What's included in the Toys Through Time History at Home resource and why is it useful?

KS1 Toys Through Time History at Home is a one-page activity sheet to send home to parents and carers at the start of the topic. It includes what children will be learning, great conversation starters, ideas to try at home, famous figures to explore and places to find out more, covering how toys have changed over the past 70 years and how to spot if a toy is old or new.

What's on the sheet?

Learning: how toys have changed over the past 70 years, comparing favourite toys with those of parents and grandparents, changes in materials, technology, design and safety, and how to spot if a toy is old or new.

Conversation starters: questions such as "What do you think my favourite toy was as a child?" and "What do you think toys will be like in the future?"

Ideas to try at home: sorting toys by material, comparing packaging, designing a toy of the future and sharing family stories about favourite childhood toys.

Famous figures: Margarete Steiff, Frank Hornby, Ruth Handler and Lonnie Johnson, with dates and a line on each.

Books and websites: Toys and Games Then and Now by Robin Nelson, the Museum of Childhood and BBC Bitesize KS1 History.

How do our History at Home resources work?

Our History at Home resources sit alongside our history scheme. Send them home to parents and carers at the start of each topic to promote learning at home without it being a taxing homework-style resource. They also help parents build their own knowledge of the topic, so they can connect with what their child is learning in school.

Teach the full unit with our six Toys Through Time lessons.