Key Stage 2 Lessons

Flexible lessons to develop KS2 children's spiritual, moral, social and cultural (SMSC) learning, including their understanding of fundamental British Values. Resources support Relationsips Education, Character Education and the teaching of Citizenship and PSHE.

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Using Technology For Good

In this lesson pupils will consider the multiple uses of technology and how technology can... be used to solve problems. Pupils will be introduced to the example of Trevor Baylis, the inventor of the wind-up radio, who was inspired to help those in the developing world who could not afford communication technology. Inspired by Baylis, pupils will have an opportunity to design and build a model which will help a member of their school. Pupils will also reflect on how inequalities can arise when some people have access to technologies and others do not. They will look at the example of the charity One Laptop Per Child and be encouraged to run a technology intervention with younger pupils at their school.

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Magna Carta

During this lessons pupils will look at the history of the Magna Carta and consider... how it has helped shape the laws we have today.   Pupils consider what ‘fairness’ and ‘justice’ mean by taking on the role of head teacher at a new school, deciding what rules the school should have. The lesson concludes with pupils exploring what is meant by the following clause from the Magna Carta, ‘no free man shall be imprisoned, or stripped of his rights or possessions … except by the lawful judgement of his peers’ and how this is put into practice in today’s justice system.   You might like to run this lesson as a precursor to the lesson ‘Why do we have rules?’ which looks at how laws are made in the UK in more detail.

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Relationships and the law

During this lesson pupils explore the concept of marriage and civil partnerships focusing on the... fact that they are a legal commitment between two people and what this means. Pupils examine how the law surrounding marriages and civil partnerships has changed since the 18th century and what impact this might have on a set of fictional couples. Prior to the lesson it would be useful for pupils to have a basic understanding of how the rule of law operates in the UK. You might therefore find it helpful to have delivered the two lessons listed in the related lesson section prior to delivering this lesson.

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Archived Lessons

We are constantly reviewing and updating the content of the Go-Givers website to ensure it... is accurate and engaging for our schools.  As part of this review process a number of our older lessons have now been archived however Go-Givers subscribers can continue to access these resources via our Google Drive.  

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Being part of a school community

During this lesson pupils recap what we mean by the term active citizen. They consider... what qualities and skills an active citizen should have and explore how these skills and qualities can be used to make a positive difference in their classrooms. Pupils then consider who makes up their whole school community, researching and finding out more about some of the people within their school that they are not currently familiar with. The lesson concludes with pupils considering how, as a whole school community, they can make sure they are making a positive difference.

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Brexit: Part 2 - Negotiations

Through the example of Brexit talks, this lesson introduces pupils to the concept of negotiation... and the skills required to succeed in negotiations. Activities are designed to give pupils the opportunity to apply their learning to real life negotiation situations and reflect on the characteristics of strong negotiators. Pupils will also gain an understanding of how some leaders responded to the Brexit result.

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Brexit: Part 1 - Referendum

Pupils will be given a brief introduction to the European Union. They will learn about... why people’s opinions about the EU are divided and the results of the EU referendum. Through looking at relatable examples, pupils will be asked to reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of membership to an organisation. Pupils will also be led through the process of creating a referendum and campaign materials on a school issue of their choosing.  

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Cancer - Early detection and prevention

This lesson has been designed in response to the Big Vote, where children voted on... what issues they most cared about. The vote was to mark the ten year anniversary of our Make a Difference Challenge. Out of the top ten issues cancer won by a significant margin indicating that cancer matters to children in the UK. This lesson gives an age-sensitive overview to the topic and introduces children to some simple social action challenges.

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Challenging Stereotypes

This lesson is divided into two parts. In the first section of the lesson pupils... will develop an understanding of the term ‘stereotype’, identify examples of stereotypical opinions and discuss the harm that stereotypes can cause. In the second portion of the lesson pupils will focus on campaigns and advertising regulations in the UK that challenge gender stereotypes.

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Children's Rights

In this lesson pupils will learn that there are specific rights for children which are... set out in the United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child. Pupils will learn about the evolution of these rights through studying the life and works of Eglantyne Jebb who was the founder of Save the Children and author of the first declaration of children’s rights. Pupils will then consider how their rights are met at school and how they can contribute to a culture in which children’s rights are valued and upheld.

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Citizenship and the wider world

During this lesson pupils consider what it means to be a global citizen and what... rights and responsibilities come with this.   They consider a range of global issues; analysing the possible causes, effects and potential solutions for these issues. Finally, pupils are introduced to the Sustainable Development Goals and consider how they can contribute towards them.

