75 million children are missing out on an education.
Lesson Plans
Get the Send My Friend to School 2009 lesson plans here. They include a range of interesting activities suited to a variety of learners.
This year we have one set of plans for Primary and one for Secondary students. Please note plans have been written with Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 students in mind, but they can be adapted for older or younger pupils.
The online lesson activities explore three specific areas of the campaign:
- The importance of literacy and decoding alphabets from around the world
- Why education is so important
- Understanding how small actions can lead to changes on a global scale and how to get your MP involved
* NEW BI-LINGUAL RESOURCES! * We recently added a new section below - EXTRA ACTIVITIES - with some of our favourite lesson plans and activities from previous campaigns – such as 'education cake', 'my ideal teacher' and more. These are available in both Welsh and English (each pdf contains both versions of the resource).
PRIMARY
Click here to view the Primary lesson plans and resources.
Learning about literacy
Lesson 1: How can being able to read and write change lives?
Download lesson
This lesson is about the consequences of not being able to read and write.
You will also need Primary 1 PowerPoint and The Big Read book.
Lesson 2: Why go to school?
Download lesson
This lesson explores why Tanzanian girls are unable to go to school despite wanting to and valuing it strongly.
You will also need:
- Primary 2 PowerPoint
- Films of Zainabu, Sofia and Nastura – Watch online
- Case studies for Sofia, Nastura and Zainabu
Exploring barriers to education and what makes a good education
Lesson 3: What is locking 75 million children out of school?
Download lesson
This lesson is about the different barriers that prevent children from going to school in the world’s poorest places.
You will also need:
- This is Tanzania – Watch online
- Missing Out handout
Lesson 4: What if you were in charge of your education?
Download lesson
This lesson reveals what a good education may look like and gets students thinking about what stops this from happening in many schools.
You will also need the Exploring Education Quality handout and the Snakes & Ladders template.
Thinking about influencing – from our local MP to global issues
Lesson 5: Can you start a chain reaction?
Download lesson
This lesson shows that despite being a long way away, students can help someone to go to school in a distant place.
You will also need the MP factsheet and the Local to Global handout.
Lesson 6: What can you do to influence your MP?
Download lesson
This lesson prepares students for the BIG READ event and meeting their MP as well as other members of the wider community through the collaborative creation of a statement and/or presentation about the BIG READ.
You will also need the MP Factsheet, the Education For All handout and the BIG READ campaign animation – which can be viewed on the homepage or on the Schools Pack DVD.
SECONDARY
Click here to view the Secondary lesson plans and resources.
Lesson 1: How can being able to read and write change lives?
Download lesson
This lesson is about the consequences of not being able to read and write.
You will also need Secondary 1 PowerPoint.
Lesson 2: Why go to school?
Download lesson
This lesson explores why Tanzanian girls are unable to go to school despite wanting to and valuing it strongly.
You will also need:
- Secondary 2 PowerPoint
- Films of Zainabu, Sofia and Nastura – Watch online
- Case studies for Sofia, Nastura and Zainabu
Exploring barriers to education and what makes a good education
Lesson 3: What is locking 75 million children out of school?
Download lesson
This lesson is about the different barriers that prevent children from going to school in the world’s poorest places.
You will also need:
- This is Tanzania - Watch online
- Missing Out handout
- All case studies
Lesson 4: What if you were in charge of your education?
Download lesson
This lesson reveals what a good education may look like and gets students thinking about what stops this from happening in many schools.
You will also need the Exploring Education Quality handout and the Snakes & Ladders template.
Thinking about influencing – from our local MP to global issues
Lesson 5: Can you start a chain reaction?
Download lesson
This lesson shows that despite being a long way away, students can help someone to learn to read and write in a distant place.
You will also need the Local to Global handout and the BIG READ campaign animation – you can view this on the homepage or on the Schools Pack DVD.
Lesson 6: What can you do to influence your MP?
Download lesson
This lesson prepares students for the BIG READ event and meeting their MP as well as other members of the wider community through the collaborative creation of a statement and giant BIG READ poster.
You will also need the MP Factsheet and the Education For All handout.
EXTRA ACTIVITIES
Welsh/English bi-lingual resources
Education Cake / Teisen Addysg
Ages: 8-14 / Oed: 8-14
Download lesson
This activity examines what the ingredients of a good education are.
My Ideal Teacher / Fy Athro Delfrydol
Ages: 8+ / Oed: 8+
Download lesson
Pupils are asked to think about what makes an ideal teacher.
Line Up for Children’s Rights in Education / Sefwch dros Hawliau Plant mewn Addysg
Age: 10+ / Oed: 10+
Download lesson
In this activity students are asked to Agree or Disagree with statements about rights to education.
An Education in Sight / Golwg ar addysg
Ages: 8+ / Oed: 8+
Download lesson
For this activity you will need to have Nabirye’s case study.
Astudiaeth Achos: Nabirye (Welsh language version).
Education and Conflict / Addysg a Gwrthdaro
Age: 8+ / Oed: 8+
Download lesson
For this lesson you will need Pedro’s case study and Eduardo’s case study.
Astudiaeth Achos: Eduardo (Welsh language version).
Astudiaeth Achos: Pedro (Welsh language version).

