Watch or listen to a news broadcast.

What is the news story about? Who is involved? What might happen next in this story?

Discuss the news story with a friend or family member. What do they think about it?

Sit or lie very still. Listen.  

Listen to the sounds you can hear around you - indoors, or outdoors, close by or from far away.  

Listen to your own breathing.  Just listen very carefully for as long as you can.

Tell a family member or a friend what you have heard.

Challenge them to listen carefully too and listen carefully as they tell you what they heard.  

Did you hear the same things or different things?

How did you feel as you listened carefully? How did they feel as they listened carefully?

Listen carefully to a song you know well. It might be one of your favourites.  Really concentrate on the lyrics (words).

Ask yourself what the song is about?  Why do you like it? Do the lyrics tell a story? Which words stand out to you and are memorable?  

After you have listened to the song, tell someone else about it. Say why you like it.

Have a go at explaining what you think the song is about.  

Can you summarise it or rephrase it? Maybe you can sing it.

Ask them to tell you about one of their favourite songs too.

Think of someone in your family who has a talent that you admire.

It could be they are great at baking delicious cakes, or they seem to have green fingers and their plants always grow really well. They may know lots of card tricks or they have fun ideas of things do on rainy days.

Ask them to help you learn something they know - to share their talent with you.

Listen carefully as they explain and ask questions to help you understand more.

Make it your mission to listen carefully all day today.

You could listen to a story, a podcast, the lyrics of a song, a news report on the TV or radio or a conversation.

Choose one thing you have listened carefully to and tell someone else about it, making sure you include the important information.

With a member of your household, each make a decision to listen very carefully to a different TV programme, radio show, podcast or similar.

‍Think about what you will need to do to really listen so that you are able to summarise and tell others what you've heard.

What is the most important information you will need to share with them?

Then listen to their summary of what they have listened too.

Can you identify from what you've heard what the most important parts were?

Think of a person you admire who speaks out on issues that matter to them and search online for a speech or interview they have made to persuade others.

‍For example, it could be Emma Watson speaking about gender issues or Marcus Rashford speaking about child poverty.

Listen carefully to their speech or interview, and observe how they use tone, body language and specific wording to persuade the listener.

Extension: Summarise the key points of the speech.

Ask a family member which is their favourite season and why.

Listen carefully to their answer and summarise what they have told you, asking any questions to further your understanding.

Imagine you are giving a presentation about your favourite music artist.

Who are they? What style of music do they create? Why do you like them more than other artists?

Talk about your favourite artist to a friend or family member.

Imagine a film (movie) has been made about your family.  

Prepare a 30 second voice over for the trailer to advertise the film.

Think about what you would say to advertise the film and how you would say it clearly.

You might want to record your voice over or perform it 'live' to the rest of your family.  

Challenge other family members to have a go too and then enjoy listening to each others trailers.

Imagine you are having a special party and you can invite just four very important special guests.

Your special guests could be real people you know, imaginary characters from a book or film,  or historcial figures from the past.

Think about who you would want to be your guests and why.  

Prepare a short speech to explain your thinking.

Ask your family to do the same and then take it in turns to present your speeches, clearly explaining who your special party guests would be and why.

Enjoy finding out who would be at this very special party!

You have been challenged to tell a group of people up to 5 'fascinating facts' about yourself.

Think about what they already know. What might you share with them which will be new and interesting?

Prepare a short speech to share in person or by recording.

Encourage other family members to have a go to and ask each other questions about the fascinating facts.

Imagine you have been asked to speak on a podcast about things to do in your local area.

‍Prepare a short speech detailing all the things you enjoy doing in your community.

Practise what you will say and then you could record your presentation to share afterwards or do a live performance!

Invite your 'Listeners' to ask you questions about your speech.

Challenge yourself to give someone in your household clear directions to get to a local place, maybe a relative or friend's house, the park, library or a shop.  

They will need to listen carefully and follow your directions as you travel with them.  

Think about the order you are giving the instructions and speak clearly so that you and they can arrive together safely at your destination.

What happens if the directions you are sharing get jumbled up?

Write a persuasive speech about an issue you feel passionately about and deliver the speech to members of your family.

You might first research other well known speeches for inspiration, for example, one of Greta Thunberg's speeches on climate change.

Think carefully about how you use tone, body language and gesture to engage the listener and how you communicate the issue effectively and persuasively.

Prepare a short presentation for your family about your favourite season.

‍This could be delivered as a poem, or with accompanying drawings or photos.

Talk about how the season makes you feel and what you enjoy most about this particular time of the year.

Consider this challenge: a charity wishes to organise a 'fun run' in your local area.

The course must be accessible to people of all ages and abilities. Draw different routes your 'fun run' could take.

Which one would be best so that everyone could be involved?

