BBC Teach Live Lessons for primary schools

Fun curriculum-linked programmes for your classroom

BBC Teach Live Lessons are half hour interactive programmes to support teachers and bring curriculum content to life.

We work with educational consultants, specialist partners and some of the BBC's biggest brands and presenters to create fun and engaging learning experiences for the classroom.

Live Lessons are published or streamed live at 11am on BBC Teach and broadcast on CBBC.

Literacy and English

Watch again: World Book Day 2024 – Live Lesson

Maddie Moate and Joe Tasker are joined by some amazing authors as we celebrate World Book Day by creating our own Live Lessons' pop-up library.

Watch again: Remembrance – Literacy Live Lesson

We mark Remembrance Day in this thought-provoking literacy Live Lesson for 7-11 year olds.

Watch again: 500 Words 2023 – Live Lesson

Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Charlie Higson and Francesca Simon share their story-writing tips in this Live Lesson for primary schools.

Watch again: World Book Day 2023 – Live Lesson

This curriculum-linked English Live Lesson focuses on reading for pleasure through fun interactive activities.

Watch again: National Poetry Day 2022 – Live Lesson

We celebrate National Poetry Day 2022 with this special interactive programme for primary schools.

Watch again: World Book Day 2022 – Live Lesson

We celebrate reading for pleasure in this Live Lesson for 5-11 year-olds celebrating the 25th anniversary of World Book Day.

World Book Day 2021 - Live Lesson

Join us for a very special Live Lesson for primary pupils to celebrate books and share a story. We're learning all about themes in stories and how to identify them, hearing about the stories you've been reading and some of your favourite themes, and meeting some of the incredible people that write about them.

Literacy Live Lesson 1 for 5-7 year-olds

Rhys Stephenson and Mr Smith explore the book Simon Sock by Paul Linnet and Sue Hendra and learn about using capital letters, discuss what makes a good friend and write about their own hobbies.

Literacy Live Lesson 1 for 7-11 year-olds

Chris Johnson and Mrs Vee explore the damage that plastic is causing to the environment and learn how to write a slogan, explore different styles and forms of writing, and create a poster about tackling plastic waste.

Literacy Live Lesson 2 for 5-7 year-olds

Using poems from Michael Rosen’s A Great Big Cuddle collection, Rhys and Mr Smith study rhyming, adjectives and nouns. Your pupils can try creating a character and writing some verses about them, and will learn about rhyming structure.

Literacy Live Lesson 2 for 7-11 year-olds

Ayshah Tull and poets Mark Grist, Rachel Rooney, Harry Baker and Levi Tafari explore different styles and structures of poetry writing. There’s even an exclusive poem from Mark himself for the Live Lessons audience.

Literacy Live Lesson 3 for 5-7 year-olds

Rebecca Keatley and Mr Smith are reading 'The Tale of a Toothbrush', explaining how to write questions, exploring alliteration, and investigating how we can help to protect the environment.

Literacy Live Lesson 3 for 7-11 year-olds

Ayshah Tull and Mrs Vee explore the inspirational lives and contributions of black writers, musicians, activists and more. Together with guest readers Angelica Bell and David Lammy, they explain how language is used in songs and speeches to inspire us, demonstrate the importance of proof-reading, and challenge pupils to write about their dreams for a better world.

Literacy Live Lesson 4 for 5-7 year-olds

Rhys Stephenson and Mr Smith read Unplugged by Steve Antony. They investigate prefixes, explore what it means to be a good friend using adjectives, and create characters. There's even a draw-along with writer and illustrator Steve Antony!

Literacy Live Lesson 4 for 7-11 year-olds

Ayshah Tull and Mrs Vee go on a quest, exploring the world of Philip Pullman’s trilogy ‘His Dark Materials’. With interviews from cast members of the TV series, Ayshah and Mrs Vee take a look at the characters and magical themes in the books.

Literacy Live Lesson 5 for 5-7 year-olds

This animal-themed English lesson sees Rebecca Keatley and Mr Smith read through a biography of Jane Goodall. They explore Goodall’s life as an anthropologist and learn about adjectives, verbs and adverbs.

