Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Easier · about 30 min

🧸 Toys Long Ago

Pupils practise curiosity through "Toys Long Ago": How toys have changed.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🧸 mission title and read the opening: "Which toy is the oldest kind?". Take three quick guesses.
2. Model · 5 min
Think aloud through the first step together. Use Sniff the Beagle's line as your prompt: "Great question! Ready to dig one layer deeper? Pick your next mission below."
3. Do · 10 min
Pairs work through the 3 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 curiosity today.

What was the hardest choice in "Toys Long Ago", and why?
Which toy is the oldest kind — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Ask a grown-up what their favourite toy was. Write it down — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Where could you use curiosity 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: History: chronology, sources and significant people and events
National Curriculum: Science: working scientifically — asking questions and observing
National Curriculum: Geography/History: enquiry and using sources
PSHE: Living in the wider world: media literacy and checking information

Pupil sheet

Name: ____________________ Date: __________

1. Which toy is the oldest kind?
☐ Tablet
☐ Video game
☐ Wooden spinning top
2. Oldest to newest.
___ Games console
___ Plastic building bricks
___ Tin robot
___ Wooden doll
3. Ask a grown-up what their favourite toy was. Write it down.