Ages 6–7 — Growing your skills
Explore bigger numbers and new ideas!
Discover living things and forces!
Build better writing and reading skills!
Ones, tens, and hundreds!
The ones place is the first digit on the right. It shows you how many single things you have.
Let's look at the number 7. The 7 is in the ones place. That means we have 7 ones!
Try this: Look at the number 5. How many ones does it have? That's right — 5 ones!
The tens place is the second digit from the right. It shows you how many groups of 10 you have.
Let's look at 34. We have 3 tens and 4 ones. That's 30 + 4 = 34!
Example: 23 = 2 tens + 3 ones = 20 + 3
The hundreds place is the third digit from the right. It shows you how many groups of 100 you have.
Let's look at 247. We can break it down: 2 hundreds + 4 tens + 7 ones = 200 + 40 + 7 = 247
Write it out: 156 = 1 hundred + 5 tens + 6 ones
We use special symbols to compare numbers: > (bigger than), < (smaller than), = (equal to).
Practice ordering:
Can you solve these place value riddles?
Groups and repeated addition!
Multiplication is about making equal groups. It's a fast way to count!
Imagine you have 3 bags with 4 apples in each bag. Instead of counting all the apples one by one, we can say "3 groups of 4" which equals 12!
Try this: Look around your home. Find some things that come in groups: eggs in a carton, flowers in a bunch, etc. Can you count the groups?
An array is things arranged in straight rows and columns. It's like a grid!
Look at this picture: there are 3 rows and 4 columns. We can write this as 3 × 4 = 12.
Try this: Make an array at home with 2 rows and 5 apples in each row. How many apples total?
Times tables are patterns! Learning them helps you multiply super fast.
The 2s: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 — every number is even!
The 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 — they all end in 5 or 0!
The 10s: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 — just add a zero!
Try this: Clap 5 times, then 10 times, then 15 times. You're counting the 5s table!
Real multiplication happens everywhere!
Example 1: You have 3 boxes of crayons. Each box has 5 crayons. How many crayons do you have altogether?
Answer: 3 × 5 = 15 crayons
Example 2: Your friend has 2 hands. You have 2 hands. How many hands do you both have?
Answer: 2 × 2 = 4 hands
Try this: Make up your own word problem using multiplication. Ask a friend to solve it!
Multiplication is all around you!
Look for arrays and groups in real life:
Try this: Draw your own array with 4 rows and 3 columns. Color them in pretty colors!
Test what you've learned about multiplication!
Clocks, calendars, and coins!
Analog clocks have two hands that move around a circle. The short hand shows the hour, and the long hand shows the minutes.
When the long hand points to 12 and the short hand points to a number, we say "o'clock."
Try this: What time is it right now? Look at a clock and tell a friend!
Time goes: seconds → minutes → hours → days → weeks → months → years!
There are 7 days in a week: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
There are 12 months in a year: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.
Try this: Tell someone what day today is, and what comes tomorrow!
Money helps us buy things! In the UK, we use pennies (1p), 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, and £2 coins.
In the USA, we use pennies (1¢), nickels (5¢), dimes (10¢), quarters (25¢), and dollars ($1).
Try this: Find 5 coins at home. Add up their values. How much money do you have?
When you go shopping, you add up the prices, then count your money!
Example: A toy costs 45p. You have 50p. How much change do you get?
50p - 45p = 5p change!
Try this: You have £1. A pencil costs 20p. How much change do you get?
Time and money are all around us!
Time activities:
Money activities:
Test what you've learned about time and money!
Halves and quarters!
A half means one piece when something is split into 2 equal pieces. We write it as 1/2.
Imagine a pizza cut down the middle. Each piece is half the pizza!
Try this: Cut an orange in half. Are both halves the same size?
A quarter means one piece when something is split into 4 equal pieces. We write it as 1/4.
Imagine a chocolate bar broken into 4 pieces. Each piece is one quarter!
Try this: Fold a piece of paper in half, then in half again. You have 4 quarters!
When you share equally, everyone gets the same amount!
If 2 friends share 4 apples equally, each friend gets 2 apples. That's fair!
Try this: With a friend, share 6 cookies equally between 2 people. How many does each person get?
You can show fractions using shapes. Color in the parts to show the fraction!
Example: If you color 1 out of 2 parts, you've colored 1/2!
Try this: Draw a circle. Divide it into 4 equal parts. Color in 2 parts. You've drawn 2/4!
Fractions are everywhere!
Try this: Share a fruit or snack with a friend. Make sure you each get an equal share!
Test what you've learned about fractions!
Putting together and taking away!
Addition means putting groups together. The + sign means "and" or "plus."
When you add 23 + 45, you're putting 23 and 45 together to make 68!
Try this: You have 12 crayons. Your friend gives you 8 more. How many do you have now?
Subtraction means taking away or removing. The - sign means "minus" or "take away."
When you subtract 56 - 23, you're taking 23 away from 56 to get 33!
Try this: You have 27 stickers. You give 12 to a friend. How many do you have left?
You can use tricks to add and subtract without writing everything down!
Bonds to 10: 7 + 3 = 10. Use this to help with bigger numbers!
Near Doubles: If you know 5 + 5 = 10, then 5 + 6 = 11 (just one more!)
Bridging 10: To do 8 + 5, jump to 10 first (8 + 2 = 10), then add the rest (10 + 3 = 13).
Try this: Use your fingers to do 9 + 7. Start at 9 and count up 7 more!
Real math happens in real situations!
Example 1: You have 25 marbles. Your friend gives you 13 more. How many do you have now?
This is addition! 25 + 13 = 38 marbles
Example 2: You have 45 pence. You spend 18 pence on candy. How much is left?
This is subtraction! 45 − 18 = 27 pence
Try this: Make up 2 word problems for a friend — one addition and one subtraction!
