Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services

Category: To borrow

  • Our Global History

    Our Global History

    Our Global History a series of classroom resources – Artefacts, books and more – researched and produced by the Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services with generous funding from the Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation.

    The resources have been designed to support the Towards an Anti-Racist Curriculum training for Tower Hamlets Schools which has engaged schools in examining how they teach the National Curriculum to reflect the backgrounds and experiences of children in Tower Hamlets schools. Our aim is to provide teachers with a wider range of resources to enable them to adequately diversify the curriculum and show them how to plan the de-colonised curriculum.

    The Resource Boxes

    The boxes and accompanying books were researched and created between September 2023 and August 2025.

    Boxes are available to borrow for one term from the Schools Library Services.

    1. The Shang Dynasty – available now

    The Shang Dynasty box covers the history of the earliest Chinese civilization that we have archaeological evidence for. An online version of the resource can be found at www.towerhamlets-sls.org.uk/shangbox

    2. The Islamic Golden Age – available now

    The Islamic Golden Age box will take you from the founding of Islam as a religion through the rise of the Islamic Empire that stretched all the way to Spain! An online version of the resource can be found at www.towerhamlets-sls.org.uk/igabox

    3. The Windrush Generation – available now

    The Windrush Generation box explores the importance of the Windrush Generation in rebuilding post-war Britain, the lives and jobs of the new arrivals and their lasting cultural legacy.

    An online resource can be found at https://towerhamlets-sls.org.uk/windrushbox/

    4. The British Empire & the East India Company – available now

    This resource focuses on the activities of the British Emipire and the East India Company in India with links to the global impact of the Empire including the Transatlantic Slave Trade. From the birth of the Empire and the EIC in Tudor Times, through to the Indian war of Independence and the legacy of the Empire.

    An online resource can be found at https://towerhamlets-sls.org.uk/empirebox/

  • Local History

    Local History

    Bespoke local history resource packs created by the Schools Library Services

    This is our history

    In 2022 the Schools Library Services launched ‘This is Our History‘, our local history project, funded by Heritage Lottery Fund. It covers the following five themes:

    • The Matchgirls’ Strike of 1888
    • The Blitz and the Bombing of the East End
    • East London Bengalis
    • Somali East End
    • London Docklands
    • The Huguenot Silk Weavers (created in memory of Sylvia Cummins with a donation from the Cummins family)

    We have created a suitcase of artefacts and an accompanying booklet to support teaching and learning, teacher activities on related global learning, and an extra allocation of up to thirty books on and around the theme on each of these topics for teachers to borrow.

    For additional information about the project and resources – contact  schoolslibraryservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk

    Tracks through Poplar

    This project created an educational programme for primary school children in Poplar featuring the Trust’s 150-year-old steam locomotive No 70 ‘Poplar’, one of the oldest operational in the UK.

    Global Learning London (GLL) and the Schools Library Services worked with children in the area to co-create an immersive National Curriculum based programme, resulting in Resource Boxes for schools.

    The resource boxes  include materials relating to historic themes such as commuting the 1870s, East End hop picking “holidays” in Kent, and the development of light railways (the K&ESR was the first and the Docklands Light Railway is the latest).

    Pupils studying science and geography will look at sources of energy, changing environmental considerations, and the impact of railway development worldwide; while railway themed stories, poems, music and drawing will help develop English, music and arts skills.

    The Tracks through Poplar resource box

    Tracks through Poplar online resource

    This resource is designed to explore the importance of our railways, East London history and to celebrate the history and significance of steam engines, through key curriculum areas and Global Citizenship themes.

    Each chapter is focussed on a particular theme and contains a mixed media of resources and tools to develop understanding and skills with Key Stage 2 pupils. Most activities are adaptable for other ages, and many involve cross curricular learning. You will find digital materials on the Padlet, linked in each chapter.

    Each chapter stands alone, or you can piece together the sections you want to form a longer learning journey for pupils.

    You can access the Tracks Through Poplar Educational Resource by clicking here.
  • Class sets

    Class sets

    Class sets comprise of 15 copies of the book

    NEW SETS ADDED

    Our class sets have been chosen as being complementary to subjects and topics being taught in the classroom, as well as representing a range of new books and authors to broaden the reading experiences of the class.

