Counting on together
Build addition within 20 through counting on and combining groups. Make time to compare strategies.
- Combine quantities and explain an addition strategy.
One screen. The whole class.
Learning paths and classroom games
Explore: Counting on together, Multiplication at the market, A trail of complete sentences. See learning goals and a suggested sequence; start with any available activity.
Ready-to-teach learning paths
Multiplication at the market
Connect repeated addition, equal groups and facts for 2, 5 and 10. Use this as supported recall alongside the wider year programme.
- Interpret equal groups and multiplication facts.
A trail of complete sentences
Build meaningful sentences from word groups and explain the order using grammar and meaning.
- Construct a complete, meaningful sentence.
Exploring living things and habitats
Explore the needs and features of living things and how habitats provide resources. Review the broad bank for your year group.
- Connect features, needs and habitats using evidence.
Joining small groups
Connect small collections and addition within 20. Use counters and talk about how the total changes.
- Combine quantities and explain an addition strategy.
Equal groups at the market
Relate equal groups to multiplication facts for 2, 5 and 10; discuss the meaning of each factor.
- Interpret equal groups and multiplication facts.
Building complete sentences
Arrange subjects, verbs and endings, then discuss what makes a complete sentence.
- Construct a complete, meaningful sentence.
Living things and their homes
Connect organisms’ needs and features to their habitats. Review the broad bank for your grade before playing.
- Connect features, needs and habitats using evidence.
Sounds into words
Sounds into words: Hear, blend, read → Common exception words → Word endings → Choose a decoding strategy.
- Match printed graphemes and simple words within a declared taught sound set; teacher supplies sounds.
- Recognise taught Year 1 common exception words in short meaningful sentences.
- Read -s, -es, -ing, -ed, -er and -est in familiar words without untaught graphemes.
Stories and information
Stories and information: Who, where and what? → Retell the story → Clues and predictions → Words and rhymes → Find a fact.
- Retrieve characters, setting and explicit events from a supplied short text.
- Order three/four clearly stated events and recognise beginning/middle/end.
- Infer a simple feeling/action and choose a prediction supported by text.
Counting and representing numbers
Counting and representing numbers: Count without missing → Ten and some more → Neighbours on the line → Counting patterns.
- Count pictured sets to 20, including zero; match numeral, word and quantity.
- Compose teens as ten and ones using ten frames; distinguish 14 from 41.
- Order three or four numbers within 100; identify one more and one less.
Adding and taking away
Adding and taking away: Parts make a whole → Crossing ten with pictures → What remains? → One-step stories → Explain the missing part.
- Find number bonds to 10 and 20 using missing parts and the equals sign.
- Choose a sensible addition strategy within 20 using partitioning.
- Subtract by taking away or finding a difference with objects and number lines.
Habitats and food links
Habitats and food links: Living, dead or never alive → Homes for living things → Food chains → Protect a microhabitat.
- Classify examples using life-process evidence, handling wooden objects carefully.
- Match organisms to local habitats/microhabitats and basic needs.
- Identify plant-based energy links in simple producer–consumer chains.
Thinking like a historian
Thinking like a historian: Dates and periods → Archaeology and written sources → Support a claim → Compare two accounts.
- Read BCE/CE on a supplied timeline and distinguish period labels from precise dates.
- Identify what different evidence can and cannot establish.
- Select a conclusion supported by supplied evidence and qualify uncertainty.
Light and shadows
Light and shadows: Seeing needs light → Reflection and safety → Shadows appear → Changing a shadow.
- Distinguish sources from reflectors and explain darkness.
- Recognise reflected light and safe ways to study sunlight without looking at the Sun.
- Explain shadows where opaque objects block light.
Words across texts
Words across texts: Morphology for meaning → Dictionary and context → Spelling and possessives → Word-family reasoning.
- Use roots/prefixes/suffixes to interpret unfamiliar curriculum words.
- Choose a dictionary sense that fits a supplied sentence.
- Apply lower-KS2 spelling patterns and plural possessive apostrophes.
Reading beyond the surface
Reading beyond the surface: Summarise a paragraph → Justify an inference → Language and structure → Poetry and plays → Compare viewpoints.
- Choose a main idea supported by relevant details.
- Compare plausible character inferences and select the best textual support.
- Explain how a writer’s words or text organisation shape meaning.
Simple electric circuits
Simple electric circuits: A complete loop → Switches control flow → Conductors and insulators → Find the fault safely.
- Identify complete simple circuits with cell, wires, lamp, buzzer or motor.