Literacy Live Lesson 5 for 7-11 year-olds

Ayshah Tull and Mrs Vee look at the book Battle Bunny, learn how to edit text, and look at blackout poetry and graffiti along the way. Guest readings from the book's authors inspire pupils to develop their own characters and to use a range of words in their writing by thinking about synonyms and antonyms.

Roald Dahl Day lesson - The Power of Words

Watch our celebration of Roald Dahl Story Day with this special interactive lesson for pupils aged 7 to 11.

Writing and Performance Poetry - Live Lesson

Award-winning poet Joseph Coelho helped us celebrate National Poetry Day 2018 in this literacy Live Lesson for 7-11-year-olds.

World Book Day 2019 - Live Lesson

Join authors Malorie Blackman, Cressida Cowell and Rob Biddulph to share a story and discover a love of reading.

CBeebies: Stories by the Sea - Live Lesson

A Live Lesson exploring storytelling techniques for 5-7-year-olds with friends from Old Jack's Boat.

500 Words 2020 - Live Lesson

Watch our very special Live Lesson for the 10th year of the 500 Words story writing competition.

500 Words 2019 - Live Lesson

500 Words judges Charlie Higson and Frank Cottrell-Boyce share story-writing tips in a Live Lesson for 5-13-year-olds.

500 Words 2018 - Live Lesson

A Live Lesson to mark the launch of 500 Words 2018 with top story-writing tips for 5-13-year-olds.

500 Words 2017 - Live Lesson

A Live Lesson for 5-13-year-olds celebrating the launch of the 500 Words 2017 story-writing competition.

Super Movers Literacy - Live Lesson

Get set, get active and get ready to learn some super literacy skills in this Live Lesson for 9 -12-year-olds.

Remembrance - Live Lesson

A creative writing Live Lesson for 7-11-year-olds to mark the centenary of the end of the World War One.

Shakespeare: Unplugged - Live Lesson

A Live Lesson for 9-11-year-olds about Shakespeare's language and characters with iconic scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth and Henry V.

Maths

Numberblocks – Live Lesson

This numeracy-themed lesson invites 5-7-year-olds on a fun maths mission as we explore various ways to count to 100.

Numeracy Live Lesson 1 for 5-7 year-olds

This pirate-themed maths Live Lesson sees Rhys Stephenson and Mr Smith hunt for buried treasure, learning maths skills along the way. They count, compare and order numbers up to 20 and beyond 20, and learn about the greater than, less than and equals symbols.

Numeracy Live Lesson 1 for 7-11 year-olds

In this interactive lesson Chris Johnson opens a bakery with some maths help from Mrs Vee. Together they learn how to count and use place value to figure out which numbers are bigger and smaller.

Numeracy Live Lesson 2 for 5-7 year-olds

Rebecca Keatley and Mr Smith go on an incredible journey up a beanstalk! Along the way they learn all about number bonds up to 100.

Numeracy Live Lesson 2 for 7-11 year-olds

Chris Johnson and Mrs Vee are on board the Live Lessons space ship as they fly through this maths lesson. They round numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000, and they add two and three-digit numbers to help them on their journey, all whilst outrunning a hoard of aliens!

Numeracy Live Lesson 3 for 5-7 year-olds

This space-themed lesson sees Rhys Stephenson and Mr Smith travel the Universe, picking up maths skills along the way. They learn how to add and subtract numbers up to 100, and even have a space race!

Numeracy Live Lesson 3 for 7-11 year-olds

Chris Johnson and Mrs Vee hike up Maths Mountain and use subtraction to help them get back down. With guest interviews from Mountain Rescue, they explore subtraction with and without exchanging, and how this can be done mentally.

Numeracy Live Lesson 4 for 5-7 year-olds

Rhys Stephenson and Mr Smith count in multiples of 2, 5 and 10, and even learn about money during this party-themed maths lesson.

Numeracy Live Lesson 4 for 7-11 year-olds

Chris Johnson and Mrs Vee are flying through time and exploring times tables in this interactive maths lesson. They use their three, four, six, eight and nine times tables to help them get from place to place – or time to time.

