Teacher guide · Curious Lab · Easier · about 30 min

🏺 Toy Time Machine

Pupils practise curiosity through "Toy Time Machine": Compare playthings from different times.

Lesson guide

1. Hook · 5 min
Show the 🏺 mission title and read the opening: "Which toy needs electricity?". 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 5 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 "Toy Time Machine", and why?
Which toy needs electricity — explain your reasoning to a partner.
How could you learn what a grandparent played with — explain your reasoning to a partner.
Does an old toy always look broken — 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 needs electricity?
☐ A games console
☐ A rag doll
☐ A wooden spinning top
2. How could you learn what a grandparent played with?
☐ Ask them about their memories
☐ Assume all toys were the same
☐ Look only at tomorrow’s weather
3. Does an old toy always look broken?
☐ No
☐ Only if it is wooden
☐ Yes, always
4. Connect the clues to their meanings.
Photograph → ________________
Old toy → ________________
Remembered story → ________________
5. Compare a toy today with a toy from the past. Give one similarity and one difference.