Easter Sunday this year falls on 4th April. Children and their families all over the world will no doubt be celebrating with Easter eggs and springtime fun. As well as enjoying chocolate treats, you can bring Easter to life in your home or classroom with the help of Peter Rabbit and friends using these fun KS1 activities. Celebrate the wonder of chocolate with Michael Rosen and our resource pack based on his amazing poem Chocolate Cake. It’s a great time of year to share stories too – check out our booklist with some brilliant chocolate-themed tales.
With all children now back in the classroom and the vaccination programme continuing across the country, Lucy Hawking, co-author of Unlocking the Universe, working with The Stephen Hawking Foundation have launched the first in a series of resources that ask the Big Questions. 'Are Vaccines Safe?' will support discussion around vaccines in the classroom based on accurate scientific information. Find out more about these free resources here.
Fast forward to almost the end of the month, and it’s Earth Day AND St George’s Day on the 23rd April. Earth Day is an international event designed to educate everyone about the environment and show us how we can help save the planet. Running since 1970, 190 countries work together to take positive action to stop climate change and protect the environment. Encouraging children and young people to care about the planet is so important and Earth Day is the ideal opportunity to start the conversation. Use our resources to help you! Invite children to think about recycling with The Creakers by Tom Fletcher; help them discover the wonder of the oceans and why we need to protect them with The Blue Planet II and take them on an exploration of amazing nature with The Lost Spells. You can even explore evolution with Charles Darwin’s Origin of the Species and make saving the planet top of your classroom’s list!
For more heroism, look no further than St George, the Patron Saint of England. The legendary tale of St George and the Dragon has been told for hundreds of years and inspired many tales of daring deeds. For younger viewers, have pencils at the ready to draw a dragon with Nick Sharratt.
Hot off the Press this month are these awesome reads from new Puffin authors and much-loved favourites:
Weirdo by Zadie Smith and Nick Laird illustrated by Magenta Fox - an endearing story about the quiet power of being different which tells the tale of Maud, the guinea pig who inexplicably wears a judo suit. (KS1/2)
Leonora Bolt: Secret Inventor by Lucy Brandt illustrated by Gladys Jose is a laugh-out-loud adventure - complete with crazy inventions, a furry otter, a singing sea captain, and a very secret society. (KS2+)
The Accidental Diary of B.U.G by Jen Carney is a new hilarious series featuring the diary of unforgettable Billie Upton Green. (KS2+)
Love Frankie by Jacqueline Wilson illustrated by Nick Sharratt is a must-have novel about falling in love for the first time and coming out. (Upper KS2/3)
Whatever you are doing to celebrate stories this month, we’d love to hear about it! Please contact [email protected] with 'Inspiring Ideas' in the subject line.