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This was an extremely interesting module. Starting at the finish and with a potential problem, the AI experiment in Chinese schools certainly provided a lot of food for thought. Personally, I can’t see this type of technology being used in the Western World, where young children’s concentration levels are monitored etc, anytime soon.
The other technologies demonstrated here showed fascinating possibilities. Mathia X, within Carnegie Learning,show real world maths lessons, with pupil progress( and thought progress) tracked straight away.
Squirrel AI provides adaptable personalised pathways, immediate intervention and creates teaching material and assessment.
Knewton is organised by topic and learning. Teacher selects learning objectives, and can assign homework quizzes and exams.
It is encouraging to see that there’s a National AI strategy. AI provides efficiency in admin task for teachers such as grading, scheduling, taking the roll and lesson planning.
Despite using Microsoft Word function with years, I was never aware of the Immersive Reader function. It is one that I will definitely use with any struggling readers.
I have used quizzes such as Kahoot etc in the past but Quizizz( 0r Wayground) are resources that I hope to use this year.
Strand: Human Environments
Strand Units: People and Other Lands
🎯 Learning Objectives
Identify key landmarks and features of London
Understand London’s cultural and historical significance
Develop map-reading and research skills
Create a travel brochure or presentation about London
📚 Subjects CoveredGeography: London landmarks, boroughs, River Thames
History: Famous events and figures (e.g. Great Fire of London, Queen Elizabeth II)
English: Descriptive writing, brochure creation
Art: Drawing landmarks, designing posters
Maths: Measuring distances between landmarks, interpreting data
🗓️ Weekly BreakdownDay
Activity
Description
Monday
Introduction to London
Watch a short video or slideshow about London. Discuss what students already know.
Tuesday
Landmark Hunt
Explore famous landmarks (Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Eye). Use maps to locate them.
Wednesday
History Spotlight
Learn about the Great Fire of London or the Tower of London. Create a timeline.
Thursday
Creative Writing
Write a postcard from London or a short travel diary entry.
Friday
Project Day
Create a travel brochure or poster showcasing London’s highlights. Present to the class.
🏰 Explore London Through Play🎲 London Landmark Bingo
Create bingo cards with famous landmarks like Big Ben, Tower Bridge, London Eye, etc.
Kids mark off each one as they learn about them or spot them on a virtual tour.
🗺️ Map ChallengeGive kids a blank map of London and ask them to locate and label key landmarks.
Add a twist: use clues or riddles to guide them to each location.
🎭 Role-Play: Be a London Tour GuideKids research a landmark and present it as if they’re guiding tourists.
Encourage accents, props, and fun facts to make it lively.
🎨 Crafty London Fun🏠 Build a Mini London
Use paper models to recreate London icons like red buses, phone booths, Big Ben.
Twinkl offers printable templates for this kind of activity.
🖍️ Collaborative London SkylineEach child colours a section of the skyline, then assemble it into a giant mural.
Great for teamwork and visual learning.
🧠 Puzzles & Quizzes❓ London Landmarks Quiz
Test their knowledge with fun multiple-choice questions.
Include quirky facts like “Which London landmark has 32 capsules?” (Answer: London Eye).
🔍 I Spy LondonUse photos or illustrations and have kids find hidden landmarks or symbols.
Perfect for younger learners and visual engagement.
🚇 Transport & Movement🚦 Tube Map Challenge
Give kids simplified London Underground maps and challenge them to plan routes.
Use cards with start and end points—great for logic and geography.
🏃♂️ London Obstacle CourseSet up stations themed around London (e.g., “Cross Tower Bridge” = balance beam).
Combine physical activity with learning.
🧳 Virtual Adventures📹 Virtual Tour Scavenger Hunt
Use online videos or Google Earth to explore London.
Kids complete a checklist of things to spot: guards at Buckingham Palace, boats on the Thames, etc.
Quiz Options:Kahoot
Quzizz
It’s brilliant how you can create lessons that include differentation, intergration and excellent interactive resources. The ideas are fun too and it’s something that I hope to incorporate into my teaching this year.
