Teacher guide · Real Life Lab · Easier · about 50 min

🧸 Teddy's Picnic Rescue

Pupils practise real life thinking and problem solving through "Teddy's Picnic Rescue": Teddy's picnic is in a muddle! Plan, pack and save the day.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🧸 mission title and read the opening: "Teddy wants a picnic. What do we need first?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Coin the Raccoon's line as your prompt: "Smart call. Money and time both count."
3. Do · 25 min
Pairs work through the 7 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"
4. Discuss · 10 min
Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.
5. Reflect · 5 min
Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used real life thinking today.

What was the hardest choice in "Teddy's Picnic Rescue", and why?
Teddy wants a picnic. What do we need first — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Oh no, it's raining! What now — explain your reasoning to a partner.
What would YOU bring to Teddy's picnic — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use real life thinking outside school this week?
If you did this again, what would you change?

Support: Read prompts aloud, pair with a confident partner, and accept spoken or drawn answers for writing steps.

Stretch: Ask pupils to create their own extra step for a partner and explain the correct answer.

National Curriculum: Maths: money, measures and solving real-world problems
PSHE: Living in the wider world: economic wellbeing — money, saving and choices
PSHE: Health & wellbeing: keeping safe and everyday responsibilities

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________

1. Teddy wants a picnic. What do we need first?
☐ A basket
☐ A bath
☐ A snowman
2. Pack the basket — 10 coins, pick at least 3.
Budget: £10
☐ 🥪 Sandwiches — £3
☐ 🍎 Apples — £2
☐ 🧃 Juice — £2
☐ 🍰 Cake — £4
☐ 🧺 Blanket — £1
Total spent: £______
3. Oh no, it's raining! What now?
☐ Cry
☐ Have the picnic indoors
☐ Sit in the puddle
4. Share the food: match friend to snack.
🐰 Bunny → ________________
🐻 Bear → ________________
🐭 Mouse → ________________
🐒 Monkey → ________________
5. Tidy up in the right order.
___ Finish eating
___ Fold the blanket
___ Put rubbish in the bin
___ Say thank you
6. What would YOU bring to Teddy's picnic?
7. Say one kind thing to Teddy.