Consider the problem: you have been asked to design and make bird feeders for your local area, but you can only use recyclable materials as there is no extra money for making them.

Think about different designs for bird feeders and the household items you could reuse to make them.  

Draw 4 or 5 examples you can think of for bird feeders. Label them clearly to show the recyclable materials you would suggest the feeders were made from.  

Share your ideas with your family.  Ask for their feedback on your design ideas.  

Which one do they like best and why? Which one would you like to have a go at making?

Think about the problem: a town has an area of land that is not being used for anything.  It has become untidy, littered waste land.  The people of the town want to improve this and make it a useable space. You have been asked to come up with design ideas of how this area of land could be used and improved.  

The people of the town would like it to be a useful, pleasant space for people of all ages to enjoy.

The town has voted to use only recycled materials for any improvements, so you need to make sure your designs are environmentally friendly.

Can you come up with at least 3 different design ideas to solve the problem?  

Label your design drawings to show the recylced materials you have included and other environmentally friendly features. Do you have a favourite design?

Share your design ideas with your family and friends. Which design idea do they like the look and sound of best to solve the problem for the town?

Consider the problem: a local charity wishes to organise a 'fun run' in your local area which people of all ages can join in.

The course should be approximately 5 kilometres in length and must be accessible to people of all ages to either run, walk, wheelchair, skip, scoot etc.

Draw different routes your 'fun run' could take.

Which one would be best so that everyone could be involved?

How could you make sure everyone was safe on the route?

Challenge your family to follow your route with you.

Consider the problem: You need to pack as many things as you can into a container, such as a shoe box, a suitcase or another container of some kind.

How will you go about this?

Try different arrangements to see the maximum number of items you can get into the container space.

You might want to challenge a family member to to see if they can match or better your total.

Make the challenge harder by making it so some irregular shaped items have to be included.

Consider the problem: A family have planned to have a picnic in the park today but the forecast shows there will be heavy rain.

‍They have all the picnic food ready and are really looking forward it, but don't want to get soaking wet!

Can you come up with three different solutions to help them to solve the problem.

You could draw, write or talk about your ideas.

Which solution do you think is the best and why?

Consider the problem: You are stranded on a desert island and you find a pile of wood.

What do you use the wood for and why?

Think through the different options and consider the pros and cons of each idea.

Talk to others at home about what they would do with the wood and why.

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Consider the problem: Too many cars on the road can cause air pollution.

Discuss this issue with a member of your household.

What different solutions can you think of to address this problem where you live?

Write down or talk about your ideas.

Extension: Discuss the pros and cons of your different solutions.

Imagine the floor in your home has turned to jelly. How would this change the way you lived there?

Extension: design a gadget that would help you to live in a jelly home!

A paper clip is a useful item for holding pieces of paper together.

Use your imagination to come up with as many different ideas in 1 minute as you can for what else a paper clip could be used for.  

Make a list or draw your ideas. Challenge your family and friends to do the same.  

Did they come up with the same or different ideas?  

What was the most unusual idea you came up with?  

Can you combine your ideas and come up with even more together?

Think about your favourite book.  What does the front cover of the book look like?

If it is a fiction (story) book, does it show the characters, the setting or give a clue to the plot of the story?  

If it is non fiction book (full of facts) does it show just one image (picture or photograph)or more than one?  What else is on the cover?

Imagine you have been asked to come up with front cover ideas for another edition (printing) of the book.  

How would you redesign your favourite book's cover?

Come up with at least 3 different designs.  

You might want to draw, paint, collage or use technology to help you create different design ideas.

Share your design ideas with your family.  Which one do they like the best and why?  

Challenge them to redesign their favourite book cover too and talk about your designs together.

Imagine you are a designer for a greetings card company. You have been asked to come up with ideas for a brand new range of cards.

Design 3 different types of cards for different occasions that are important to you and your family.

You might want to draw or make the card to show your favourite ideas.

Ask a family member which card they like best and why.

You could challenge them to come up with ideas for your new range of cards too.

Take a look at a map of the world. Choose a country that interests you. Find out about the food of that country.  

Imagine you have been asked to design a menu which includes food from that country.  

Which foods might you include on that menu?  

How many different ideas can you come up with?

Create an example menu and include pictures of the dishes to show your family.

You may want to challenge them to choose another country and do the same.

Design a new item of clothing that could be worn whatever the weather.

Think about how it could be adapted to keep you warm and dry if needed on colder, wetter days, or cool and comfortable when it is hot outside.

Imagine the local council have asked you to design a poster to attract tourists to your local area.

What would you include in the design?

Consider images of local landmarks you might use and plan some alternative designs.

Share your initial ideas with members of your household and discuss which is the strongest design to develop further.

Design a new protective face mask for young teenagers.

Think about the shape, the attachments, materials and the theme for the mask.