Addition and subtraction are everywhere!
Try this: Give a friend a number. Have them add 10, then subtract 5. Can they figure out the answer?
Test what you've learned about addition and subtraction!
Length, weight, capacity & temperature!
Length tells us how long or tall something is. We can measure with rulers using centimetres (cm) or metres (m).
A ruler is 30cm long. A door is about 2 metres tall. When measuring, line up the zero!
Try this: Find a ruler. Measure your pencil, your hand, and your book. Write down the measurements!
Weight tells us how heavy something is. We measure it with scales using grams (g) or kilograms (kg).
1 kilogram (1kg) = 1000 grams. A kilogram is quite heavy! A small apple weighs about 100g.
Try this: Ask an adult to help you weigh some foods at home. Which is heavier: an apple or an egg?
Capacity tells us how much liquid something can hold. We measure it with litres (l) or millilitres (ml).
1 litre = 1000 millilitres. A water bottle usually holds 1 litre. A cup holds about 250ml.
Try this: Fill a cup with water. Pour it into different containers. Does it fit?
Temperature tells us how hot or cold something is. We measure it with a thermometer using degrees Celsius (°C).
0°C is freezing cold! 30°C is warm! Your body is about 37°C.
Try this: Feel different things at home (water, ice, your arm). Which is hottest? Which is coldest?
Measurement is all around us!
Try this: Make a growth chart. Mark your height every month and see how much you grow!
Test what you've learned about measurement!
2D and 3D shapes, symmetry & patterns!
2D shapes are flat. They have length and width but no thickness. Common 2D shapes are circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles.
A circle has no corners. A square has 4 equal sides. A triangle has 3 sides!
Try this: Find these shapes around your home: circles on clocks, squares on tiles, rectangles on doors!
3D shapes are solid and have length, width, and height (thickness). You can hold them! Examples are cubes, spheres, cylinders, and cones.
A cube has 6 square faces. A sphere is round like a ball. A cylinder is like a tin can!
Try this: Find these shapes at home: a cube (dice), a sphere (ball), a cylinder (tin can), a cone (ice cream cone)!
A shape has a line of symmetry if you can fold it in half and both sides match exactly!
A butterfly is symmetrical. A square has 4 lines of symmetry. A rectangle has 2!
Try this: Fold a piece of paper in half. Draw half a heart. Unfold it. You have a symmetrical heart!
Patterns repeat in order. We can make patterns with shapes and colours!
Example pattern: Circle, Square, Circle, Square, Circle, Square...
Try this: Make your own pattern using blocks, coins, or buttons. Can your friend guess what comes next?
Shapes are everywhere!
Try this: Make a butterfly by folding paper. Is it symmetrical?
Test what you've learned about shapes!
Tally charts, pictograms & bar charts!
A tally chart is a quick way to record and count data. We use marks: one mark is 1, and a group of 5 marks (crossed) is 5!
This helps us count larger numbers without getting confused.
Try this: Ask 10 friends their favourite fruit. Make a tally chart with your results!
A pictogram uses pictures to show data. Each picture can represent 1 item or more items.
If each apple = 1, then 3 apples = 3. If each apple = 2, then 3 apples = 6!
Try this: Make a pictogram showing your family's favourite colours using coloured squares!
A bar chart uses bars (rectangles) to show data. The taller the bar, the more items in that group!
Bar charts make it easy to compare numbers at a glance.
Try this: Ask your class what's their favourite sport. Make a bar chart with the results!
Once you have data in a chart, you can answer questions about it!
Example from the bar chart above:
Try this: Create a bar chart of your own and write 3 questions for a friend to answer!
Data is everywhere!
Try this: Record the weather each day for a week. Make a pictogram showing sunny, rainy, cloudy days!
Test what you've learned about statistics and data!
What makes something alive?
Have you ever wondered what makes something alive? A puppy is alive. A plant is alive. But a rock is not alive, and neither is a toy or a pencil.
Living things can grow, move, eat, and make babies. They need air, water, and food to stay healthy. When living things get old, they die and stop moving.
Try this: Look around your classroom. Find 3 living things and 3 non-living things. What makes them different?
All living things grow and change! A tiny baby becomes a bigger person. A small puppy grows into a large dog. A seed grows into a tall tree.
Some things grow very fast. Babies grow quickly in the first few years. Other things grow slowly, like trees, which might take many years to get really big.
Living things don't just get bigger—they change shape and abilities too. A caterpillar becomes a butterfly! A tadpole becomes a frog!
Try this: Measure yourself. Ask your parent or carer how tall you were when you were born. How much have you grown?
All living things need certain things to survive. Without them, living things cannot stay alive.
Food: Living things eat food for energy. Plants make their own food using sunlight. Animals eat plants or other animals.
Water: Every living thing needs water. Plants drink water through their roots. Animals drink water and eat foods that have water in them.
Air: Living things breathe air to get oxygen. Plants and animals both need oxygen to live. We breathe it in and breathe it out!
Shelter: Animals need homes to stay safe. A bird builds a nest. A fox lives in a den. A fish lives in water. You live in a house!
Try this: Think about your pet (or a wild animal you know about). Can you name the food, water, air, and shelter it needs?
Every living thing goes through changes called a life cycle. This is the story of how something is born, grows up, and eventually dies.
A butterfly has an amazing life cycle! It starts as a tiny egg. Then it becomes a caterpillar that munches on leaves. The caterpillar wraps itself up in a special case and transforms into a beautiful butterfly!
Other animals have different life cycles. A frog starts as a tiny tadpole that swims in water with a tail. It slowly grows legs and loses its tail until it becomes a hopping frog.
Humans also have a life cycle. We are born as babies, grow into children, then teenagers, adults, and eventually older people.
