BBC Live Lessons

The UK’s biggest children’s story-writing competition, 500 Words, is back for 2024! To celebrate, presenters Joe Tasker and Shereen Cutkelvin take primary pupils inside a props warehouse, home to thousands of objects used to tell stories on stage, TV and in films. With the help of 500 Words, judges Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Charlie Higson and Francesca Simon, along with a team of young storytellers, we’ll discover that even the most everyday object can inspire an epic story. Author and actor Nathan Bryon shares his top tips on creating an interesting character and thrilling plot, and the 500 Words judges answer your questions live! Following this Live Lesson, children will have all the tools to write their own 500 Words story and enter the competition, which opens on Tuesday 24 September and closes on Friday 8 November at 9pm.

Are you ready for an exclusive Live Lesson featuring the Gladiators? Phantom and Dynamite go head-to-head in this fun design and technology lesson for primary schools, to celebrate the launch of the new Gladiators' micro:bit competition on 15 October 2024. Mwaksy Mudenda and Emma-Louise Amanshia host the lesson from inside a top-secret Gladiators training camp. During the programme, we’ll explore what the genius BBC micro:bit pocket-sized computer can do. Two teams of young designers are tasked with creating a micro:bit-powered invention to help the Gladiators win our ultimate Live Lessons eliminator event. Primary school children across the UK are also encouraged to join in real-time with a series of curriculum-linked design and technology activities. At the end of the lesson, Phantom and Dynamite will go up against each other in a tough physical challenge. But who will be crowned the winner?

Rhys Stephenson and Shanequa Paris help Hacker T Dog put on the ultimate respectful sports day in a Live Lesson for primary schools to mark Anti-Bullying Week 2024.

Step inside the magical world of Quentin Blake’s Box of Treasures as we learn to become illustrators in this fun art and literacy Live Lesson. Inspired by the BBC animated films and Quentin Blake’s original illustrations, we learn how to draw our very own Zagazoo, one of his most beloved characters, who transforms into different animals to represent the stages of growing up. Hosts Rhys Stephenson and Laura Hopkinson are joined by comic artist and illustrator Vivian Truong, who will be sketching throughout the lesson. Children’s author and illustrator Dapo Adeola shares his top tips for drawing expressive characters as he visits a safari park in search of animal inspiration. The lesson includes simple comprehension skills used to interpret illustrations within books and basic drawing techniques.

Help Joel Mawhinney and Maddie Moate play Scam Smashers in this online safety lesson for Safer Internet Day. Players must complete a series of curriculum-linked activities to make it safely to the end of the game. Can we spot the scams and outsmart the digital tricksters to protect our personal information? Players will take on three thrilling levels: Level 1: Tutorial - What makes a scam a scam? Find out how to spot, avoid and report them. Level 2: Phishing - Ever received a suspicious message or email? It might be a scammer trying to steal your personal information! Learn how to spot the bait. Level 3: Passwords - Unlock the recipe to craft strong unique passwords that will keep your online accounts safe from hackers. Along the way, Newsround presenter Emma-Louise Amanshia and Game on Grandparents host Jules Hardy are on hand with top tips and simple strategies to stay safe online.

Join Joe Tasker and Naomi Wilkinson live from Bradford as we make Live Lessons history on World Book Day. Throughout this special programme, we'll be preparing for ‘The Big Live Read’, a national read-along where children across the UK will read together all at the same time. In preparation, presenters Naomi Wilkinson and Joe Tasker will be joined by a keen team of readers to help everyone find a book they would love to read. Under the expert guidance of author and poet Joseph Coelho they’ll explore fiction, non-fiction, and poetry to help people find a book and a way to read that’s right for them. Newsround’s Emma-Louise Amanshia will be touring Bradford on a very special bus to gather reading recommendations. Plus some famous faces will suggest their favourite fiction and non-fiction books. This educational programme will be packed with tips and recommendations for what you might love to read and how you might like to read it. But what book will you choose for ‘The Big Live Read’

Fancy an adventure into outer space? This British Science Week, join hosts Grace Webb and Greg Foot, along with real-life astronaut Tim Peake, as they prepare to blast off from the National Space Centre in Leicester for an out-of-this-world Live Lesson. You’re invited to enrol in astronaut training school and discover what it takes to stay healthy on board the International Space Station. Learn how to keep your bones strong in microgravity, design a delicious and nutritionally balanced space meal, and discover how astronauts stay hydrated orbiting 250 miles above the Earth. Along the way, you’ll also get answers to your most pressing questions, such as how do you go to the toilet in space? There is only one way to find out. Ready for lift-off? Let the adventure begin!

Join hosts Naomi Wilkinson and Lizzie Daly for an expedition deep into the rainforest. This special Earth Day Live Lesson from the Rainforest Biome at the Eden Project focuses on the water cycle and why it is essential to all life on our planet. Covering 70 per cent of the earth’s surface, water is one of the most important natural resources on the planet. It is continuously moving through an endless cycle involving clouds, rain, trees, rivers, lakes and oceans. Join us as we follow its journey and explore each stage of this fascinating process.

Evie, Rhys and BBC Children in Need’s Pudsey discover mood-boosting ways to support mental well-being. Meanwhile, Evie faces an epic challenge!