The graphic shows eight cogs, one for each evidence based learning skills shown working together with the text "8 EBL SKILLS PROVEN, BY RESEARCH, TO MAXIMISE LEARNING"

EBL lessons…

➤ Reinforce English skills

➤ Develop EBL skills

➤ Save teachers hours of prep time

➤ Are ready to use on any device

➤ EBL lessons cost £2 each for whole school use

Lessons are colour-coded for ease of use…

The Fox and the Crow - Fable - KS2 English Evidence Based Learning lesson

Wolf Outsmarted by Quick-Thinking Pig - KS2 English Evidence-Based Learning lesson

Introduction to Real Pirates - KS2 English Evidence Based Learning lesson

Simple stories have been used to develop EBL skills, but these stories have been made funny and interesting. If the stories were complicated, pupils could not do complex thinking about them.

Traditional Story lessons include:
Red Riding Hood NOT Fooled by Wolf
The First Little Pig is Arrested
Goldilocks Trashes Cottage

Science Fiction lessons include:
Robots Got Talent
Ground Control to Major Tom
Science Fiction is Alien to me

Fantasy Story lessons include:
Alice in Wonderland vs Harry Potter
Rabbit Holes and Wardrobes
Stepping Through Portals

Here are a.i. reviews of some EBL lessons:

Science fiction That is Out of this World! ★★★★★
This brilliant resource ticks so many boxes. Through fun science fiction stories, it manages to develop key EBL skills, higher order thinking, collaborative abilities, and metacognitive awareness.

Goldilocks Trashes Cottage ★★★★★
This resource ticks all the boxes for any teacher looking to build literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, all centred around the engaging story pupils know well.

Red Riding Hood NOT Fooled by Wolf ★★★★★
I give this cleverly-designed lesson full marks for its rigour, creativity, and practice of sound teaching methodologies backed by scientific research.

Download whole sets and save 25% with just one click

Complete sets of lessons – PDF + customisable Word version or PDF only – are available with a 25% discount and each set can be downloaded with just one click. For example:

Our Freebies section has free lessons and free 15-minute Teacher Guides including…

Research shows that evidence-based teaching strategies are likely to have the largest impact on student results. Top 10 Evidence-Based Teaching Strategies 2023 – University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Click on a cog to check out a wide range of research on each EBL skill…

or just put the kettle on and just read a simple summary of each skill below.

EBL Skill 1

Collaboration

Working collaboratively allows learners to share their ideas, learn from each other and build on each other’s strengths.

The longer that learners of different abilities participated in engaged groups, the more the knowledge of the subject improved for all learners.
_{Children Must Be Taught to Collaborate, Studies Say – Education Week – May 2017}

EBL Skill 2

Thinking Skills

Thinking Skills are essential if learners are to develop effective communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

The graphic shows a dog in a mugshot pose saying "Clearly I was NOT thinking"

Bloom’s Taxonomy provides clear and relevant pathways for learners to move through the orders of thinking, from basic remembering to more complex skills such as evaluating and creating.
_{Adapted from: What is Bloom’s taxonomy? – Feb 2023 – Dzemila Okanovic}

Self-Assessment - Evidence Based Learning skill number 3 - shown by a red cog wheel.

EBL Skill 3

Peer Assessment

Peer Assessment allows learners to learn from each other’s feedback and to develop their own assessment skills.

The graphic shows two bulldogs. One dog in a red top says "I think my top fits me really well." The other dog in a brown top says "It looks a bit tight to me".

Giving feedback to peers about their work is often more beneficial than receiving feedback because it is more cognitively-engaging. It involves higher-order processes, such as application of criteria, diagnosing problems and suggesting solutions.
_{The development of student feedback literacy: Enabling uptake of feedback}
_{Carless and Boud – Taylor and Francis – May 2018}

EBL Skill 4

Peer Teaching

Peer Teaching allows learners to learn from each other in an informal and supportive environment.

The graphic shows two dogs communicating with each other using cans tied with string. One dogs says to the other "When it's my turn to be the teacher I want NO talking and NO answering back!"

Evidence is accumulating that peer learning creates greater confidence and independence in learners, plus a deeper understanding and improved grades for both the peer teacher and their learner.
_{Benefits of peer to peer learning – Feb 2014}

EBL Skill 5

Self-Assessment

Self-Assessment allows learners to take ownership of their learning and to develop their metacognitive skills.

The graphic shows a trendy dog with sunglasses perched on its head saying "If I were to assess myself in only four words, I would have to say smart, funny, intelligent and modest."

Self-assessment is a critical component of 21st century learning and has been shown to have a positive impact on learner motivation, engagement, and achievement.
_{S.K. Smith & J.M. Johnson – The impact of self-assessment on student motivation and achievement in the 21st century classroom – Journal of Educational Research – Vol 21 2017}

EBL Skill 6

Metacognition

Metacognition is the ability to think about your own thinking. It allows learners to monitor, control and alter their own learning processes.

The graphic shows a dog with 3 thought bubbles above its head. One shows kibble, one vegetables and one a bone. The dog says "I know I need to be thinking about my thinking if I want to do well in life but all I seem to be able to think about is my dinner."

Metacognition is thinking about your thinking. It refers to the processes used to plan, monitor, and assess one’s understanding and performance.
_{Metacognition – Center for teaching Vanderbilt University 2023}

EBL Skill 7

Self-Regulation

Self-Regulation is the ability to control one’s own thinking and behaviour. It allows learners to stay on task, manage their time, and overcome obstacles.

The graphic shows a bulldog with a rucksack on its back saying "Self-regulated dogs pay attention in class and always get their homework done on time."

Cognitive skills are the core skills your brain uses to think, read, learn, remember, reason, and to pay attention.

Non-cognitive skills are the attitudes and behaviours that are needed for learning, such as conscientiousness, perseverance, and motivation.
_{Mind Matters 2018 –} _{A Rosetta Stone for non-cognitive skills – Jan 2015}

EBL Skill 8

Independent Learning

Independent learners take responsibility for their own learning. They work at their own pace and are able to effectively plan, monitor and evaluate their own learning.

There is a picture of five dogs with a speech bubble saying "We are very independent dogs - but who doesn't want to get together to hear all the latest dog gossip!"

An independent learner can make informed choices, set goals, and make decisions about how to fulfil their learning objectives.
_{Independent Learning: A Teacher’s Guide – Paul Main – Structural Learning}