Try this: Draw your own life cycle! Start with a picture of yourself as a baby, then as you are now, and imagine what you might look like as an adult!
Now it's time to become a living things detective! Your mission is to explore and answer these questions:
Challenge 1: Find 10 different living things. Draw them or take photos. Next to each one, write one thing it needs to survive.
Challenge 2: Pick your favorite animal. Create its life cycle wheel! Draw 4 boxes showing how it grows from baby to adult.
Challenge 3: Make a "Needs" checklist for a pet you know. Does it need food? Water? Shelter? Air? Check them all off!
Challenge 4: Play "Alive or Not Alive." Say a word (tree, car, cloud, fish, book, butterfly). Your friend says if it's alive or not alive. Take turns!
Test what you've learned about living things!
Where do animals live?
A habitat is a home for animals. It's a special place where an animal can find food, water, and shelter. Different animals live in different habitats because they need different things.
A fish lives in water because it needs to swim and breathe underwater. A bird lives in trees because it has wings and can fly. A mouse lives in a burrow underground where it's safe and warm.
Habitats are all around us! Some are big like forests and oceans. Some are small like a rock under your garden or a hole in a tree. Every habitat is just right for the animals that live there!
Try this: Think about where you live. What kind of habitat is it? What animals live there?
Forests are magical places filled with tall trees, plants, and many animals! Forests have lots of rain, so everything is green and growing.
Animals that live in forests: Squirrels jump between trees looking for acorns. Foxes hunt for mice and rabbits. Owls sleep during the day and hunt at night. Deer eat grass and leaves. Hedgehogs curl into balls when scared.
The forest has different layers. Tall trees make a roof called the canopy. Below that are smaller trees. On the ground are plants, flowers, and fallen leaves. Animals live at every level!
Forests give us wood, food, clean air, and water. They are homes for thousands of animals!
Try this: If you can visit a forest or park with trees, listen carefully. How many different bird calls can you hear?
The ocean is the biggest habitat on Earth! It covers most of the world and is filled with water. Millions of animals live in the ocean, from tiny creatures to the biggest animal ever—the blue whale!
Animals that live in the ocean: Fish swim in schools searching for food. Whales are massive mammals that breathe air at the surface. Starfish stick to rocks. Jellyfish float like ghosts. Crabs walk sideways on the sea floor. Dolphins are playful and smart!
The ocean has different zones. Near the top, sunlight shines and many fish live. Deep down, it's dark and cold, and strange creatures with big teeth live there!
Try this: Draw a picture of an ocean scene. How many different ocean animals can you include?
Deserts are hot, dry places with very little rain. It's hard for animals to live there because water is scarce. But special animals have adapted to survive in the desert!
Animals that live in deserts: Camels can drink lots of water and store fat in their humps to use when food is scarce. Lizards hide under rocks during the hot day. Snakes come out at night when it's cooler. Scorpions and beetles burrow underground to escape the heat.
Desert plants are also special! Cacti store water in their thick stems. Their roots spread wide to catch any water that falls. Some plants wait for rain and grow flowers very quickly!
Try this: Imagine you're a desert animal. What special features would help you survive the heat and find water?
Become a habitat explorer! Here are some fun challenges to test your habitat knowledge:
Challenge 1: Habitat Match-Up I'll describe an animal, you name its habitat. Example: "I'm cold and fish. Where do I live?" (Ocean!)
Challenge 2: Design Your Own Habitat Draw a habitat you invent. What would live there? What plants would grow? What weather does it have?
Challenge 3: Animal Home Hunt Find pictures of animals (from magazines or online). Sort them into Forest, Ocean, and Desert habitats.
Challenge 4: Habitat Features Scavenger Hunt In your neighborhood, find examples of each habitat type. What animals might live in your backyard?
Test what you've learned about habitats!
What are things made from?
Natural materials come from nature. They come from plants, animals, and the earth. We can find natural materials all around us!
Wood: Comes from trees! We use wood to build houses, make furniture, and create toys.
Cotton: Comes from cotton plants! We use it to make clothes, blankets, and bags.
Wool: Comes from sheep! We use it to make sweaters, socks, and hats to keep warm.
Stone: Comes from the earth! We use stones to build walls and create sculptures.
Water: Found in nature! We drink it, cook with it, and use it to clean.
Try this: Look around your home. Find 5 things made from natural materials. What are they made from?
Man-made materials are created by people in factories. We mix and process natural materials or create something completely new!
Plastic: Made from oil in the ground. It's light, waterproof, and can be any color. We use it for toys, bags, and bottles.
Glass: Made from sand that's heated to very high temperatures until it melts and becomes see-through. We use it for windows, bottles, and drinking glasses.
Metal: Made by mining rocks called ore and heating them. Metal is strong and long-lasting. We use it for cars, bicycles, and tools.
Paper: Made from wood pulp mixed with water. We use it for books, newspapers, and writing.
Try this: Find something plastic in your home. Imagine what it would be used for if it was made from wood instead. Would it work as well?
Materials can be changed in different ways! Heating, cooling, and forcing them can change their shape or properties.
Heating: When you heat ice, it melts into water. When you heat water, it becomes steam. Baking dough in an oven changes it to bread!
Cooling: When you cool hot chocolate, it becomes easier to drink. When you freeze water, it becomes hard ice cream or ice cubes!
Bending: You can bend a piece of paper or twist a stick. Some materials like plastic bend easily. Others like stone are hard to bend.
Stretching: You can stretch a rubber band or pull taffy. Some materials go back to their original shape. Others stay stretched!
Breaking: When you break a stick or tear paper, you change its shape permanently.
Try this: Freeze water to make ice. Can you change it back to water? Yes! That's reversible. Now tear a piece of paper. Can you put it back together? That's permanent!