- Predict the effect of opening/closing a switch.
- Classify tested materials using circuit evidence.
Print, sounds and letters
Print, sounds and letters: How print works → Sounds we hear → Letters represent sounds → Read familiar words.
- Recognize direction, word spaces and upper/lowercase letter forms in teacher-mediated examples.
- With teacher voicing, identify rhymes, syllables and beginning/ending sounds in familiar words.
- Match taught consonant and common vowel graphemes with teacher-supplied sounds.
Messages, words and talk
Messages, words and talk: A message has a purpose → Words in sentences → Capitals and end marks → Talk and listen together → Words and relationships.
- Distinguish a simple opinion, information statement and event account.
- Use familiar nouns/verbs and simple complete sentences with teacher modelling.
- Recognize sentence-start capitals, capital I and common end punctuation.
Counting tells how many
Counting tells how many: One number for each object → The last number tells how many → Numerals and quantities → Which has more?.
- Count arranged/scattered sets with one-to-one correspondence and recognize zero.
- Match a counted set to its cardinal number even after rearrangement.
- Connect written numerals 0–20 with sets, including teen quantities.
Joining and separating
Joining and separating: Put together, take apart → Pairs that make a number → Make ten → Small number stories → Five in different ways.
- Represent joining/separating stories with objects or drawings.
- Decompose numbers to 10 in more than one way.
- Find the missing part needed to make 10 from a given number 1–9.
Sources and timelines
Sources and timelines: Primary and later accounts → Build a timeline → Compare two sources → Support a conclusion.
- Distinguish an object/account from its later interpretation without automatic truth labels.
- Place dated community events and calculate simple earlier/later relationships.
- Identify agreement/difference in supplied accounts.
Materials and changes
Materials and changes: Sort by properties → Choose a suitable material → Parts can be rearranged → Heating and cooling changes.
- Classify materials using observable properties from a supplied test.
- Compare test results against a stated design purpose.
- Recognize different objects made from the same set of pieces.
Word analysis and vocabulary
Word analysis and vocabulary: Decode meaningful parts → Context and reference tools → Word relationships → Spelling and morphology.
- Use common prefixes/suffixes and syllable patterns for unfamiliar words.
- Choose a dictionary sense fitting the sentence and use context clues.
- Distinguish literal/nonliteral meaning and shades of related words.
Paragraphs for a purpose
Paragraphs for a purpose: Reasons in a logical group → Organize information → Narrative details → Sentence relationships → Revise and edit.
- Choose linked reasons supporting an opinion and a useful conclusion.
- Group related facts with headings and clear linking words.
- Choose dialogue, actions and feelings that develop an event sequence.
Life cycles, traits and variation
Life cycles, traits and variation: Compare life cycles → Inherited and environmental influences → Traits are not identical → Explain a plant result.
- Model birth/growth/reproduction/death across varied plants/animals without a single rigid sequence for all.
- Use animal/plant examples to distinguish inherited variation from environmental effects.
- Use data showing variation among related organisms.
Matter, particles and change
Matter, particles and change: Particles explain matter → Weight before and after → Identify from properties → Mixing or a new substance? → Plan a safe comparison.
- Use simple particle models to explain observable properties, including gases.
- Interpret measurements showing conservation in a closed system during mixing/change.
- Use multiple observations/tests to identify a material.
England · 7–9 yearsThe discovery gardenConnected short activities, one shared discovery.
England · 6–8 yearsThe number trailConnected short activities, one shared discovery.
England · 8–11 yearsThe experiment workshopConnected short activities, one shared discovery.United States · 7–9 yearsThe discovery gardenConnected short activities, one shared discovery.United States · 6–8 yearsThe number trailConnected short activities, one shared discovery.United States · 8–11 yearsThe experiment workshopConnected short activities, one shared discovery.
England · 5–7 yearsThe number bridgeJoin small groups and practise addition within 20.
England · 7–9 yearsThe multiplication marketCount equal groups of fruit, books and classroom treasures.
England · 6–8 yearsThe word trailPut the pieces together to build complete sentences.
England · 7–11 yearsHabitat explorersDiscover living things and the places they call home.United States · 5–7 yearsThe number bridgeJoin small groups and practice addition within 20.United States · 7–9 yearsThe multiplication marketCount equal groups of fruit, books and classroom treasures.United States · 6–8 yearsThe word trailPut the pieces together to build complete sentences.United States · 7–11 yearsHabitat explorersDiscover living things and the places they call home.