    Choose from the following titles (subject to availability).

    Please request your set at least four weeks prior to you needing it to ensure it’s with you on time.

    You may request a class set that we don’t currently have in stock but we reserve the right not to purchase it if it doesn’t meet the criteria of our stock policy.

    Adeyinka, SabineJummy at the river schoolNigeria
    Agard, JohnThe rainmaker danced 
    Almond, DavidMouse, Bird, Snake, WolfCreation Story, Cautionary Tale
    Almond, DavidSkelligFantasy, angels, caring, illness, disability
    Almond, DavidThe SavageBullying
    Ardagh, PhilipNorman : the Norman from NormandyHistorical fiction
    AtinukeToo small TolaNigeria
    AtinukeAnna Hibiscus (chapter book)Nigeria
    Baines, SamanthaHarriet versus the galaxy 
    Balit, ChristinaEscape from Pompeii 
    Barrie, J. M.Peter Pan 
    Bartram, SimonMan on the moon (a day in the life of Bob) 
    Barzelay, AlixJemmy Button 
    Bawden, NinaCarrie’s war 
    Becker, AaronJourney 
    Bell, JenniferWonderscape 
    Bell, P. G.The Train to Impossible PlacesFantasy, magic, journeys
    Benjamin, FloellaComing to EnglandWidrush
    Bilan, JasbinderTamarind & the star of Ishta 
    Blackman, MaloriePig Heart BoyFamilies, Illness, Medical Ethics, BAME
    Blackman, MalorieCloud busting 
    Blackman, MalorieEllie & the cat 
    Blackman, MalorieOperation gadgetman! 
    Bond, MichaelA bear called Paddington 
    Boyne, JohnThe Boy in the Striped PyjamasWorld War Two, holocaust
    Boyne, JohnThe terrible thing that happened to Barnaby Brocket 
    Bradman, TonyAnglo-Saxon BoyAnglo-Saxons, historical fiction
    Bradman, TonyDilly and the goody-goody 
    Bradman, TonyDilly the dinosaur 
    Bradman, TonyQueen of darkness 
    Bradman, TonyViking boy 
    Brahmachari, SitaWhen secrets set sail 
    Bramachari, SitaKite SpiritBereavement
    Briggs, RaymondJim and the Beanstalk 
    Briggs, RaymondUg: boy genius of the stone age and his search for soft trousers
    Briggs, RaymondFungus the Bogeyman 
    Brown, PeterWild RobotEnvironment, nature, cooperation, robots, P4C
    Browne, AnthonyVoices in the ParkClass, prejudice, viewpoints
    Browne, AnthonyAnthony Browne’s King Kong 
    Browne, AnthonyInto the forest 
    Browne, AnthonySilly Billy 
    Browne, AnthonyThe tunnel 
    Browne, AnthonyWilly’s stories 
    Burningham, JohnOi! get off our train 
    Cherry, LynneThe Great Kapok TreeRainforests
    Climo, ShirleyThe Egyptian CinderellaAncient Egypt, fairy tales
    Climo, ShirleyThe Egyptian Cinderella 
    Coelho, JosephZombierella 
    Cole, LoDoris 
    Cotterill, JoA Library Of LemonsMental Health
    Cottrell Boyce, FrankThe Unforgotten CoatRefugees, Mongolia
    Cottrell Boyce, FrankCosmic 
    Cowell, CressidaHow to train your dragonDragons, Vikings, fantasy
    Dahl, RoaldCharlie and the chocolate factory 
    Darnton, TracyMy brother is an avocado 
    Davies, BenjiThe storm whale 
    Davis, BenThe soup movement 
    Daywalt, DrewThe day the crayons quit 
    Deary, TerryThe captive Celt 
    DiCamillo, KateThe Miraculous Journey Of Edward TulaneAdventure, journeys, loss and recovery, toys
    Dickens, CharlesA Christmas Carol 
    Doherty, BerlieStreet ChildVictorian Britain, poverty