We should care for our Earth! There's an important rule: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
Reduce: Use less! Ask for smaller portions. Turn off lights. Use less plastic. The less we use, the less waste we make.
Reuse: Use things again! Wear hand-me-down clothes. Use old jars for storage. Paint over cardboard boxes. One person's old thing can be another person's treasure!
Recycle: Break down old materials to make new things! Plastic bottles become new bottles or fleece jackets. Paper becomes new paper. Metal cans become new cans. Glass becomes new glasses!
When we recycle, we save natural resources and energy. We help protect our planet!
Try this: Create a recycling bin at home. Separate paper, plastic, glass, and metal. How much can you recycle in one week?
Become a materials expert! Test your knowledge with these fun activities:
Activity 1: Material Sorting Collect items from home (safely!). Sort them into Natural, Man-Made, and Recyclable. Make three piles!
Activity 2: Change Challenge Find a piece of paper. Bend it, fold it, tear it, wet it. Write down how it changed each time. Which changes were reversible?
Activity 3: Recycling Scavenger Hunt In your home, find items made from plastic, glass, paper, and metal. Put recycling stickers on them!
Activity 4: Material Properties Game Say a material (wood, plastic, glass). Your friend names a property (hard, soft, waterproof, transparent). Do they match?
Test what you've learned about materials!
How do forces move things?
A force is a push or a pull. Forces make things move! They can also stop moving things or change which way something is moving.
A Push: When you push something, you move it away from you. Pushing a door open, pushing a swing, pushing a toy car—these are all pushes!
A Pull: When you pull something, you move it toward you. Pulling a door open, pulling a rope, pulling a toy toward you—these are all pulls!
Pushes and pulls are forces. Without forces, nothing would move! The wind is a force that pushes leaves. Gravity is a force that pulls things down. Muscles in your body create forces when you move!
Try this: Find objects around you. Push one and pull one. How did each force change the object?
Motion means something is moving or changing position. Forces cause motion! A big force makes something move fast. A small force makes it move slowly.
Speed: Speed is how fast something is moving. A cheetah runs fast. A snail moves slowly. A car can go very fast. A bicycle is slower than a car.
Direction: Direction is which way something is moving. North, south, east, west, left, right, up, down—these are all directions! A force can change the direction something is moving.
Starting and Stopping: A force can make a still object start moving. A force can also make a moving object slow down and stop!
Try this: Race objects! Roll a ball, slide a toy car, and move a block. Which one is fastest? Slowest? Why?
Magnets are special! They have a force that can push or pull certain metals without even touching them! This invisible force is called a magnetic force.
Magnetic Materials: Iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt are magnetic. They are attracted to magnets. Paper clips, nails, and some toys are made from magnetic materials!
Non-Magnetic Materials: Wood, plastic, rubber, and glass are not magnetic. Magnets don't attract them. Water, cloth, and paper are also not magnetic!
Magnetic Poles: Every magnet has two ends called poles—a North Pole and a South Pole. Opposite poles attract (pull toward each other). Same poles repel (push away from each other)!
Try this: Find a magnet at home. Test different items. Which ones stick to the magnet? Which don't? Make a list!
Gravity is an invisible force that pulls everything toward the Earth! It's always working, even when you can't see it. Gravity is why things fall down instead of floating up!
What Does Gravity Do? Gravity pulls you toward the ground. When you jump, you come back down. When you drop a ball, it falls down. When you throw something up, it comes back down. That's gravity!
Weight: Weight is how hard gravity is pulling on you. Heavier objects are pulled down harder than lighter objects. A rock is heavier than a feather, so gravity pulls it down faster!
Gravity All Around: The Sun's gravity keeps planets in orbit. The Moon's gravity makes tides in the ocean. Gravity holds our whole solar system together!
Try this: Drop different objects (carefully!). Do they all fall at the same speed? What about a feather and a rock?
Become a forces expert! Try these exciting activities:
Challenge 1: Push vs. Pull Hunt Find 10 objects that can be pushed or pulled. Make two lists: things you push and things you pull.
Challenge 2: Speed Race Roll different objects down a ramp. Which is fastest? Why? Does the ramp angle matter?
Challenge 3: Magnetic Treasure Hunt Hide metal objects around the room. Use a magnet to find them without looking!
Challenge 4: Gravity Experiment Drop objects of different weights from the same height. Do heavier things fall faster?
Test what you've learned about pushes, pulls, and forces!
How do plants grow?
Plants have different parts, and each part has an important job! Let's learn about the main parts of a plant.
Roots: The roots grow underground and hold the plant in the soil. Roots absorb water and minerals from the soil that the plant needs to survive and grow. Roots are like a plant's mouth and pipes!
Stem: The stem is like the plant's body. It holds the plant up and carries water and food from the roots to the rest of the plant. Stems can be thick and woody like a tree trunk, or thin and green like a grass stem.
Leaves: Leaves are where plants make their own food! They catch sunlight and use it to make food for the plant. Leaves come in many shapes and sizes—some are round, some are pointy, some have wavy edges!
Flowers: Flowers are beautiful and colorful! They help the plant make seeds so new plants can grow. Some flowers smell wonderful too!
Try this: Dig up a plant carefully (with permission!). Look at the roots. Are they long or short? Thick or thin? How many do you count?
Seeds are amazing little packets of life! Inside each seed is a tiny baby plant waiting to grow. With the right conditions, seeds grow into big plants!
What's Inside a Seed? A seed has a hard coat that protects the baby plant inside. It also has food stored to help the baby plant grow until it can make its own food.
Germination: Germination is when a seed starts to grow. First, the seed gets water and swells up. Then a tiny root pushes through the seed coat and grows down into the soil. Next, a tiny shoot pushes up toward the sunlight!
Different Seeds: Apple seeds are tiny and smooth. Pumpkin seeds are big and have a shell. Beans are large and easy to watch grow. Sunflower seeds are striped and pretty!