Numeracy Live Lesson 5 for 5-7 year-olds

In this lesson, Rebecca Keatley and Mr Smith are down on the farm, learning about equal and unequal groups, multiplication and arrays.

Numeracy Live Lesson 5 for 7-11 year-olds

Chris Johnson and Mrs Vee get crafty in the Live Lessons studio. They explore multiplying and dividing by 10s, 100s and 1000s, and check multiplication using division.

Super Movers - Live Lesson

An active maths lesson for 7-9-year-olds filmed at the home of Liverpool FC.

Super Movers Shapes and Spaces - Live Lesson

A football themed maths lesson for 9-12-year-olds exploring area and perimeter, symmetry and coordinates.

Science

Watch again: British Science Week 2024 – Live Lesson

Presenter Mwaksy Mudenda and Zoologist Yussef Rafik are trapped and need your pupils’ scientific knowledge to solve a series of invertebrate-themed tasks.

Watch again: Deadly Mission Shark – Science Live Lesson

his exciting science lesson is hosted by Steve Backshall and Naomi Wilkinson, from the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.

Watch again: British Science Week 2023 – Forces Live Lesson

We took over the Science Museum in London in an out of this world forces Live Lesson for British Science Week 2023!

Watch again: Big Schools’ Winterwatch 2023 – Live Lesson

Head behind the scenes at Winterwatch in this science lesson for 7-11 year-olds with special guest Chris Packham.

Watch again: Operation Ouch! – Science Live Lesson

We take over the Operation Ouch! lab in this fun science lesson for 7-11 year-olds all about healthy hearts and circulation.

Watch again: Frozen Planet II – Science Live Lesson

Watch a lesson exploring the coldest places on Earth and the impact of climate change on the icy habitat of harp seals.

Watch again: Bitesize: The Regenerators - The Green Planet Live Lesson 2

The second of our science lessons in collaboration with The Green Planet exploring the wonders of plants, how they're adapted to survive in different environments and the clever ways they disperse their seeds.

Watch again: Bitesize: The Regenerators – The Green Planet Live Lesson 1

Bring the wonders of The Green Planet into your classroom with this tropical plant themed science lesson for 7-11 year-olds.

Watch again: Winter - Live Lesson

Big cozy jumpers, frozen puddles, snow... This cross-curricular lesson for 5-7 year-olds is all about winter!

Watch again: Bitesize: The Regenerators – Climate Change Live Lesson

An interactive lesson for primary schools explaining what climate change is and inspiring children to make a pledge to help the planet.

Watch again: Deadly 60: Museum Escape - Live Lesson

Can your pupils help Deadly 60's Steve Backshall and his young team of palaeontologists solve a series of clues and catch the Evil Fossil Hunter in this Live Lesson for 7-11 year-olds?

Watch again: Space - Live Lesson

World famous physicist Professor Brian Cox answers questions from schools in this space-themed science lesson for 7-11 year-olds.

The Big Schools Winterwatch Live Lesson

Gather up, Winterwatchers! Learn some key skills to help you get outdoors and find out more about the birds in your environment with a very special Live Lesson.

Primary Science: Creatures and Colour - Live Lesson

Join us on a virtual school trip, in partnership with Chester Zoo. Naomi Wilkinson and Mr Smith are joined by zoo ranger Sean, as well as a whole host of magnificent beasts, to investigate why animals are different colours.

Blue Planet - Live Lesson

This science and geography Live Lesson for 7-11-year-olds explores the Earth's rich marine life and ecosystems, as well as some of the threats to our oceans.

Watch again: Winterwatch Live Lesson 2019

Can't wait for the 2023 lesson? Your class can enjoy a science lesson from 2019 in collaboration with BBC Two's Winterwatch, to help 7-11-year-olds investigate living things and their habitats.

Doctor Who, Space, Light and Super Movers - Live Lesson

Discover how light travels and investigate Earth's place within the Solar System in this active Doctor Who themed science Live Lesson for 7-11-year-olds.

Terrific Scientific Feet - Live Lesson

Aimed at 9-11-year-olds, this Live Lesson explores adaptation, evolution and inheritance of living things.