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Climate Change

Learners explore what climate change is and what is causing it.  They consider who is... responsible for climate change:  individuals, politicians, businesses?  They are then challenged to think of a variety of ways they can tackle climate change both at home and at school. The resource could be run as a single lesson but, where possible, we would recommend it forms part of a wider unit of work.  It has been split into four distinct parts.     Part 1: What is climate change?     Part 2: What are the causes of climate change?     Part 3: What is the impact of climate change?     Part 4: What can we do? Cross curricular links:  Science and Geography

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Conflict part 1 - reacting to conflict

In this lesson pupils will take part in discussions relating to situations of conflict. Pupils... will consider actions which provoke conflict and actions which can help to calm conflict. They will reflect on their own responses to conflict and identify their personal areas for development. Activities are designed to help pupils improve their self-awareness, equipping them with simple strategies for responding pro-actively to confrontation.

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Conflict part 2 - Mediation

In this lesson pupils will discuss the principles of simple mediation strategies and apply these... in role play scenarios to explore how people can voice and resolve their differences. The activities are designed to develop the pupils' communication skills and empathy as they engage in mediation talks which require them to walk in someone else’s shoes.

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Conflicting Rights

In this lesson pupils will revisit their knowledge of human rights to consider situations in... which people’s rights may appear in conflict with one another. Pupils will debate how they would resolve issues arising from conflicting rights in school and think about how they can be more rights respecting. ‘Conflicting rights’ is designed to be taught as a follow up lesson to the Go-Givers resources ‘Rights and Responsibilities’ and ‘What are Human Rights?’

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Cultural Diversity in the UK

In this lesson pupils will be learning about cultural diversity in the UK and some... of the historical factors that have contributed to the diversity of the UK population. Pupils will explore a range of cultures through learning activities and personal research.

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Democracy - part 1

This lesson forms the first part of a three-part unit on Democracy.  Pupils explore the... meaning of ‘democracy’, and the ways in which citizens can participate in democratic life in Britain. They learn about the role of the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and political parties, and how a general election works. Cross-curricular links: English, history Learning Activities:- Reading political news stories from different sources aimed at children e.g First News Discussing which political issues matter to them Learning about the Suffragettes

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Democracy - part 2

This lesson forms the second part of a three-part unit on democracy. Pupils learn about the... function of central and local government and the difference between MPs and councillors. Pupils explore the job of Parliament, taking a look at the role of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. They examine a range of issues faced by citizens deciding which political representative is best placed to help. Learning activities: Who are my representatives? Whose problem? Designing a new political party

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Democracy - part 3

This lesson forms the final part of a three-part unit on democracy.  Pupils learn about...This lesson forms the final part of a three-part unit on democracy.  Pupils learn about democracy and the rule of law. They discover the different roles of parliament, government and the justice system. Pupils explore why we need laws and how they are made.   Learning activities: A world without law Who makes the law? In an ideal world 

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Dilemmas

Over a series of short sessions, pupils will have the opportunity to consider ethical dilemmas... which may arise in day to day life. Pupils will be encouraged make decisions by first considering all their options and the consequences of taking each potential action. In group discussions, pupils will be able to practise articulating their views and respond to views that are in contrast to their own.   Each dilemma is designed to be a stimulus for short discussion sessions with your class in which pupils can practise reasoning, listening and speaking skills.

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Discrimination

In this lesson pupils will develop their understanding of the term ‘discrimination’. Pupils will consider... what makes them unique and learn which characteristics are protected under the Equality Act. Pupils will examine different acts of discrimination and discuss how these acts impact upon individuals and society.

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Fake News

In this lesson pupils will learn what is meant by ‘fake news’ and the risks... that it poses to them and society. Pupils will be introduced to the concept of bias and will think about how they can critically examine news articles.

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Family Life

In this lesson pupils will think about what it means to be part of a... family and how they can make a positive difference in their family life. Pupils will be introduced to families of a variety of different structures and backgrounds. Through discussion they will reflect on positive aspects of family life and think about how families thrive when family members have caring and supportive relationships.

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Go-Givers Community Centre

In this lesson pupils will consider the varying needs and interests of a range of... fictional characters and design a community centre and activity programme that matches their requirements.   Pupils will also produce a leaflet that should attract users to their community centre and compose a set of rules that users must follow.   This lesson concludes with the opportunity for pupils to present and evaluate their classmates’ designs.

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Homelessness

In this lesson pupils will think about what home means to them through writing a... poem inspired by the line ‘Home is where the heart is’. They will consider the reasons why someone may become homeless and the realities of life on the streets or in temporary accommodation. Pupils will review homelessness statistics published by Shelter in 2018 and suggest ways in which the school community can support pupils who are homeless. They will then be introduced to how local authorities and charities support the homeless. To conclude the lesson, pupils will create a game of snakes and ladders that reflects the causes of homelessness and actions that can help to end homelessness.

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How can I make a difference?