Try this: Plant a bean seed in a jar with damp paper towels. Keep it wet and in a warm place. Watch the root and shoot grow over the next few days!
Plants need special things to grow big and healthy. Just like you need food, water, and air, plants need their own special things!
Water: Plants drink water through their roots. Water helps them grow and keeps them from wilting. Too little water and the plant gets dry. Too much water and the roots rot!
Sunlight: Plants need sunlight to make food through a process called photosynthesis. Without sunlight, plants become pale and weak. That's why plants grow toward windows and sunny spots!
Good Soil: Soil gives plants nutrients and minerals they need. Soil also holds water for roots to drink. Plants need healthy, dark soil full of goodness!
Warmth: Most plants grow best in warm temperatures. Cold stops plants from growing. Too much heat can burn leaves!
Try this: Grow two plants. Give one water, sunlight, and warmth. Keep the other in a dark, cold, dry place. Watch which one grows better! This is an experiment!
Now that you know what plants need, let's learn how to keep them healthy and happy!
Watering: Feel the soil. If it's dry, water the plant. If it's wet, don't water it yet. Most plants like soil that's damp like a wrung-out sponge—not soaking wet, not bone dry.
Light: Put your plant near a window where it gets sunlight. But don't put it in direct scorching sun all day. Most plants like bright, indirect light.
Temperature: Keep plants in a warm room. Most plants don't like cold drafts or sudden temperature changes. Room temperature is usually perfect!
Feeding: Sometimes, plants need extra nutrients. Plant food (fertilizer) gives them a boost to grow even stronger. But don't give too much—a little goes a long way!
Removing Dead Leaves: If leaves turn brown or yellow and die, gently remove them. This helps the plant focus energy on new, healthy growth.
Try this: Keep a plant diary! Draw your plant every few days. Write notes about how it looks, when you watered it, and how it's growing!
Become a plant scientist! Try these hands-on activities:
Activity 1: Seed Dissection With adult help, carefully open a large seed (like a bean or pumpkin seed). Can you find the baby plant and the stored food inside?
Activity 2: Root Observation Grow a bean in a clear plastic bag with damp paper towels. Tape it to a window. Watch how roots grow down and shoots grow up!
Activity 3: Leaf Hunt Find 5 different leaves in your garden or park. Compare their shapes and sizes. Make leaf rubbings or press them in a book!
Activity 4: Plant Journal Pick a plant to observe for 2 weeks. Draw it every few days. Write down changes in size, color, and new growth!
Test what you've learned about plants!
What do all animals need?
All animals—from tiny insects to huge elephants—need the same basic things to survive. These are called basic needs!
Food: Every animal needs to eat. Some animals eat plants (herbivores). Some eat meat (carnivores). Some eat both plants and meat (omnivores). Food gives animals energy to run, jump, play, and grow!
Water: All animals must drink water to stay alive. Water keeps them hydrated and healthy. Some animals get water by drinking. Others get it from the food they eat!
Air: Animals breathe air to get oxygen. Land animals breathe with lungs. Fish breathe with gills. Even tiny insects breathe! Without air, no animal can survive.
Shelter: Animals need homes to stay safe from danger and bad weather. A bird's nest is shelter. A fox's den is shelter. A fish hiding in plants is shelter. Your house is YOUR shelter!
Try this: Pick your favorite animal. Can you name one type of food it eats, where it lives (shelter), and how it breathes?
Baby animals have special names! Learning these names helps us understand how different animals grow and change.
Mammals: Mammals have fur or hair, and mothers feed their babies milk. A baby dog is a puppy. A baby cat is a kitten. A baby horse is a foal. A baby human is a baby!
Birds: Baby birds are called chicks. They hatch from eggs. Parent birds feed and protect their chicks until they grow feathers and learn to fly!
Fish: Baby fish are called fry. They come from eggs laid in water. Most fish don't care for their babies—the babies must survive on their own!
Insects: Some babies look exactly like their parents (like grasshopper nymphs). Others look completely different—like caterpillars that turn into butterflies!
Amphibians: A baby frog is a tadpole. It looks like a little fish with a tail! Slowly, it grows legs and loses its tail until it becomes a frog!
Try this: Make a poster of baby animal names. Draw or cut out pictures of different baby animals. Label them with their names!
Different animals eat different things based on what they need and what's available in their habitat!
Herbivores (Plant Eaters): Cows, sheep, rabbits, and deer eat only plants. They have flat teeth for grinding leaves and grass. Their long digestive systems help them digest tough plants!
Carnivores (Meat Eaters): Lions, eagles, and sharks eat other animals. They have sharp teeth for tearing meat. Their short digestive systems quickly break down meat!
Omnivores (Plant and Meat Eaters): Bears, pigs, and humans eat both plants and meat. We have different types of teeth—flat ones for grinding plants and pointed ones for tearing meat!
Scavengers: Vultures and hyenas eat animals that are already dead. They're nature's cleanup crew!
Try this: Look at pictures of different animals' teeth. Can you guess what they eat? Then check online to see if you were right!
Animals—including humans—need to stay healthy and strong! Good health means having energy, growing properly, and staying happy!
Exercise and Movement: All animals move! Birds fly, fish swim, and dogs run. Movement keeps muscles strong and hearts healthy. Humans need to play, run, and exercise daily!
Eating Healthy Food: Eating good food with vegetables, fruits, proteins, and whole grains helps animals grow strong. Too much sugary food makes us sluggish and unhealthy!
Keeping Clean: Washing hands and body keeps germs away. Animals clean themselves by licking, bathing in water, or rolling in dust!
Getting Enough Sleep: Sleep helps bodies repair and grow. Humans need 8-10 hours of sleep per night. Animals also need rest!