Yes, one of the biggest factors of AI is its emphasis on checking bias. Children have access to so much information now and can take it all as word. This gives them the skills to look at information with a sharper and less believable mind.
I have dabbled with Khan Academy before but I will certainly look at introducing it on a more formal basis over the coming year. I was always associated it as a maths resource, but it has resources for SESE subjects, English etc too. The pupils can track their progress and there’s extra material for them to engage in as well. It won’t replace direct class teaching but would act as an enjoyable enhancement, revisionary and assessment resource.
A weekly session for, say, maths might look like this. Monday, direct class teaching and demonstration of methods of the topic with demonstration video from Khan Academy possibly.
Tuesday would include a recap on methods and progress tracking with teacher designed tasks on Khan.
Wednesday might have new methods or extension of old strands introduced to the mathematical topics. As per the new Primary Maths Curriculum, Khan Academy can show real world examples too of the mathematical topic in practice. For example, data, shape and space etc.
Thursday might include some problem solving or quiz activities, where teachers and pupils can assess how they are progressing. Again Khan Academy can provide these.
Friday would be games day with interactive activities for the children on Khan Academy.
Yes the Magic School Maths Story will engage the pupils straight away, when the questions have their own names. Children love it when it becomes personal and brought to life for them.
This was another excellent module with plenty tools to help educators with teaching learning and assessment. Microsoft Reading coach looks like a really brilliant resource and something that under confident readers will really benefit from. It’s visual, personalised and children can be responsible for their own progress. The fact that it’s graded too is a good incentive for the children and it’s a resource that could be used in SET initially.
With so much irrelevant and sometimes inappropriate content on the internet now, Microsoft Search Coach is a superb tool in getting pupils into the habit of finding believable and accurate information online. This is something that I will be introducing when pupils are doing project work.
Magic School looks like another exciting resource that can make life a good bit easier for the teacher. It has IEP help, email compilers, feedback templates and so much more. This could save so much time within the hidden curriculum and gives the teacher more time to focus on the class.
This was an extremely interesting module. Starting at the finish and with a potential problem, the AI experiment in Chinese schools certainly provided a lot of food for thought. Personally, I can’t see this type of technology being used in the Western World, where young children’s concentration levels are monitored etc, anytime soon.
The other technologies demonstrated here showed fascinating possibilities. Mathia X, within Carnegie Learning,show real world maths lessons, with pupil progress( and thought progress) tracked straight away.
Squirrel AI provides adaptable personalised pathways, immediate intervention and creates teaching material and assessment.
Knewton is organised by topic and learning. Teacher selects learning objectives, and can assign homework quizzes and exams.
It is encouraging to see that there’s a National AI strategy. AI provides efficiency in admin task for teachers such as grading, scheduling, taking the roll and lesson planning.
Despite using Microsoft Word function with years, I was never aware of the Immersive Reader function. It is one that I will definitely use with any struggling readers.
Yes, it is essential that staff receive concrete training in how to use AI across specific subject areas. It is important that AI isn’t used lavishly in the classroom because it will be very difficult to row back from it if you do. A little and often approach should be used for the first few years in particular.
As someone who isn’t overly familiar with AI or its possibilities, I have found this first module quite interesting. We have been shown the potential of Google Gemini, Microsoft Co Pilot etc and how these can be used as a teaching resource. New ideas, methodologies and media can be compiled for the teacher in a matter of seconds.
Most importantly, pupils will enjoy the learning benefits themselves that AI can provide. Genially.com provides a huge amount of cool content that can help the children across a wide number of subject areas. Already, for the new maths curriculum, I have found some cool interactive activities in Generative AI, such as Transforming 2D images into 3D. Also, for any pupils that struggle to come up with writing ideas, Canva.com along with Magic Write can be of huge assistance. AI is coming down the tracks at a very fast pace, not just in education, but in the surrounding world. I’m glad to have started to learn about it with this first module.