In this lesson pupils will think about how they can plan a social action project.... They will be led through key steps by following the example of the Go-Givers.   This resource is designed to be taught over a series of lessons, giving pupils the time to research, plan, prepare and evaluate a social action project. It could be used when working towards the Make a Difference Challenge and is supported by a free online CPD on teaching social action.

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How Should We Farm?

In this lesson pupils will learn about different farming methods.  They will consider the advantages... and disadvantages of these methods and learn how to identify labels that indicate how food has been farmed.  Finally, they will explore the shopping habits of their school community and consider the wider implications these habits may have. 

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Identities

In this lesson pupils will develop an understanding of what is meant by the term... ‘identity.’ They will explore their own sense of identity and share this with others, appreciating the diversity of identities that make up their class and community.

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Inspirational People

In this lesson pupils will learn about what it means to be inspirational. They will... develop their understanding of the term through looking at real life examples in the media. Pupils will also gain a breadth of language with which to describe the qualities and skills of an inspirational person. They will use this learning to reflect on the qualities and skills of their peers in an exercise designed to promote self-esteem and highlight how everyone has their part to play in taking social action.

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Martin Luther King: Sacrificing All for the Dream

This lesson looks at discrimination against African Americans in the United States during the 1950s... and 1960s, the Civil Rights Movement and how Martin Luther King achieved change through peaceful protest. It also explores the nature of prejudice and racism. Cross-curricular links: history Learning Activities: experiment to explore unequal treatment of different groups discussion about how children deal with incidents of teasing looking at the factors we take into consideration when judging others "Used this to mark MLK day for whole school assembly.  This ppt saved me hours of work and provided lots of extra information."    

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Migration

In this lesson pupils will gain an understanding of the term ‘migration’ and some of... the reasons why people migrate. They will consider the benefits of migration for a country and learn about the experiences of migrants from first-hand accounts.

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My Community

During this lesson pupils consider what we mean by the word community and are challenged... to think about all the different community groups they belong to and how it feels to belong to a community. Pupils go on to explore a variety of different key roles within the community and the support they provide. The lesson concludes with pupils taking part in a scavenger hunt (either physical or virtual) where they discover the range of spaces and facilities available within their local community. 

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Our Class

In this lesson pupils will take part in icebreaker activities that encourage them to consider... the views and experiences of their classmates. They will discuss common problems that can arise within the class and playground setting and discuss means of resolution. Pupils will go on to identify the qualities and behaviours that they value in classmates and develop a weekly nominations scheme in which they can celebrate the positive contributions of their peers.   We recommend that you use this resource alongside the lesson ‘Our Rules’ to establish good relationships within the class at the start of term.

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Preventing infectious diseases

This lesson should be delivered as a follow-up to the lesson ‘What is an infectious... disease?’ In this lesson pupils will recap their knowledge of infectious diseases, they will then compare their homework research into public health pioneers, identifying the contributions of these famous figures in developing vaccinations, antibiotics and better hygiene practices. Building on their findings, pupils will learn about the process of vaccinations. They will use picture clues to identify some of the different ways which infections are spread and discuss simple measures that can be taken to prevent further infection.

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Protecting Local Habitats

In this lesson pupils will learn about the importance of habitats and explore endangered British... species and the threats to their habitat. Pupils will be guided through ways in which they can take action against habitat loss by developing the habitats in their local area. By the end of the lesson pupils will: Understand the term endangered species Understand threats to local habitats Have researched a local habitat Have been involved in local habitat renewal

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Respect

This lesson explores the nature of respect. It considers respect for oneself, respect for others,... respect in sport and respect for the environment. Suitable for all of KS2. Links: British values, tolerance, community, family, equality Cross-curricular links: PE, art and design Learning Activities:  Making ‘respect’ button badges Discussion about how to make the school more respectful Tips on how to respect your body  

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Rights and Responsibilities

In this lesson pupils will develop an understanding of the terms ‘rights’ and ‘responsibilities’ and... how they balance one another. They will then discuss and prepare a class charter that reflects their rights and responsibilities as pupils.

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Rules

This lesson explores the purpose and importance of rules and offers suggestions as to how... to make and display class ‘Ground Rules’. Learning activities: Where did Humpty Dumpty go wrong? The perfect classroom A game with no rules Creating your class rules Reviewing the rules "Very good as a quick re visit to making our class rules at the beginning of a new term."

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Strong Societies

In this lesson pupils will consider the benefits of living in a society rather than... isolation. They will identify roles that are essential to a strong society and reflect on how they might contribute to their community in their future career.

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The Big Vote - Cancer, early prevention and detection

This lesson has been designed in response to the Big Vote, where children voted on... what issues they most cared about. The vote was to mark the ten year anniversary of our Make a Difference Challenge. Out of the top ten issues cancer won by a significant margin indicating that cancer matters to children in the UK. This lesson gives an age-sensitive overview to the topic and introduces children to some simple social action challenges.