It needs to be effective at protecting against Covid 19, but also appealing to wear.

Develop a range of different ideas and then work with a family member to choose one design to draw up and label in more detail.

Create a mood board to include words and pictures of things that make you feel positive.

Invite your family to make their own mood board too.

Take it in turns to talk about what you have each included and why these words and pictures make you feel more positive.

Affirmations are positive statements that can help people to feel happier when they are having negative thoughts and feelings in tough times.  Challenge yourself to come up with 5 positive things (affirmations) you could say to yourself when you do not feel so happy.  

Some examples include: 'I am a friendly kind person.'  'I tell great jokes to cheer others up.' 'I am thoughtful and always remember my friends birthdays.'  

What affirmations would you come up with for other people in your family or your friends?  

Share your ideas and talk about how these might help you all to stay positive.

Take 5 minutes for this calming activity today:

Step 1: Find a quiet space where you can look out of the window.

Step 2: Look at everything there is to see - try to notice the colours, the patterns, the textures.

Step 3: Pay attention to any movements such as traffic passing by, people walking or running by, raindrops falling or leaves blowing around in the breeze.

Step 4: Notice the many different shapes you can see from where you sit quietly.

Step 5: If you become distracted, gently bring your thoughts back to what you can see through the window.

Ask a family member or friend to try this calming activity too. Afterwards, talk about how it made you feel.

When inventing the lightbulb Thomas Edison tried and failed many times. He is quoted as saying, ‘I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that do not work’.

Talk to a family member about this quote.  

Share your feelings about a time when you have experienced a sense of failure and how you kept going.

Create a simple collage of images that make you feel calm.

You can use photos, images from magazines or draw pictures.

Share your calm collage with your family and friends.

Tell them why you chose each of the images.

Does it make them feel calm too?

Create a happy list. Spend just 5 minutes writing down as many things as you can that make you smile and feel good when you think of them.

This could be anything from your favourite food, music or place to visit, a special family member or pet, or watching your favourite footballer score a goal!

Discuss your list with others in your household. What would they put on their happy list?

Sit quietly for 5 minutes to think and make a list of all the things you can do that make you feel happy and positive, even if something has gone wrong.

Share your list with others in your household.  

You may have ideas that would help and support them in difficult times.

Do something nice for someone else today.

It could be a simple thing like clearing the table after dinner, reading a younger sibling a story or offering to sort the recycling.

How does this good deed make the other person feel?

Think about something you would really like to be able to do.  It might be to learn a new skill, visit a new place, learn a new language or reach a fitness goal.

Carry out research to find out as much as you can about the thing you would like to be able to do.

You could talk to other people about your ideas to find out more, read about it and plan how you will reach your new goal.

Aim to learn the meaning of a new word every day this week and use the new words when you are talking and writing.

‍Doing this will help you develop a rich and interesting vocabulary.  

Where might you look for the new words?  Who might be able to make suggestions for you to try and include in your spoken and written words?

Challenge your family to do the same. Take a couple of minutes each day to see if you can guess each others new word.  

Make a list or a create a special family dictionary,  adding the new words and their meanings as the week goes on.

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Take a moment. Pause. Think of all the many things you can do. What do you find easy? What do you find more difficult?

You may want to write or draw as you think.

What else would you like to be able to do? Learn a new language, run faster, get more sleep, solve a crossword puzzle in record time, juggle?

What can you do in the next few weeks to work towards your goal?

Share your ideas with someone else - they might be able to help you achieve your goal.

Consider a goal that you would like to achieve in the next few weeks or months of the year. What are the steps your will need to take to reach your goal?

Draw these as stepping stones and write down 3 actions you should take to help your reach your goal.  

Share your drawing with a family member and talk about what you are going to do.  

They may have some great ideas and encouragement to help you.

Think about what you would like to achieve in the coming weeks and months.

Maybe you could try a new activity or learn something new.

Talk to someone about what you hope to achieve and begin to plan how you can reach that goal.

Think about what will success look like and how you feel when you achieve your goal.

Create an outdoor challenge for your family or friends in a garden or local park.

‍You could set up an obstacle course, a circuits workout or plan a running route.

Explain the rules clearly and set everyone, including yourself, a target or goal to achieve.

Encourage others to have a go and to aim high!

At the start of the week, get together with everyone at home to share ideas for challenges you can all take part in.

You could try a new food, reduce your screen time, work to improve your personal best in a game, recycle instead of buying something new, start a new book, or try a new craft.

Choose challenges for each other that will stretch - but not be so hard you stand no chance of succeeding.

Set yourself a challenge for the coming weeks.

It could be to create and stick to a new revision plan for your school work, to set a new target for a hobby or activity or to teach yourself a new skill.

Be clear about what you want to achieve and by when.

Talk to to your family.  Find out about the things they feel they are good at (their strengths).

