TEACHING RESOURCES
Turn classes into masterclasses with access to amazing resource reviews from our School Library Service. Ditch the expected texts and get inspired to try something new.
Keen to have access to this type of talent in your school - enquire about services available from your local Schools Library Service today.
The burning of Spellow community library – how libraries can help to restore peace and security for our children and young people
Rachel JohnstonHarrow SLS Librarian’s view: From the many images of senseless destruction in the riots following the tragic murders in Southport this summer, those of the blackened, ransacked public library in Spellow, Liverpool seemed...
News
Using Puppets in the Classroom
Wanda GajewskiWandsworth LRS Librarian’s view: Storytelling is often considered as a daunting activity. We all have a natural propensity towards telling and will have told many anecdotes and recounted many events. Research has shown t...
Creativity
Representation of EDI in books on library shelves
Authors and books who have shared stories and characters with us which make visible EDI in our society, through the ages....
Reading
BIG Book List (KS1-4): Discovering Disabled or Neurodiverse Characters
A range of popular fiction titles including a synopsis that have characters who are disabled or neurodiverse for KS1 - KS4....
Reading
What price progress?
Human history is full of inventions. It starts back from the Dark Age, where humans first learned how to make fire and then began making the first tools to make their daily tasks easier. This pack will spark a discussion in the...
STEM
Reading Adventures
Explore how to make reading an adventure, linking the curriculum and information books, to help engage reluctant readers and develop a love of reading and learning....
AdviceReading
Challenging Gender Stereotypes Through Picture Books
Exploration of early years education that's central in promoting gender equality, with picture books an essential resource in addressing and challenging gender stereotypes. ...
Picture Books
The BIG list of Black and Asian authors
A comprehensive list of popular fiction titles with synopsis written by Black and Asian authors from picture books to YA fiction...
Reading
Tracks Through Poplar
Taking the train and railways in East London as a starting point – Global Learning London with teachers and children in Poplar – created an innovative online resource based around a 150-year-old steam locomotive ‘Poplar’....
Cross-curriculum
A Portrait of Black Artists
Books which focus on inspiring black icons that will be ideal for your primary school library (with a special focus on activist artist Faith Ringgold), selected by Sharon Walsh from Westminster SLS....
Creativity
Two Girls, Two Diaries, Two Wars
Two girls who lived through two frightening wars, 80 years apart. Both wrote diaries describing their experiences. Both entries start with a birthday. One ends tragically, the other with sanctuary....
Reading
Something wicked this way comes: genuinely scary reads for KS2 horror fans
Appropriate horror fiction and non-fiction for KS2 readers is often requested but tricky to identify. Here West Sussex Schools Library Service recommend scary reads for the more discerning KS2 horror fan in a bid to inspire more...
Reading
Unleash the power of poetry
Encourage your students to write their own poems by sharing advice and inspiration from Joseph Coelho, author of My Beautiful Voice, and Michael Rosen suggests Nina Simon from Redbridge SLS....
Creativity
Around the world with maps and compasses
In times of driverless cars and GPS (Global Positioning System) are traditional devices for orientation in the field, such as a map and compass, tools of the past? The short answer is not yet, writes Wanda Gajewski from Wandsworth LRS....
Science
Creative Writing: How to Diffuse an Explosion in the Thesaurus Factory
How to effectively move from "WOW!" words to "in their own words"....
Cross-curriculum
It’s not only the mental health of children… My mum’s not like other mums
For children living with parents who suffer from mental health issues, home life can be incredibly tricky....
PHSE
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
Care needs to be taken when choosing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month resources as it is so important to avoid the stereotypes that seep into some well-meaning texts....
PHSE
Elmer: beautiful joker offering big life lessons
Pat ElliottWestminster SLS Librarian’s view: I work with London school children as both a librarian and heritage educator, and regularly meet pupils with special needs as well as those from diverse cultural and social backgrounds. It n...
PHSE
Is it a school library if there aren’t any books?
Do school libraries need physical books? This is a question that some schools are pondering, and something SLS has been discussing with our school librarians at our regular network meetings....
Cross-curriculum
Promoting Peace and Resilience in Times of Conflict
Coverage about Ukraine is everywhere for children to hear and pick up; TV and news programmes, parents and carers discussing at the school gate. Abby Buntonsuggests the best ways to use books to develop your children’s resilience....
PHSE
Picture books for maths
This article by Wanda Gajewski from Wandsworth SLS contains some ideas how to teach young children mathematics. ...
STEM
Big book lessons
Why big books? There is something amazing about big book versions of good children’s books. The large print and bright and colourful illustrations appeal are a sure hook into their content and draw readers into a story and are easy for...
Cross-curriculum
Teaching controversial topics: honest truths found in graphic novels
A round up of the ways graphic novels can help students understand and discuss hard-hitting, and often frightening, current events, from people smuggling to depression....
Young Adult Fiction
International Women’s Day: Break the Bias
Celebrating International Women’s Day (8 March 2022) at school is a great way to help children learn more about this celebration – especially its modern invocation....
PHSE
When pictures tell a thousand words
There are many brilliant picture books written for the KS2 age group and they have so many uses both in the classroom and for general reading....
Picture Books
10 Books to Borrow for Children’s Mental Health Week: 7-13 February 2022
Books remain a key resource for teachers looking for support with mental health as a topic in lessons and also for ways to encourage emotional literacy and resilience in the children they teach. ...
PHSE
Let’s Talk About Sex and Relationships in Secondary School Libraries
Abby Bunton from Hampshire SLS assesses how school libraries can do more to be inclusive and open to the presence of sex and relationships in library stock....
PHSE
Hands-on History
This post from Wanda Gajewski, Wandsworth SLS focuses on ways teachers can use objects for effective classroom teaching....
Cross-curriculum
Food for Thought
Ideas for anyone trying to eat more vegan meals this Veganuary from Nina Simon...
PHSE
Future of Primary School Libraries
The future of primary school libraries report, published today by the National Literacy Trust and partners provides a welcome focus on an essential part of primary school life for children....
News
World War Two literature
Laura Bennett from Tower Hamlets SLS looks at classic World War Two literature and an impressive collection of newer titles that will spark debate and conversation....
History
We Are Refugees
At a time when desperate people fleeing the Taliban in Afghanistan is still headline news, it is pertinent to look at the issue of young refugees coming to England and how they are accepted at school writes Nina Simon from Redbridge SLS....
PHSE
The big question: should we introduce a computerised library system into our primary school?
There are some very good library systems on the market (there are also some bad ones), but any system is only as good as the people managing it. Contrary to what the various companies selling these systems want you to believe,...
Cross-curriculum
Challenging Gender Norms
With diversity the new laser focus in schools up and down the country, it’s not a surprise that people are starting to question the unconscious gender bias that can be found in texts....
PHSE
Positive Images of Black Girls and Women in Picture Books
Top picture books showcasing powerful and celebratory stories about Black girls and women picked by Janet Noble, Primary School Librarian at Tower Hamlets....
PHSE
Heroes without a cape and mask
Exploring real-life heroes is a great way of combining the children’s interest in superheroes to spark their curiosity about ordinary people....
Reading
Click Safe
How picture books help children learn about E-safety by Head of Tower Hamlets Library Service, Gillian Harris, MBE....
PHSE
All Join In
Recommended picture books about children with disabilities, chosen by Sylvia Cummins....
Picture Books
Alternative Fairy Tales
Alternative versions of fairy tales can help children understand how the stories came to be told, how they are passed down through generations and how they change over time....
Reading
Life-changing Libraries
Gillian Harris MBE responds to Cressida Cowell's letter to the prime minster about school libraries....
News
Why? A complex world and the ability to think for yourself
Why teach children philosophy? Since philosophy is all about asking questions, children are instinctive ‘’philosophers’’. Philosophy can teach your pupils to think more clearly and to be confident in debates and discussions....
PHSE
Click With Care
This fantastic pack features all the resources which you could need to raise the awareness among KS2 pupils about online risks, safety and behaviour. It will provide interesting topics for discussions about being online and e-safety....
STEM
Meet the Asian Characters in Children’s Fiction for KS2
Books by writers who use their own cultural experiences to create stories with characters that British Asian children will relate to and hook them into reading....
Young Adult Fiction
Beyond The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Anyone reading usually believes that what they read has a background of truth, even if the characters are fiction, says Nina Simon. Here she looks at the many faults with The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and suggests some books that...
Young Adult Fiction
Diversifying the Teaching of Space Exploration at KS1 and KS2
The books selected by Gillian Harris will ensure children can celebrate the achievements of men and women from different backgrounds and nationalities, find role models they can identify with and be inspired by their successes when...
Science
Growing Pains: How Books Can Inspire a Growth Mindset
All children have their own beliefs about their abilities and potential when confronted with change. Change is always happening....
PHSE
Short and Sweet: The Joys of Story Collections
Short stories are a brilliant way to fill a few spare minutes, whilst also engaging with reluctant readers and exposing children to world stories. They can be excellent fun for the storyteller too....
Picture BooksReading
Are Babies Too Little for Books?
It is never too early to give a child a book. They don’t even need to be able to sit up. Prop them on your knee and as soon as their eyes begin to focus, babies will look at a picture with interest. Helen Oxenbury’s board books, All...
Reading
How Far has Your Food Travelled Today?
All over the world, people are working to protect our planet in new and exciting ways. Spark classroom curiosity about the 4,500 Fairtrade mark products being sold in the UK. Inspired by the ‘Fair Trade’ text by Jillian Powell, the...
Cross-curriculum
Lonely or alone? Building resilience in young children through picture books
Feelings of loneliness are normal, and many children suffer from some form of isolation writes Wanda Gajewski from SLS Wandsworth. Give your children a reassurance that at certain times in our lives we will all experience feelings of...
PHSE
Reflecting Realities: The Importance of Books that Mirror Cultures
Children from ethnic minorities in our schools are in danger of going through school life never being able to identify with characters in the literature they read. Reading ideas by Gillian Harris about books to use in classroom story...
Reading
Not So Fantastic Plastic
This article by Nina Simon explores pointers about what your class can do together to reduce plastic waste and protect our planet....
STEM
Saying Goodbye
With carefully chosen literature about loss and grief, in particular the much-loved picture book Badger’s parting gift, you can start a discussion that explores the cycle of life and enables you to craft lasting memories with children....
PHSE
Lighting the Way: The Match Girls Strike of 1888
This is a local history study which looks at the tough lives and dangerous work of the Match Girls of Bow and how they changed working conditions for themselves and for unskilled workers everywhere writes Gillian Harris from SLS Tower...
History
Scientific Breakthrough: STEM-focused female role models in young adult fiction
A list of 12 brilliant Young Adult fiction titles with strong female characters who all have an interest in science, technology and maths (ie, a STEM focus) found by Nina Simon from SLS Redbridge....
Young Adult Fiction
The Shahnameh Box: Discover Iran’s culture, stories and skills
Iran is bursting with stories – stories you can use to explore the history, geography and music of the country as well as add a global slant to maths, literacy and science topics says Gillian Harris from SLS Tower Hamlets who...
Cross-curriculum