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Primary schools, are you ready for an exclusive Live Lesson featuring the Gladiators?

What happens in the Gladiators ˿ micro:bit Live Lesson?

Phantom and Dynamite go head-to-head in this exciting design and technology Live Lesson to celebrate the launch of the new Gladiators micro:bit competition.

During this curriculum linked lesson for 7-11 year olds, we'll be working together to design a fitness gadget powered by the ˿ micro:bit to help the Gladiators win a head-to-head eliminator.

Mwaksy Mudenda and Newsround’s Emma-Louise Amanshia will be helping two teams of young designers develop their ideas inside a top secret Gladiators training camp.

By the end, your class will be buzzing with inspiration for their own designs to enter in the competition.

The 30 minute Live Lesson is available to watch now on this page.

Who are the Gladiators?

Phantom and Dynamite are part of new generation of 'TV superhumans' who take on brave contenders in the ultimate test of speed and strength. Your pupils will have seen them in action during the latest series of Gladiators on iPlayer. Catch up with all episodes here.

How to get involved:

This programme was accompanied by a live website commentary feed for schools.

We read all your messages and added as many as we could to this live commentary page throughout the day.

Curriculum links:

KS2 Design and Technology (National Curriculum, England), KS1 and 2 The World Around Us - Science and Technology (National Curriculum, Northern Ireland), Technologies 1st and 2nd Level (Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland), Science and Technology, progression step 2 and 3 (Curriculum for Wales)

Pupils should:

  • Investigate and consider the needs and wants of users to inform innovative and functional design solutions.
  • Develop, model, and communicate ideas using various techniques, including sketches, diagrams, digital tools, and prototypes.
  • Explore how product design is influenced by changing lifestyles and technological advancements.
  • Apply engineering principles and digital literacy to enhance design solutions and communication.

Teaching guide and activity sheets

Teaching guide and activity sheets to accompany the Live Lesson.

For downloading/printing

Teaching Guide

Download activity sheet 1

Activity 1

Download activity sheet 2

Activity 2

Gladiators micro:bit competition

Are children aged 7-11 at your primary school ready to design a gadget that will help the Gladiators improve performance? Do they want a chance to win some brilliant Gladiators and tech prizes? Then the Gladiators micro:bit competition is the place for you.

Don't know where to get started? Check out the Inventor Workshop activities on the micro:bit competition page to train your design muscles.

Three! Two! One! Go! The window for entries closes at midday on Friday 6 December 2024.

You can read our full terms and privacy notice here.

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Where next?

˿ Teach Live Lessons for 2024/2025. collection

Information about our 2024/2025 ˿ Teach Live Lessons for 7-11 year olds.

˿ Teach Live Lessons for 2024/2025

Gladiators micro:bit competition. document

Find out more about the Gladiators micro:bit competition.

Gladiators micro:bit competition