Teacher guide · Real Life Lab · Medium · about 30 min

🧳 Pack for a Trip

Pupils practise real life thinking and problem solving through "Pack for a Trip": Fit what matters into a bag with a limit.

Lesson guide

  1. 1. Hook · 5 min

    Show the 🧳 mission title and read the opening: "Bag holds 10kg. Pack for a rainy weekend.". Take three quick guesses.

  2. 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. 3. Do · 10 min

    Pairs work through the 2 steps on screen or on the printed sheet. Circulate and ask "why?"

  4. 4. Discuss · 10 min

    Use two or three of the discussion questions. Ask pairs to share different answers, not just correct ones.

  5. 5. Reflect · 5 min

    Exit ticket: one sentence on how they used real life thinking today.

Discussion questions

  • What was the hardest choice in "Pack for a Trip", and why?
  • What did you leave out, and why was that okay — 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?

Adapting it

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.

Curriculum links

  • 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

🧳 Pack for a Trip

Name: ____________________   Date: __________

  1. 1. Bag holds 10kg. Pack for a rainy weekend.

    Budget: £10

    ☐ Coat (2kg) — £2

    ☐ Boots (2kg) — £2

    ☐ Clothes (3kg) — £3

    ☐ Games console (2kg) — £2

    ☐ Books (3kg) — £3

    ☐ Snacks (1kg) — £1

    Total spent: £______

  2. 2. What did you leave out, and why was that okay?