Terrific Scientific Exercise - Live Lesson

CBBC stars Dr Chris and Dr Xand look at how exercise impacts our body in this Live Lesson for 9-11-year-olds.

Terrific Scientific Forces - Live Lesson

This science Live Lesson for 9-11-year-olds explores gravity, air resistance and friction.

Terrific Scientific Taste - Live Lesson

Barney Harwood and Fran Scott lead us in a Live Lesson for 9-11-year-olds exploring taste, digestion and nutrition.

Get Scientific - Live Lesson

Learn all about working scientifically with this Live Lesson for 9-11-year-olds.

History

Watch again: The Romans – History Live Lesson

Grab your class as we attempt to solve a mystery 2000 years in the making in this history Live Lesson for 7-11 year olds.

Shakespeare Week – Live Lesson

A Live Lesson for 7-11-year-olds looking back at Shakespeare’s life during Tudor times, the impact this had on his writing and the legacy he left behind.

Watch again: Dodger: The Victorians - Live Lesson

What was life really like for children in Victorian times? We've worked with the makers of CBBC drama Dodger to bring history to life in this Victorian-themed lesson for 7-11 year-olds.

Newsround – Live Lesson

We celebrate 50 years of Newsround with this cross-curricular Live Lesson for 7-11 year-olds, reflecting on news reports from the past, exploring stories of the present and imagining headlines of the future.

Art, dance and music

Watch now: Eurovision 2023 – Live Lesson

Teachers, this is Liverpool calling! We're inviting your 7-11 year-olds to take part in a Eurovision-themed Live Lesson as we get ‘United by Music’ and warm-up for Saturday’s Grand Final.

CBeebies Pablo - Live Lesson

This SEN inclusive show for 5-7-year-olds helps children use art to express thoughts about daily life.

Ten Pieces and The Nutcracker - Live Lesson

Get creative with classical music in this Live Lesson full of dance and movement for 7-11-year-olds.

Ten Pieces Party Live Lesson

Learn all about rhythm, melody and dynamics as the building blocks of composition in this Ten Pieces themed Live Lesson for 7-11-year-olds.

PSHE / PE / RE / Citizenship

Watch again: Safer Internet Day 2024 – Live Lesson

This Safer Internet Day 2024 Live Lesson is designed to help young people navigate the online world safely and positively.

Watch again: Anti-Bullying Week 2023 – Live Lesson

We make a noise about bullying in this Live Lesson for Anti-Bullying Week 2023.

Watch again: Safer Internet Day 2023 – Live Lesson

We celebrated Safer Internet Day 2023 with a gaming themed lesson for 7-11 year-olds.

Watch again: Anti-Bullying Week 2022 – Live Lesson

Our Anti-Bullying Week Live Lesson with De-Graft Mensah and Alex Humphreys.

Watch again: It's Christmas! - Live Lesson

A very festive lesson for 7-11 year-olds exploring what Christmas is and how people of all faiths, as well as non-religious people in the UK, spend their time during the Christmas period.

Watch again: Anti-Bullying Week - Live Lesson

Can't wait for the 2022 lesson? Your class can enjoy this interactive programme for 7-11 year-olds made for Anti-Bullying Week 2021.

Wellbeing: Bouncing back to class - Live Lesson

A wellbeing-themed Live Lesson with Katie Thistleton, Hacker T Dog and Mr Smith, designed to help pupils transition back to school, and look hopefully towards the future whilst using resilience and exercise to achieve positive wellbeing.

The Growth Mindset and Wellbeing Lesson

Watch a special interactive lesson promoting emotional wellbeing and encouraging a growth mindset in primary pupils.

Watch again: Get Active! - Live Lesson

An interactive PE/Health and Wellbeing lesson for primary schools from 2021, celebrating physical activity.

Watch again: Harvest - Live Lesson

We explore where food comes from and how it reaches our tables in this Harvest-themed Live Lesson for 5-11 year-olds.

Careers

Making the Magic: From Story to Screen

Watch an exciting interactive lesson in partnership with the Wizarding World, introducing pupils to the myriad of roles and careers available on a film production.

Computing