Teach Primary 18.8

UKprimary schools, ready? Gladiators, ready? The Gladiators micro:bit competition brings together the BBC micro:bit – the next gen campaign with the hit TV show Gladiators. It invites 7- to 11-year-olds to design a gadget to improve a Gladiator’s performance. Prizes include a Gladiator visit, a £500 voucher for computing equipment and more! Teachers can join by watching a special lesson featuring Gladiators Phantom and Dynamite, or schedule in some Gladiator fun using our FREE, curriculum-aligned lesson plans. Go to bbc.co.uk/microbit to find out more, along with full terms and privacy notice. Entries close at midday on 6th December 2024. www.teachwire.net | 9 I N EVERY I SSUE Look ahead | Book ahead Q & A Grab a free growing kit A horticulture student from Droitwich is launching a pioneering project to get children growing – and is looking for schools across the UK to take part. Ross Dyke is asking primary schools to apply for the pilot project. Each successful school will receive a compostable, recyclable, biodegradable and peat-free sunflower grow kit. The schools selected to take part will also be provided with prizes such as bug hotels and bird houses to award to their best growers. All schools that take part in the trial will then be entered into a raffle, which will be drawn in June next year, with the winning school receiving a special day with Lee Connelly, the UK’s leading children’s gardening educator. Go to theplantpod.co.uk to sign up. Michael Rosen Author, poet, broadcaster, activist and academic 1. Rather excitingly, this yearwill see the first everMichael Rosen Day.Howdoes it feel to be a living legend?! A long time ago, there used to be a joke – not mine – about someone being ‘a legend in their own lunchtime’. If I could be a legend in several lunchtimes, I would be very proud. 2.What will you be getting up to onMichael RosenDay? Doing exactly what I’m told to do*. I’m very biddable when it comes to big occasions. This feels very, very big, so you can be absolutely sure I will be there. One thing will be to do a live interview and performance with the amazing MC Grammar. I think rapping will be involved. I will also eat some raisins, in order to prove that my real name is ‘Michael Raisin’. 3. You’ve recently shared your readingmanifesto. Are there any items on it that you think are particularly important for teachers to bear inmind in the classroom? I just hope that teachers can find time in their very busy curriculum to fit in reading for pleasure and talking about books, without worrying too much about comprehension during those times. Reading books teaches children a huge amount anyway. *Michael will be holding a live virtual event at 10am on Michael Rosen Day, celebrating the joy of books and reading with MC Grammar, hosted by Read for Good. Sign up for free, and download free resources and activities at michaelrosen.co.uk/michaelrosenday * publicfirst.co.uk/teach-first.html of Gen Zs would consider working as a teacher 61% CHRISTMAS Looking for some fresh activities for the festive period? Teachwire’s got you covered, with a merry selection of lesson plans, resource packs, story starters and more. Visit tinyurl.com/tp-ChristmasResources HADRIAN’S WALL VIRTUAL FOCUS DAY Join Hadrian’s Wall Learning and Engagement Forum on 27th November for a day of virtual KS2 activities. Take part in live workshops and discover more about the various sites across the Wall. Visit tinyurl.com/tp-Virtual