Year 1 History - Toys of the Past (linked to QCA Unit 1 How are our toys different from those in the past?)

Session / Learning Intention / Success criteria / Resources / ICT Link / Activity/Organisation / Extension activities / Notes for planning
1 / To describe the characteristics of modern toys. / Children can describe the characteristics of a selection of toys. / Modern toys
Worksheet A / What are toys like?
Ask the children to bring in their favourite toy. Look at all the different toys with the children. Ask the children to describe them eg. ‘What is it made of?’ ‘What does it feel like?’ ‘Does it have moving parts?’
Ask the children to draw a picture of their toy and label it - Worksheet A (left side)
Discuss who might be able to tell them more about toys from the past or where they could go to find out more.
2 / To use everyday words and phrases to describe objects in the past.
To recognise differences between old and new toys. / Children are able to describe old toys.
Children are able to say how old toys are different from today’s toy. / Old toys.
Images of old toys and the Nursery from Photos of Toys Gallery
Worksheet A
Describing Toys interactive / Describing Toys interactive and Photos of Toys Gallery / What were toys like in the past?
How do we know some toys are old?
Ask the children to bring in old toys belonging to grandparents if possible. Start the lesson with the Describing Toys interactive (Old and New) to see if the children can spot the difference between old and new toys. Talk about the characteristics of each set and discuss how they decided whether a toy was old or new.
Show the children images of old toys downloaded from the Photos of Toys Galleryor viewed online. Using these plus the toys they have brought in discuss further how old toys are different from today. The children can then complete Worksheet A by drawing and labelling an old toy (right side). / Ask the children to write about an old toy, making up a story about it. Use the Photos of Toys Gallery for inspiration. Or the children could make up a story together and create a class book. / Load the Describing Toys interactive before the lesson if loading times are slow.
3 / To describe the characteristics of old and new toys.
To sort toys by criteria. / Children can use appropriate vocabulary to describe old and new toys.
Children understand the characteristics of old and new toys.
Children can sort toys using different criteria. / Examples of old and new toys.
Describing Toys interactive / Describing Toys interactive / How do we describe toys?
Using the Describing Toysinteractive(Describing Toys) ask the children to describe the toys by matching appropriate adjectives to each toy or typing their own. Discuss the meaning of the adjectives beforehand. More able children can type their own words.
Follow this with the Venn diagram sorting activity in the same interactive, which allows children to create their own criteria for sorting toys. Make links back to the words they used to describe the toys. / Print and display pupils' work from Describing Toys and Venn diagram sorting. With the whole class, compare the adjectives and criteria selected by different children. / Load the Describing Toys interactive before the lesson if loading times are slow.
4 / To identify similarities and differences between old and new toys.
To understand that design, materials and technology can indicate whether a toy is old or new. / Children can identify similarities and differences between old and new toys.
Children show understanding of different ways in which they can distinguish between old and new toys. / Pairs of old and new toys of similar type or photographs from Pairs.

Worksheet B

Dolls' house furniture
Dolls' house outline (enlarged to A3) / Pairs on Bedford Bytes website / What is the same and what is different about old and new toys of similar types?
Show the children old and new toys of similar types, eg two teddies, two trains. Download pairs of similar toys from the Pairs site if necessary or let children view them online.
Ask the children to talk about what is the same and what is different between the toys. Discuss and draw their attention to the design, materials, movement and appearance of the toys.
Ask the children to draw a picture of each toy and to write sentences showing the differences and similarities using Worksheet B. / Print and photocopy the Dolls’ House Furniture and Outline, enlarging the latter to A3. Discuss with the children the differences between old and new furniture and the rooms in which they think each item would be found. The children can then cut out and glue the furniture onto the outline. / NB The Dolls' house drawings are of furniture in the Museum’s dolls’ house which can be seen in the Photos of Toys Gallery.
5 / To discuss how museum exhibits are displayed.
To communicate their understanding of old and new toys.
To assess what the children have learned about toys. / Children are able to demonstrate what they have learned in this module / Assessmentsheet.
Images of toys from the Photos of Toys Gallery. / How can we show visitors what we have found out?
Ask the children to arrange toys on a shelf in a three-dimensional timeline or to make a two-dimensional timeline using pictures of toys.
Show them how to make ‘museum’ labels for the toys.
Use the Assessmentsheet to test their understanding of old and new toys.
Visit to the CecilHigginsArtGallery and BedfordMuseum to learn about Victorian toys in a museum setting. / Children understand the range, type, materials and movement of Victorian toys / Book your visit through the Education Service on 01234 217418. / What are Victorian toys like?
Children will enjoy four half-hour sessions on their visit. Life in the Nursery offers a glimpse into the lives of wealthy Victorian children in the Gallery's recreated nursery.
Toy Making enables children to make a simple paper toy based on an original Victorian metamorphoses game.
Toys of the Past introduces children to a range of Victorian and Edwardian toys and games and considers their materials and how they were used.
Toy Handling offers children the chance to play with a collection of reproduction Victorian and Edwardian toys and games and to learn how they operated in a time before electricity and batteries. / Using Worksheet C the children could draw and write about their favourite toy seen on their visit.
Children could also design a Poster to promote the toys in the Museum and Gallery to other children.
The children could make a Peg Doll or design and make their own toy (using the Design sheets). / The visit to the CecilHigginsArtGallery and BedfordMuseum in Bedford can take place at any time during the 6-week scheme.

Recommended books:Thompson, R: Toys and Games (Franklin Watts, 1992)

Chrisp, P: Toys and Games (Wayland Publishers Ltd)

MacDonald, F: Toys at Playtime (Franklin Watts, 1998)

Bryant-Mole, K: Toys (Wayland Publishers Ltd)

NB: All ICT resources and activities in bold can be found on the Bedford Bytes website. Underlining indicates a hyperlink to theresource whilst viewing this document on the website.