Resources: Pencils and colouring pencils. The responses to the questions which were sent home with the children in Lesson 2 are also needed in this lesson.
Support Handout (1): The handout provides space for children to draw and label their favourite toy. A word bank has been provided to support labelling.
Core Handout (2): The handout provides space for children to draw and label their favourite toy.
Challenge Handout (4): The handout provides space for children to draw and label a toy from the future.
Using the starter slide, look at the images and recap what each toy is made of. Use this time to collect and discuss the questions the class sent to their parents, grandparents or carers, and the answers they have received. Are there any toys that they have already looked at? If there are any toys they haven’t looked at yet, spend a few minutes researching them with the class and show the children some pictures.
Using the presentation, explain to the children that in this lesson, they’ll be exploring and comparing how toys have changed over time. Explore a variety of toys that children play with today, including plastic building toys, battery-powered devices, and games on tablets or computers.
Talk about the different materials these toys are made from, such as plastic, metal, fabric, and electronic components. Compare toys that need batteries or screens to toys that don’t, and discuss how children interact with them.
Compare and discuss any similarities between toys from the past and present. Use a timeline to help the children understand when different toys were popular, and compare that to when their own toys were made. Encourage the children to think about how toys have changed over time and what materials are still used today.
Ask the children to draw, label and write about their favourite toy that they play with, either at school or at home. Encourage the children to include the features and materials of their toy. Ask the children to write a sentence to explain how their toy is different from a toy in the past.
Challenge Task: Ask the children to design a toy for the future. Encourage them to think about its materials, special features and how it is played with.
As a class, share the children's favourite toys, encouraging the children to explain why it is their favourite.
What do the children think toys in the future might look like?
Teacher Mastery
Toys have changed a lot over time as new materials and technology have been developed. In the past, toys were often handmade from wood, metal, or fabric, and children played simple games that used their imagination, like dolls, spinning tops, or wooden trains. Today, many toys are made from plastic and often include electronic parts, lights, or sounds. Children now also play with digital toys and games on tablets or computers, which can be interactive and educational. Although toys have become more advanced, children still enjoy playing, imagining, and having fun, just like they did in the past.
Address
Developing Experts Limited
Exchange Street Buildings
35-37 Exchange Street
Norwich
NR2 1DP
UK
Phone
01603 273515
Email
[email protected]
Copyright 2026 Developing Experts, All rights reserved.
Unlock expert-designed lessons, resources, and assessments tailored for educators. No credit card required.
Claim Your Free Trial →