England · 5–6 yearsHear, blend, readListen to your teacher, match letters and blend short words.
England · 5–6 yearsCommon exception wordsRead familiar words carefully in short, teacher-read sentences.
England · 5–6 yearsWord endingsRead the whole word: small endings can change its meaning.
England · 5–6 yearsChoose a decoding strategySpot skipped sounds, check whole words and explain how you read.
England · 5–6 yearsWho, where and what?Listen as your teacher reads each story. Find the detail that answers the question.
England · 5–6 yearsRetell the storyYour teacher reads the story. Put its event cards in order and tell it again.
England · 5–6 yearsClues and predictionsListen to your teacher. Use what the story says to explain a feeling or predict a next step.
England · 5–6 yearsWords and rhymesYour teacher reads original little poems. Listen for rhyme, repeated language and word meanings.
England · 5–6 yearsFind a factListen to short notices, labels and information texts. Use the heading to find the fact you need.
England · 5–6 yearsParts make a wholeFind partners that make ten or twenty, and explain what equal means.
England · 5–6 yearsCrossing ten with picturesUse parts of a group to reach ten, then include the rest.
England · 5–6 yearsWhat remains?Use objects, matching and number lines to explain subtraction.
England · 5–6 yearsOne-step storiesChoose the calculation that matches joining, changing and comparing.
England · 5–6 yearsExplain the missing partSolve a missing number and explain why a counting mistake fails.
England · 5–6 yearsCount without missingCount each object once and connect the amount to a numeral or number word.
England · 5–6 yearsTen and some moreUse teacher-drawn ten-frames to build and read teen numbers.
England · 5–6 yearsNeighbours on the lineOrder number cards and reason about one more and one less.
England · 5–6 yearsCounting patternsContinue, repair and explain counts in twos, fives and tens.
England · 6–7 yearsLiving, dead or never aliveSort real-life evidence, find pictured examples and explain tricky cases.
England · 6–7 yearsHomes for living thingsConnect pictured living things to places and resources that meet the stated need.
England · 6–7 yearsFood chainsBuild pictured food links, find plant foods and explain how food energy passes.
England · 6–7 yearsProtect a microhabitatUse pictured resource records to predict effects of a small habitat change.
England · 7–8 yearsDates and periodsRead dated timelines, keep uncertainty and separate an event from its discovery
England · 7–8 yearsArchaeology and written sourcesChoose evidence for a question, and keep track of what it cannot tell us
England · 7–8 yearsSupport a claimUse a clue, qualify the conclusion and ask what could change it
England · 7–8 yearsCompare two accountsKeep shared details, notice differences and ask the next useful question
England · 7–8 yearsSeeing needs lightSort light evidence, distinguish sources from reflectors and explain darkness.
England · 7–8 yearsReflection and safetyExplain reflected light and choose safe ways to investigate it.
England · 7–8 yearsShadows appearUse material-test evidence to explain where light is blocked.
England · 7–8 yearsChanging a shadowExplore a torch model, arrange evidence and decide what makes a fair test.
England · 8–9 yearsLanguage and structureBuild a stated paragraph plan and explain how wording changes meaning
England · 8–9 yearsJustify an inferenceUse linked clues, compare motives and revise when evidence changes
England · 8–9 yearsCompare viewpointsCompare short sources, connect a theme and keep fact separate from inference
England · 8–9 yearsPoetry and playsCompare images, repeated language and the meaning of supplied performance cues
England · 8–9 yearsSummarise a paragraphFind the central idea, connect details and keep the important limits
England · 8–9 yearsMorphology for meaningBuild, compare and test meanings from familiar word parts
England · 8–9 yearsDictionary and contextOne word, different senses: let the sentence decide
England · 8–9 yearsSpelling and possessivesUse word structure and ownership evidence to choose precise forms
England · 8–9 yearsWord-family reasoningProve a meaningful connection and challenge look-alike letter strings
England · 8–9 yearsA complete loopTrace the connections, test a loop and explain when a component can work.
England · 8–9 yearsSwitches control flowTest switch outcomes, locate gaps and reason about changes.
England · 8–9 yearsConductors and insulatorsClassify controlled test records and distinguish evidence from appearance.
England · 8–9 yearsFind the fault safelyChoose one informative next test and keep uncertain causes open.
United States · 5–6 yearsA message has a purposeExplore messages that share a preference, give information, or tell what happened.
United States · 5–6 yearsWords in sentencesBuild clear spoken sentences with familiar naming words and action words.