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The Value of Trees

This lesson is one of a collection which examine environmental issues.  In this lesson pupils... will learn about the role trees play in supporting life on Earth and their importance in our lives. They will examine the effects of deforestation and learn how they can help to renew forests. The lesson has been split into three parts, which could be delivered across three separate sessions or part of a longer extended session.   Part 1: Why do we need trees? Part 2: Why are forests being destroyed? Part 3: What can I do to stop deforestation?

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Times of Need

During this lesson pupils will consider how inequality can affect a person’s chances to succeed... in life. Pupils will learn about the founding of the modern welfare state in the UK in the aftermath of World War II and consider its intended purpose. They will then look at what welfare services are provided today and consider situations in which someone might need to access those services. Lastly, they will reflect on what life might be like without the support offered by the welfare state.   This lesson could be taught on its own or as part of a series with Democracy’ (Parts 1-3) and ‘Why do we pay taxes?’ (Parts 1 and 2).

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Understanding Cancer

Many children in classrooms all around the country are dealing with cancer in one way... or another at any given time. This lesson seeks to answer some of their questions and demonstrate how they might support friends and family members affected by the disease.  Cross-curricular links: Science, literacy Learning Activities: Who can help? Making a gift Designing a well-being room  

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Water: Our Most Precious Resource

In this lesson pupils will learn about the qualities of water and why it is... vital to life on Earth.   They will consider the problems facing people who cannot access clean water and the pressures that have been placed on our water supply due to climate change and population growth.   Through the example of Cape Town's water crisis, pupils will reflect on the implications of water shortages before learning about how they can take action in their own lives to save water. 

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What Are Human Rights

In this lesson pupils will explore what human rights are. They will examine individual human... rights and discuss why they are of primary importance to all people and society. Pupils will be given a basic overview of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights and how the law in the UK protects all citizens’ human rights.

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What is a charity?

Pupils learn about the reasons why charities are created. They will be introduced to the... main features of a charity and have the opportunity to research the work of a charity of their choice. They will consolidate their learning by designing a charity of their own, which takes into account the charity’s purpose, promotion, actions and funding.

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What is a citizen?

In this lesson pupils will be encouraged to think of themselves as citizens with the... potential to make a positive difference in society. The lesson opens with the traditional tale of ‘Stone Soup’ which draws out themes of citizenship through illustrating how societies thrive when everyone contributes. Pupils consider what is meant by the terms citizen and citizenship. Pupils examine a child’s diary entry and reflect how in an ordinary day the actions of this young person have positively impacted on their family, friends, school and the wider world. Finally pupils interview one another to discover how active they are as a citizen and reflect on opportunities for them to participate more in society.

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What is an infectious disease?

In this lesson pupils consider how infections can spread rapidly through a population and are... introduced to the different infectious agents that cause disease (bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasitic organisms). Pupils are also introduced to some of the body’s natural defences and play a game that simply models some of these defence mechanisms. The lesson culminates with setting a homework task in which pupils research the contributions of pioneers in the field of infection prevention and treatment as preparation for the next lesson in this series, ‘Preventing infectious diseases.’

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What is philanthropy?

In this lesson pupils will learn about the meaning of the word philanthropy through looking... at real life examples. They will consider why philanthropy is important and what motivates philanthropists.

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Where do you stand?

Over a series of short sessions, pupils will have the opportunity to consider topical issues... related to their school life. Pupils will consider the strength of arguments for and against different school policies before sharing and comparing their own opinion with that of their peers.   Each question is designed to be a stimulus for short discussion sessions with your class in which pupils can practise reasoning, listening and speaking skills.

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Who keeps us healthy?

In this lesson pupils consider what being healthy means and who plays a role in... keeping the population healthy. The coronavirus pandemic is given as an example of populations taking shared responsibility for their health. Pupils are asked to discuss the types of measures that were taken by themselves as well as those in positions of authority. The lesson concludes with a homework challenge asking pupils to contribute something to improve the health of their classmates.

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Why Do We Have Rules?

During this lesson pupils will explore why we need laws and how they are made. They... will learn about the different roles of parliament, government and the justice system and consider what part they can place within democracy. 

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Why do we pay taxes?

During this lesson pupils will learn that public services are largely funded through the payment... of taxes to the government. Pupils will learn that taxes are paid on income as well as goods and services.   Through case studies on the recent adoption of the sugar tax and the campaign to end taxation on female sanitary products, pupils will consider how governments change their taxation strategies in response to issues in society.

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Why do we pay taxes? Part 2

During this lesson pupils will learn that councils are responsible for local spending decisions and... can raise additional funds for public services through council taxes. Pupils will survey residents in their area to identify the key concerns of their neighbourhood. The findings of the class will inspire a piece of artwork and/or a letter to their local council that reflects how the community want taxes to be spent in their area.

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