Create a picture together of your family which shows everyone and their strengths.  

Talk about the things that you all find more difficult (weaknesses).  

How might you help each other to feel more confident with these?

Imagine you are your family's fitness coach and you need to lead their next exercise session.  

Plan a short exercise session with those who can join in by asking them what kind of exercises they enjoy or how they would like to improve their fitness.  

As you prepare for the session, think about including exercises you have done before or you might want to get some new ideas from other family members or different fitness websites. Remember to include a warm up and cool down.  Try to include something to stretch or strengthen different parts of the body (for example arms, legs, stomach). Remember to get some music ready that everyone will enjoy listening to as they work out.

Invite your famliy and friends to take part in your fitness session. Lead them through the planned exercises. As their fitness coach - the leader of the session - give your instructions clearly. Show them what to do safely. Encourage them to keep trying and have fun together.

Organise a family quiz or games night.

Choose a theme for your quiz or a game your family will enjoy.

Make sure everyone has a job as you get ready for the quiz or game.

You may need someone to set the questions for the quiz, to ask the questions and to keep the scores.

You may want someone to set the game up, explain the rules to everyone - and remember someone will  need to sort out drinks and snacks!  

As a leader think about everyone's strengths - what job would they be best at to help you set up and run the quiz or game so that you all have fun?

Think of someone you know who you think is good at something - it could be cooking delicious meals, being a helpful friend, making you smile - anything you think they are good at.  

Draw them a picture, make them a card, send them a message or give them a call to let them know you think they are great at whatever it is you have thought of.

Let them know you recognise their strength.

Plan a picnic for all of the family to enjoy - it could be at home or out and about.

What do you need to prepare beforehand?

Can you share out the jobs that need to be done with others in your household and let everyone know their role and responsibility?

Think about who would be best at which jobs and why.

Consider who you think of as a good leader - it could be a friend, a family member, someone in your community or someone you have seen on television or read about.

‍What strengths do you consider they have?

Ask family and trusted friends who they think of as a good leader.  

Listen carefully to the way they speak about the person they have chosen.

What strengths do they mention this admired leader has?  

Now think about whether you have any of the same strengths?

Organise an outdoor game that everyone in your household can take part in.

Ask all members of the household to contribute their ideas of what to play, where and when.

It could be hide and seek in the garden, football in the park or rounders in a field.

Support everyone to reach a group decision that you are all happy with and organise what you need for the game.

Organise a fun activity for your household for the weekend.

‍Encourage everyone to come up with different ideas for the activity and when it might take place.

It could be anything you all enjoy, from a pizza night to a walk to your favourite park, but everyone needs to take part.

You might need to organise a vote to decide. Manage disagreements carefully and most importantly, have fun!

Extension: Consider what resources you might need to organise in advance of the activity.

Work with your family to either play a well known piece of music or create your own brand new piece of music together.

You could use your voices, household objects, or real instruments if you have them to help you make your music.

Make decisions so that everyone knows what is going on and can be involved.

Practise before performing together.

Work together in your family team to build the tallest tower you can.  

You can use anything you like to build your tower safely.

It must be free standing (not leaning against anything or fixed to anything to keep it upright).

You could use blocks, other toys, empty cereal boxes, cushions - anything really!  

Work as a team to try out different ideas and remember to measure your towers.  

What is the tallest tower your famliy team can build together?

Work with your family this week to get any household chores done together.

Draw up a plan of action so that everyone knows what chores they need to do.  

Talk to each other about how you can get your chores done quickly (and well) so that you can then enjoy relaxing together.

Plan a special family meal to have at home. Talk together to decide about what you are going to cook and when.

Share jobs out between you. Someone might want to take responsibility for making sure you have the ingredients, someone might be able to lead on making the food, setting the table, even making menus.

Enjoy celebrating your great teamwork by enjoying the meal together.

When you are out in the garden, at the park, woods or the seaside with your family, work together to create a piece of natural art.

‍Encourage everyone to join in and decide together where to make the art, what to use and what it will look like.

Work as a team to gather natural resources such as sticks, leaves, stones or shells to create your art.

Can you share ideas and come to an agreement about the design?

Can you help each other creating it?

As a household discuss the chores that need to be done this week.  

As a team make sure everyone has a task they can help with.  

Then crack on and do your job!

Celebrate as a team together when all the chores are done by doing something fun together.

Work together to create a story.

‍You need to come to a group decision on what the theme of the story will be and choose one person to write or tell everyone how the story begins.

Take in turns to then add to the story, building on each others' ideas.

Keep it positive and encourage everyone to contribute and have fun!

Organise a family photo shoot.

Talk to members of your household to decide when and where you will take the photos, which of you will be the photographer and if there is a special theme for the photo shoot.

Encourage everyone to join in (perhaps including pets) and share the photos with your family afterwards.