United States · 5–6 yearsCapitals and end marksNotice sentence-start capitals, the word I, and periods, question marks and exclamation marks.
United States · 5–6 yearsTalk and listen togetherPractice relevant questions, helpful replies, turn taking, and asking for clarification.
United States · 5–6 yearsWords and relationshipsGroup familiar words, compare opposites, and use context to choose a word’s meaning.
United States · 5–6 yearsHow print worksFollow words, find spaces, and recognize letter forms together.
United States · 5–6 yearsSounds we hearListen for rhymes, word parts, and sounds at the beginning and end.
United States · 5–6 yearsLetters represent soundsConnect teacher-voiced consonant and short-vowel sounds to familiar letters.
United States · 5–6 yearsRead familiar wordsRecognize taught everyday words and carefully read a small set of decodable words.
United States · 5–6 yearsOne number for each objectCount every object once, keep track of scattered sets, and notice empty sets.
United States · 5–6 yearsThe last number tells how manyUse a finished count to name the whole set, even when the same objects move.
United States · 5–6 yearsNumerals and quantitiesMatch written numerals to counted sets, from an empty set through twenty.
United States · 5–6 yearsWhich has more?Compare quantities with counting and matching; explain more, fewer and the same number.
United States · 5–6 yearsPut together, take apartChoose objects, drawings and actions that show what happens in a number story.
United States · 5–6 yearsPairs that make a numberMake two parts of a whole, find a missing part, and compare different splits.
United States · 5–6 yearsMake tenFind what is missing from ten, explain a strategy, and check a proposed pair.
United States · 5–6 yearsSmall number storiesSolve small joining and taking-away stories, then explain what the numbers mean.
United States · 5–6 yearsFive in different waysUse small facts flexibly, explain patterns and check mistakes without racing.
United States · 7–8 yearsPrimary and later accountsFind who made a source, what it records, and what a later writer adds
United States · 7–8 yearsBuild a timelineBuild community timelines and distinguish dates from guesses
United States · 7–8 yearsCompare two sourcesCompare what two accounts say, leave out, or disagree about
United States · 7–8 yearsSupport a conclusionChoose a supported claim and ask for the evidence still missing
United States · 7–8 yearsSort by propertiesSort sample records, connect tests to properties, and explain your evidence.
United States · 7–8 yearsChoose a suitable materialUse simple test evidence to choose materials for particular jobs.
United States · 7–8 yearsParts can be rearrangedCompare builds, track pieces, and explain what changes when an object is rebuilt.
United States · 7–8 yearsHeating and cooling changesSort adult observation records and explain when a material returns to its starting state.
United States · 8–9 yearsReasons in a logical groupConnect reasons to an opinion, then finish without adding unsupported claims
United States · 8–9 yearsOrganize informationBuild readable information groups, useful headings and clear sentence links
United States · 8–9 yearsNarrative detailsDevelop an original event with purposeful dialogue, action, feeling and closure
United States · 8–9 yearsSentence relationshipsKeep references, verb forms and sentence links clear in a short paragraph
United States · 8–9 yearsRevise and editRevise for the reader, then edit ownership, speech punctuation and spelling
United States · 8–9 yearsWord relationshipsRead what a phrase means here, then compare shades of meaning
United States · 8–9 yearsContext and reference toolsUse the sentence, compare senses, and check a reference meaning
United States · 8–9 yearsDecode meaningful partsRead word parts, build a word, and check its meaning
United States · 8–9 yearsSpelling and morphologyConnect base words and suffixes, then explain the spelling change
United States · 8–9 yearsExplain a plant resultConnect growing conditions to observed traits while checking comparisons and uncertainty.
United States · 8–9 yearsCompare life cyclesIdentify, order and compare organism records without forcing every life into one template.
United States · 8–9 yearsInherited and environmental influencesCompare parent-offspring patterns, learning and growing conditions with honest limits.
United States · 8–9 yearsTraits are not identicalRead small non-human datasets and describe resemblance, variation and uncertainty.
United States · 10–11 yearsMixing or a new substance?Distinguish retained materials, possible new substances and conclusions needing more evidence.
United States · 10–11 yearsIdentify from propertiesCombine test signatures, choose useful evidence and keep uncertain identifications open.
United States · 10–11 yearsPlan a safe comparisonChoose clear measurements, controlled comparisons and conclusions the evidence can support.
United States · 10–11 yearsWeight before and afterFollow every part of a measured system through mixing and changes of form.
United States · 10–11 yearsParticles explain matterUse visible observations to test explanations about matter too small to see.