Staying Safe: Avoiding danger and injury keeps us healthy. Animals use their instincts to stay safe. Humans use rules and caution!
Try this: For one week, track your healthy habits. Did you exercise? Eat vegetables? Wash your hands? Get enough sleep? Make a checklist and see how many you complete!
Become an expert on animals and humans! Try these fun activities:
Challenge 1: Food Web Game Draw arrows showing what eats what. Draw a plant, then arrows to herbivores, then arrows to carnivores. Can you make a complete food chain?
Challenge 2: Baby Animal Match Mix up pictures of baby animals and adults. Match each baby to its parent. Learn their special names!
Challenge 3: Healthy Habits Journal Track your healthy habits for a week. Write down exercise, meals, hygiene, and sleep. Be honest and proud of your health!
Challenge 4: Animal Interview Pretend an animal visits you. Ask it questions: What do you eat? Where do you live? How do you stay safe? Write its answers!
Test what you've learned about animals and humans!
Build great sentences!
Every sentence has two important parts that work together like a team. A subject tells us WHO or WHAT the sentence is about. The predicate (or verb) tells us what the subject is DOING.
Think of it like this: the subject is the star of the story, and the predicate shows us what the star is doing! For example, in "The cat jumps," the cat is the subject and jumps is what the cat is doing.
Every complete sentence needs both parts. If you only have a subject like "The dog," that's not a complete sentence. If you only say "runs," we don't know who is running. But when you put them together—"The dog runs"—you have a complete sentence!
Try this: Look at these groups of words. Which ones are complete sentences? Which ones need a subject or predicate?
Sentences can be different types depending on what they do. Some sentences tell us information. Some ask questions. Some give commands. And some show strong feelings! Each type ends with a different punctuation mark.
A statement tells us something. It ends with a full stop. "I like to read books." Another name for a statement is a declarative sentence.
A question asks us something. It ends with a question mark. "Do you like ice cream?" We ask questions when we want to know the answer to something.
A command tells someone to do something. It ends with a full stop (or sometimes an exclamation mark). "Close the door please!" or "Sit down." Commands give instructions or requests.
An exclamation shows strong feeling or excitement. It ends with an exclamation mark! "What a beautiful day!" or "I won the race!" Exclamations are loud and exciting.
Try this: Can you turn these statements into questions or exclamations?
Punctuation marks are symbols we put at the end of sentences and inside them. They help us understand what we're reading. They tell us when to pause, stop, or show emotion. Each mark has a special job!
A full stop (period) tells us a sentence is finished. We use it at the end of statements and commands. It means STOP and read the next sentence.
A question mark (?) goes at the end of questions. If you see a question mark, the sentence is asking something and we need to answer it.
An exclamation mark (!) shows excitement or surprise. Use it when something is VERY surprising or exciting! It makes the sentence feel loud!
A comma (,) is a tiny pause inside a sentence. It helps us know when to take a breath while reading. "I like cats, dogs, and birds." The commas separate items in a list.
An apostrophe (') is used in contractions (short words) and to show that something belongs to someone. "It's" means "it is". "Sarah's book" means the book belongs to Sarah.
Try this: Add the correct punctuation mark to each sentence:
You can make sentences more interesting by adding more words! Start with a simple sentence like "The cat sleeps." Now we can make it better by adding describing words.
An adjective describes a noun (a person, place, or thing). Instead of "The cat sleeps," you could say "The fluffy cat sleeps." The word "fluffy" is an adjective—it tells us what the cat is like!
You can also add adverbs that describe how something happens. An adverb describes a verb (an action). "The cat sleeps" becomes "The cat sleeps peacefully." The word "peacefully" is an adverb—it tells us how the cat is sleeping!
You can connect simple sentences using conjunctions like "and," "but," and "or." Instead of saying "The cat is orange. The cat is soft," you can say "The cat is orange and soft." The word "and" joins the two ideas together!
Try this: Make these simple sentences more interesting:
Let's have fun building sentences! Below you'll find sentence parts. Mix and match them to create silly and interesting sentences. Start with a subject, add a predicate, and make it longer with adjectives and adverbs!
Here are some sentence starters and endings you can use:
Try this: Use the words above to build your own sentences. Start with a subject + verb, then add more describing words. For example: "A silly monkey is jumping very quickly in the jungle!" Can you make one that's even sillier?
Now try building sentences about real things from your life. Use the same pattern: subject + verb + details. What sentences can you create about your family, pets, or school?
Test what you've learned about sentences! Answer the questions below. Think carefully and choose the best answer.
Learn to read and write amazing stories!
Every good story has characters—the people or animals that the story is about. Characters are the most important part of a story because readers care about what happens to them!
Usually there is one main character who is the "star" of the story. This is who the story is mostly about. The main character faces a problem or goes on an adventure. We follow them through the whole story and see what they do.
There are also supporting characters who help the main character. They can be friends, family members, or other people the main character meets. Supporting characters make the story more interesting and can help the main character solve problems.
Some stories also have a villain or antagonist—a character who causes problems for the main character. The villain might be mean, tricky, or just want something the main character has. Think about the Big Bad Wolf in Little Red Riding Hood—he's the antagonist!
Try this: Think of your favourite story. Who is the main character? Who are the supporting characters? Is there a villain? Draw or write about them!
The setting is WHERE and WHEN the story takes place. It's like the stage where all the action happens! A good setting helps readers imagine the story in their minds.
The place or location tells us where the characters are. This could be a castle, a forest, a school, a spaceship, a beach, or even an imaginary world. Different places create different feelings. A dark forest feels scary, but a sunny park feels happy.
The time tells us when the story happens. Is it the past (long ago), the present (today), or the future (a long time from now)? Is it daytime or nighttime? Winter or summer? Morning or evening? Time details help make the setting feel real.
