ask the children what they think the words mean and then they could make up a third verse. In this version, the song is almost like a lullaby.</p>                                                                                                                                    <ul class="simple lyrics">            <li>In middle ocean</li>            <li>Sardines are swimming</li>            <li>Apusskidusski Apusskidu</li>            <li>But in my own heart</li>            <li>You&#039;re swimming too</li>            <li>Apusskidusski Apusskidu</li>            <li>__</li>            <li>Up in the blue sky</li>            <li>The birds are flying</li>            <li>Apusskidusski Apusskidu</li>            <li>But in my own heart</li>            <li>You&#039;re flying too</li>            <li>Apusskidusski Apusskidu</li>    </ul>                                                                <p>In the video, the song is begins in Swedish and is then translated into four other languages, including English. You'll be amazed at how different the song sounds at an upbeat tempo and I wonder how many children will prefer this version! Sometimes children surprise me with a preference for gentle music.</p>                                                                                                                                                                                

Apusskidusski - Video

Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE)