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TEACHING RESOURCES

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Illustration of people walking around large books, with a light bulb-shaped bookcase hanging above, symbolizing learning and knowledge in a vibrant library setting anticipating its next restock.

Ways to restock your library

Librarian’s view: To buy 100 new books split evenly between fiction and non-fiction in today’s market could easily cost over £1,000. With the discount specialists like SLS receive from suppliers, the cost for the same number of book...

Illustration of a hand holding a book titled "Million Word Gap" which bridges the gap between cliffs. Children with backpacks walk across, symbolizing the power of books to close literacy gaps.

Books to stop the million word gap

Librarian’s view: Who might say this? “We know that children who read for pleasure, and who are read to, gain all kinds of benefits.” The answer is as likely to be educators as librarians, but this time it was the current Waterston...

Illustration of a hand placing a 'Solution' puzzle piece between two blocks. One person climbs a ladder, while another with a telescope stands on a block, bridging the reading gap.

Closing the reading gap with the right book choice

Librarian’s view: For confident early readers and reluctant or not yet got it readers, tackling a whole book together in class can be tricky. The speedy ones think they know the story. While the not yet got it group might be struggling...

A child beams with joy in a library, surrounded by a heart-shaped frame of colorful books. Among them lies the enchanting "The Legend of Ghastly Jack Crowheart," part of the "Books Kids Love" collection and truly loved by all.

Books Kids Love: Curated by Kids, Loved by All

Zoe DavisAssistant ManagerLancashire SLS Librarian’s view: At the Lancashire School Library Service, we understand the dedication and effort it takes to find the perfect book for each child in your school. With over 20 years of experie...

The book cover of "How to Train Your Dragon" by Cressida Cowell is artfully displayed in an empty cinema near you, with the big screen showcasing the same captivating title, creating a magical movie-like ambiance.

Coming to a cinema near you…

Relationships between characters in books show us who we are and who we can become. Books in classroom collections and school libraries have an important part to play in this....

A heart-shaped cutout shows four young people reading books together, superimposed on a background of a damaged, cluttered room with debris on the floor. This poignant scene highlights the efforts of Spellow Community Library to restore peace and harmony in their troubled environment.

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...

A woman sits in an educational classroom with children who are holding hand puppets. The children are seated on the floor and facing the woman, who is smiling and holding two colorful puppets.

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...

A painting of a military figure in historical uniform mounted on a black horse, surrounded by library shelves filled with books.

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....

A collage of children's books in different colors.

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....

Edward eliot edward eliot edward eliot.

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...

An open book filled with thrilling adventures as airplanes soar through the sky.

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....

A series of drawings depicting a dog challenging gender stereotypes by wearing a pink dress in picture books.

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. ...

A collage of diverse children's books, featuring works by black authors.

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...

A group of people standing on the tracks next to a train passing through Poplar.

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 a black woman standing amidst a room full of items.

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....

Two young girls captured in a black and white photograph.

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....

A wicked collection of scary reads for KS2 horror fans, featuring children's books on an orange background.

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...

This is the story of you and me.

You, Me, Story!

Promoting critical thinking around gender stereotypes through storytelling...

A collection of powerful children's books on a vibrant yellow background brimming with poetic beauty.

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....

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....

A creative writing piece featuring a word cloud centered around the keyword "boom.

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

"Five Minutes of Peace" by Julia Jones is a heartwarming children's book that explores the challenges faced by a busy mum and highlights the importance of mental health.

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....

Five children's books featuring a Traveller protagonist on a green background.

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....

A beautiful joker, Elmer, presents a colorful painting of an elephant adorned with vibrant squares.

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...

An open book with origami cranes flying in the air at the school library.

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

A collection of children's books promoting peace on a table.

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....

The very hungry caterpillar picture books.

Picture books for maths

This article by Wanda Gajewski from Wandsworth SLS contains some ideas how to teach young children mathematics. ...

The very big book lessons.

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

A picture of a red tree and a castle, with a book incorporated into the design. This image would be perfect for teaching about graphic novels or exploring controversial topics in literature.

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

A woman in a hijab celebrating International Women's Day with books in front of her.

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....

A picture is worth a thousand words, and this particular one certainly tells a compelling story. In the dark, a bear and a king stand together, creating an intriguing image filled with mystery and intrigue.

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....

Children's books of the week.

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. ...

The top sex education books of 2019.

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....

A hands-on history experience featuring an Egyptian pharaoh statue with a child standing in front.

Hands-on History

This post from Wanda Gajewski, Wandsworth SLS focuses on ways teachers can use objects for effective classroom teaching....

Cross-curriculum

Vegan family cookbooks for thought-provoking food in Vegan January.

Food for Thought

Ideas for anyone trying to eat more vegan meals this Veganuary from Nina Simon...

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....

A literature collection highlighting children's books about World War Two (WWII).

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....

A collection of children's books featuring a horse on the cover that educates about refugees.

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....

A primary school classroom filled with excited children who are gathered around a question mark painted on the floor.

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

A young boy is smiling in front of a group of books, challenging gender norms.

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....

A positive image of a young black girl confidently standing in front of a group of children's books.

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....

A collage of photos of women and men in a boat, dressed in capes and masks like heroes.

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....

A cell phone with a shark on it.

Click Safe

How picture books help children learn about E-safety by Head of Tower Hamlets Library Service, Gillian Harris, MBE....

A boy in a wheelchair with books in front of him.

All Join In

Recommended picture books about children with disabilities, chosen by Sylvia Cummins....

Four alternative fairy tales books on a black background.

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....

Life-changing Libraries

Gillian Harris MBE responds to Cressida Cowell's letter to the prime minster about school libraries....

Two elephants standing next to each other in front of a pink background, exemplifying the complex world.

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....

A girl clicking a cell phone in front of emojis.

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....

An Asian boy holding up two books with an elephant in the background, in this children's fiction book for KS2 readers.

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

Three books about the Holocaust, including "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.

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

A young boy wearing a paper rocket, fascinated by the sky.

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...

The growth mindset captured in the pages of "After the Fall" explores the transformative journey of overcoming growing pains. This compelling book delves into the resilience and personal development achieved through a unique perspective, making

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....

A teacher joyfully reads a sweet book to a group of children in a classroom.

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 Books Reading

The best little books for babies and toddlers and preschoolers.

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...

A man in a hat harvesting tea leaves in a scenic tea plantation.

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

An illustration of a Monkey walking with a bee that promotes building resilience in young children through picture books.

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...

A girl is holding a girl's hand in front of a colorful background, reflecting realities and mirror cultures.

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...

A **cartoon earth** passionately holds a sign that boldly states "**No more plastic**," spreading an urgent message about the detrimental effects of this harmful material. This captivating image not only raises awareness but

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....

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....

A group of women in hats standing in front of a brick wall, showcasing a snapshot from history.

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...

A young girl is smiling in front of a colorful background, serving as a STEM-focused female role model.

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

A painting depicting a bird adorned with vibrant feathers, inspired by Shahnameh and Iran's rich cultural heritage.

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