A great setting makes the story exciting and helps us understand what life is like for the characters. If your story is set on an alien planet, the characters might do things very differently than if they're at your school!
Try this: Pick a setting from the pictures above (or think of your own). Write 3-4 sentences describing what it looks, sounds, and feels like. For example: "The beach is warm and sandy. The sun is bright and hot. I can hear waves crashing..."
The plot is what happens in the story—the events in order from beginning to end. Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end. This is sometimes called the story's structure or the story arc.
The beginning (or introduction) tells us about the characters and the setting. It starts the story and makes us interested in what will happen. It introduces the main character and their world.
The middle (or rising action) is where the action happens. This is where problems appear and things get complicated. The main character faces challenges and tries to solve them. This is usually the longest and most exciting part of the story!
The end (or conclusion) is where the story finishes. The problem gets solved (or not!), and the character learns something. The end shows us what happens to the characters after all the action.
Between the middle and the end is the climax—the most exciting, important moment in the story. This is when the main character faces their biggest challenge!
Try this: Think of a story you know (like Goldilocks, Cinderella, or a film). Can you identify these parts?
Now you know about characters, settings, and plots! You can use this knowledge to write your own story. Start by planning your story before you write it. This makes writing much easier!
Step 1: Plan Your Characters — Think about who will be in your story. What are their names? What do they like? Are they brave, kind, funny, or clever? Draw them or write about them!
Step 2: Choose Your Setting — Decide where and when your story happens. Is it at school, in the jungle, in the past, or in the future? Describe it so readers can imagine it.
Step 3: Think of a Problem — Every good story has a problem the character must solve. Maybe they've lost something, need to rescue someone, or have to learn something new. The problem makes the story interesting!
Step 4: Plan Your Story Events — Write down what happens in the beginning, middle, and end. What does the character do to solve their problem? What is the climax?
Step 5: Write Your Story — Now write it down! Use describing words and try to make it exciting. Don't worry about making mistakes—you can fix them later!
Try this: Use the planning template above to plan a story. Start simple—maybe your character goes to the park and finds something magical, or makes a new friend. Write your story in 3-4 sentences.
Do you need help getting started with your own story? Here are some story starters—the first sentence of a story. Pick one and finish the story! Use what you learned about characters, settings, and plots.
Try this: Choose one of the story starters above. Write 5-8 sentences continuing the story. Remember to include a problem and how your character solves it!
Test your knowledge about stories! Answer the questions below and show what you've learned.
Master spelling patterns and rules!
Words often follow patterns. Learning these helps you spell similar words! Words with the same ending sound are a word family or rhyming family.
Words ending in -at: cat, bat, rat, mat, hat, fat, sat. They all rhyme and end with A-T. Know "cat"? You can spell "bat" because only the first letter changes!
More families: -an (can, fan, man, pan, ran), -ig (big, dig, pig), -op (hop, mop, pop), -ug (bug, dug, hug, mug). Word families = spelling shortcuts!
Learn one word, spell many. Just change the first letter!
Try this: Say cat, bat, fat out loud. Listen to the rhyme. Now spell each! Cover and write from memory!
English has rules for adding endings. These make spelling predictable!
Add -s: Make plural (more than one). One cat → two cats. One dog → many dogs.
Add -es: When word ends in S, X, Z, CH, SH. Box → boxes. Wish → wishes. Church → churches.
Add -ing: Show it's happening NOW. "run" → "running," "play" → "playing." Present tense.
Add -ed: Show it happened in the PAST. "walked," "played." Past tense.
Add -er and -est: Compare. -er for two, -est for three or more. Small, smaller, smallest.
Try this: Run+ing=___ | Walk+ed=___ | Box+es=___ | Big+est=___
Some words don't follow rules. They're exception words. Practice helps!
"the" is super common but doesn't rhyme. Remember: T-H-E.
"said" sounds like "sed." Just remember: S-A-I-D!
Other tricky: "come", "some", "where", "there", "were".
Use Look-Say-Cover-Write-Check: LOOK. SAY. COVER. WRITE. CHECK!
Try this: Pick one word. Write 5 times. Say. Cover. Write. Check. Daily!
THE BEST spelling method! Five steps to spell ANY word!
1-LOOK: See every letter carefully. Notice shapes.
2-SAY: Say aloud. Letter by letter, then whole word.
3-COVER: Hide it! Work from memory.
4-WRITE: Write from memory. Try hard!
5-CHECK: Right? Good! Wrong? Try again!
Try this: Use this method on "said" or "where." Do it daily for one week!
Test your skills! Spell words from families, rules, and tricky words!
Try this: Get a friend to read one word. Write. Check. Score yourself!
Test your spelling! Pick the correctly spelled word.
Understand what you read!
Good readers don't just read words—they THINK while reading! Active reading means you're working your brain to understand the story. Great readers use special tricks to help them!
Look at pictures: Pictures give you clues about the story. Before you read, study the pictures! They show you what the story is about and help you predict what will happen.
Read the title: The title tells you what the story is about. "The Lost Puppy" tells you there's a puppy that's lost. That's a big clue!
Predict: Try to guess what will happen BEFORE you read. "The Lost Puppy"—will the puppy be found? Will someone help? Making guesses makes reading more fun!
Read slowly: Don't rush. Take your time. If you read too fast, you might miss important parts. Read at a pace where you understand everything.
Try this: Next time you read a story, look at the pictures first. Read the title. Guess what will happen. Then read and check if you were right!
After reading, ask yourself questions to check if you understood! These special question words help you think about the story:
WHO? This asks about the characters. Who is in the story? Who does something important?
WHAT? This asks about the action and events. What happens? What does the character do? What is the problem?
WHERE? This asks about the location or setting. Where does the story take place? Where do the characters go?
