Overview

This 45-minute lesson is designed for Year 7 students (SEN, three learner levels) to develop essential digital skills aligned with the National Curriculum for England, focusing on key competencies in ICT and digital literacy. The lesson connects with the theme of The Breadwinner (a story about resilience, resourcefulness, and finding innovative solutions), encouraging students to engage critically with technology as a tool for problem-solving and creativity.

---

National Curriculum Links

Key Stage 3 - Design, Write and Debug Programs

• Use sequence, selection, and repetition in programs; work with variables and various forms of input and output (Program a simple project)
• Understand computer networks including the internet; their opportunities and threats for communication and collaboration
• Use logical reasoning to explain how some simple algorithms work and to detect and correct errors in algorithms and programs

Key Stage 3 - Data and Information

• Collect, analyse, evaluate and present data and information

Computing - Digital Literacy

• Use technology purposefully to create, organise, store, manipulate and retrieve digital content

SEN differentiation

• Scaffolded support according to learner levels with clear visual instructions, peer support, and interactive tasks

---

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, all students will be able to:

• LO1: Identify and understand basic digital tools relevant for storytelling and problem-solving (Engage, Share)
• LO2: Use a simple digital tool to create a multi-step digital story inspired by The Breadwinner (Practice)
• LO3: Reflect on digital content creation and problem-solving strategies used, focusing on collaboration and resilience (Review)

---

Preparation

Materials:

• Tablets or laptops with simple digital storytelling apps (e.g., storyboard creator or presentation software)
• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Printed story excerpts from The Breadwinner tailored for learners
• Digital task cards (colour-coded by ability)
• Visual step-by-step tutorials and word banks

---

Lesson Structure

1. Engage (10 minutes)

Activity: Story & Tech Connection

• Start with a brief, animated read-aloud extract from The Breadwinner, highlighting Parvana's resourcefulness and use of simple tools to solve problems.
• Facilitate a class discussion: “How do digital tools help us solve problems or share stories like Parvana?”
• Show short clips or images of digital storytelling tools.

Differentiation:

• Level 1: Support with visual aids and simplified language, one-on-one help.
• Level 2: Group pairs to discuss and share ideas.
• Level 3: Independent identification of digital tools and their uses.

National Curriculum link: Use technology purposefully to create and retrieve digital content

---

2. Share (10 minutes)

Activity: Digital Tools Exploration

• Demonstrate how to use a storytelling app (e.g., creating slides with images, text, and audio).
• Present step-by-step instructions visually on the board.
• Highlight the use of sequence, selection, and basic inputs as taught under programming concepts (without coding).

Differentiation:

• Level 1: Guided step-by-step navigation with teacher support.
• Level 2: Scaffolded prompts with task cards.
• Level 3: Encouraged to explore independently and customise slides.

National Curriculum link: Work with various forms of input and output

---

3. Practice (15 minutes)

Activity: Create a Mini Digital Story

• Students work individually or in pairs to create a 3-slide digital story inspired by one part of The Breadwinner, focusing on a problem Parvana faces and her solution.
• Encourage use of images, text, and optional recorded voice notes.
• Teacher and teaching assistant circulate to support, adapting for ability.

Differentiation:

• Level 1: Use pre-made templates and sentence starters.
• Level 2: Create original content with guided prompts.
• Level 3: Enhance stories with audio and animations.

National Curriculum link: Use sequence and selection in digital content creation

---

4. Review (10 minutes)

Activity: Reflect and Share

• Volunteers present their stories on the board.
• Class discusses what digital tools helped most and how digital skills can solve problems like Parvana’s.
• Self-assessment checklist using smiley faces for learners to rate their confidence with skills learnt.
• Highlight importance of resilience and creativity, linking back to the character’s story.

Differentiation:

• Level 1: One-to-one reflection with adult support.
• Level 2: Pair discussion and feedback.
• Level 3: Lead peer feedback and suggest improvements.

National Curriculum link: Evaluate digital content and use logical reasoning to explain processes

---

Assessment

• Formative: Observation of engagement during activities, student ability to use digital tools, and accuracy in sequencing story events.
• Summative: Completed 3-slide digital story assessed against a simple rubric focusing on:
  • Use of digital tools (images, text, audio)
  • Clarity of storytelling sequence
  • Creativity and problem-solving connection to The Breadwinner theme

---

Extension Ideas

• Invite students to create a collaborative digital storyboard combining individual slides into a larger narrative.
• Integrate simple coding platforms (e.g. Scratch) in a follow-up lesson to deepen understanding of sequencing and selection.

---

WOW Element for Teachers

• This lesson uses the narrative of The Breadwinner not only to motivate students but to embed resilience and problem-solving into digital literacy — showing how computing skills directly connect with social and emotional learning.
• The multi-level scaffolded approach with visual and auditory supports dramatically improves SEN student engagement, spearheading inclusive digital education.
• The integration of digital storytelling bridges literature and technology, a fresh approach to cross-curricular learning highly practical for the 21st-century classroom.

---

End of Plan