WHEN? This asks about time. When does the story happen? Is it day or night? Is it now or long ago?
WHY? This asks about reasons. Why does something happen? Why does the character do something?
HOW? This asks about the way things happen. How does the character solve the problem? How do they feel?
Try this: Read a short story. Ask yourself: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? Can you answer all 6 questions?
Stories have clues hidden in them! Good readers look for key words that help them understand. Clues help you figure out what's really happening!
Key words are important words that appear over and over. If a story keeps mentioning "rain" and "umbrella," those are key words that tell you what the story is about.
Making inferences means figuring out information the author didn't say directly. If you read "Emma wore a thick coat and a scarf," you can guess it's cold outside—even if the author didn't say "it's cold."
Look for describing words like "sad," "happy," "scared." These tell you how characters feel. Look for action words like "ran," "shouted," "whispered." These tell you what's happening!
Read each word carefully. Sometimes small words hide big clues. The word "but" can change everything. "The dog wanted to play, but she was sleeping" tells you different things than "The dog wanted to play and she was sleeping."
Try this: Read this: "Sofia looked at her birthday cake. It had no candles." What can you infer? (The power went out? She forgot? It's not her birthday yet?) Think about the clues!
A summary is a short retelling of the story using only the most important parts. You don't include every detail—just the key ideas!
Good summaries have three parts: the beginning (who are the characters and what's the setting?), the middle (what's the problem?), and the end (how is it solved?).
To summarize, ask yourself: "What is this story REALLY about?" Not every detail matters. You don't need to say "The boy wore blue shoes" if shoes aren't important to the story. You DO need to say "A boy got lost in the woods."
Practice making summaries by writing 2-3 sentences about what happens. Can someone understand the story from your summary? If yes, you did it right!
Summaries help you remember stories and understand the most important ideas. They also help you explain stories to other people!
Try this: Read a story. Write a 3-sentence summary. Does it have: who? what problem? how it ends?
Be a reading detective! Read carefully and find all the clues. Answer the questions and solve the mystery!
Mystery Story: Max was excited. He put on his warm coat. He grabbed his backpack. Outside, white flakes were falling from the sky!
Try this: Now YOU write a short mystery story (3-4 sentences). Give clues about what's happening. Have a friend read it and find the clues!
Read carefully and answer questions about comprehension and understanding!
Master words and how they work!
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or animal. Almost every sentence has at least one noun! Nouns are super important because they tell us WHAT we're talking about.
There are two types of nouns. Common nouns are regular names. "dog," "chair," "ball," "school"—these are common nouns. They start with lowercase letters.
Proper nouns are special names of specific people, places, or things. "Emma," "London," "Sarah," "Germany"—these are proper nouns. Proper nouns ALWAYS start with capital letters because they're special!
Example: "My dog Spot loves to play at the park." Here, "dog" is a common noun. "Spot" is a proper noun (the dog's special name). "park" is a common noun.
Try this: Make a list. Put your own common nouns on one side (dog, book, chair). Put proper nouns (people's names, place names) on the other side. Remember capitals!
A verb is an action word! It tells us what someone or something IS DOING. Verbs are the "doing" part of sentences. Without verbs, nothing happens!
Think of verbs as movement or activity. "run," "jump," "eat," "sleep," "read," "write," "draw," "sing"—these are all verbs! They show action.
Some verbs are easy to see—"The cat jumped." Other verbs are quieter but still action—"The girl thinks." "Think" is a verb because it's something you DO with your brain!
Every sentence needs a verb. You can't have a complete sentence without an action! The verb is the most important part of what's happening in a sentence.
Try this: Pick 5 verbs from above. Act them out! Can your friend guess the verb you're doing? Then write each verb in a sentence.
Words that describe other words are very helpful! Adjectives describe nouns (things). Adverbs describe verbs (actions).
Adjectives tell us WHAT something is like. "The happy dog runs." "Happy" is an adjective—it describes the dog! Other adjectives: big, small, red, cold, soft, loud, quiet, pretty.
Adverbs tell us HOW an action happens. "The dog runs quickly." "Quickly" is an adverb—it describes HOW the dog runs! Other adverbs: slowly, loudly, carefully, happily, gently.
Adjectives + Adverbs make writing more interesting! Instead of "The cat is funny," you say "The silly cat chases the ball playfully!" Now the reader can see the action better!
Try this: Write these sentences better by adding adjectives and adverbs: "The bird flies." ("The blue bird flies swiftly.") "The girl plays." ("The happy girl plays loudly.")
Tenses tell us WHEN something happens. The same action can happen at different times—and the verb changes!
PAST tense shows something already happened. We add -ed to most verbs. "I played yesterday." "She walked to school." The action is DONE.
PRESENT tense shows something is happening NOW. "I play today." "He walks to school." The action is HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.
FUTURE tense shows something will happen later. We use "will" before the verb. "I will play tomorrow." "They will walk to school." The action hasn't happened yet but will!
Look at "play": played (past), play (present), will play (future). The same action, three different times!
Try this: Take a verb like "jump." Write it three ways: jumped (past), jump (present), will jump (future). Can you use each in a sentence?
Can you sort words into their word classes? This is fun! Here are words—can you identify if each is a noun, verb, adjective, or adverb?
Try this: Pick 10 words. Sort them by type: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs. Ask a friend to check your sorting!
Test your grammar skills! Identify word types, tenses, and more!
British National Curriculum — Ages 6–7 — KS1 SATs-style assessments
Common Core & NGSS — Ages 6–7 — Subject-wide assessments
KS1 SATs-style — Arithmetic & Reasoning
KS1 SATs-style — Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling
KS1 National Curriculum — Teacher Assessment Topics
Common Core Standards — Ages 6–7
Common Core Standards — Ages 6–7
NGSS Standards — Ages 6–7