    Doherty, BerlieThe Company Of GhostsScotland, Ghost Stories
    Dowd, SiobhanLondon Eye MysteryAdventure, Mystery, London
    Dr SeussThe LoraxEnvironment, sustainability, anti-capitalism
    Durrant, S. E.Running on empty 
    Durrant, S.E.Running on EmptyYoung carers, sports, learning disabilities, ambition
    Edmonds, DavidUndercover robot : my first year as a human 
    Edwards, GarethThe Disgusting Sandwich 
    Edwards, GarethThe disgusting sandwich 
    Evans, MazWho let the Gods out? 
    Fisher, CatherineThe clockwork crow 
    Gaiman, NeilFortunately The MilkHumour, fantasy
    Gaiman, NeilGraveyard BookFantasy, Ghosts, Humour
    Gallico, PaulThe Snow GooseWorld War Two
    Garfield, LeonThe wedding ghost 
    Garner, AlanThe owl service 
    Gayton, SamThe Snow MerchantFantasy
    Gleitzman, MorrisOnceWorld War Two, holocaust
    Gleitzman, MorrisTwo Weeks with the QueenTerminal Illness, LGBT
    Gleitzman, MorrisThen 
    Gravett, EmilyMeerkat MailLetter writing
    Gravett, EmilyMeerkat mail 
    Grey, MiniTraction Man is HereToys
    Grey, MiniTraction man is here 
    Grifalconi, AnnThe Village that vanishedAfrica, slavery
    Grifalconi, AnnThe village that vanished 
    Grill, WilliamShackleton’s journeyExplorers, polar regions
    Hargrave, Kiran MillwoodThe Girl of Ink and StarsFantasy
    Hathorn, ElizabethWay home 
    Haughton, ChrisOh no, George! 
    Heide, FlorenceThe Day of Ahmed’s SecretEgypt, writing
    Howe, JamesTotally JoeLGBT
    Hughes, TedThe Iron ManClassic, the environment
    Ibbotson, EvaJourney to the river sea 
    Innocenti, RobertoRose BlancheWorld War 2, the Holocaust
    Islam, BurhanaMayhem Mission 
    Jackson, SharnaHigh-rise mystery 
    Johnson, CatherineFreedonHistorical, slavery, emancipation
    Johnson, CatherineFreedom 
    Jones, Rob LloydBeowulfAnglo-Saxons, traditional tales
    Jones, Rob LloydWild BoyVictorian Britain
    Jones, RosieThe amazing Edie Eckhart 
    Jones, TerryThe saga of Erik the Viking 
    Judge, ChrisThe lonely beast 
    Khan, Hiba NoorSafiyyah’s War 
    Khan, M. T.Nura and the immortal palace 
    King, CliveStig of the Dump 
    Kipling, RudyardJust so stories 
    Kipling, RudyardThe jungle book 
    Kitamura, SatoshiStone Age BoyPrehistory
    Kitamura, SatoshiStone age boy 
    Laird, ElizabethA Little Piece of GroundPalestine, confict, football
    Laird, ElizabethOranges In No Man’s LandWar, Lebanon
    Laird, ElizabethThe Fastest Boy in the WorldEthiopia, Sport
    Laird, ElizabethWelcome To NowhereRefugees, Syria
    Landman, TanyaLightning strike 
    Lawrence, PatriceDiver’s daughter 
    Leonard, M GBeetle BoyFantasy, Adventure, Insects
    Lewis, GillMoon BearConservation, Bears, China
    Lin, Ann SeiRebel skies 
    Lobel, ArnoldFrog and toad are friends 
    Lucas, DavidGrendel: a cautionary tale about chocolate 
    Lucas, DavidLost in the toy museum: an adventure 
    Lupton, HughThe Adventures of OdysseusAncient Greece
    Magorian, MichelleGoodnight Mister Tom 
    Marsden, JohnThe RabbitsAustralia, colonialism, British Empire
    McCaughrean, GeraldineThe Middle of NowhereAustralia, Historical Fiction, Racism
    Mian, ZanibPlanet Omar 
    Mitchelhill, BarbaraSecret SuffragetteHistorical Fiction, women’s rights
    Morayo, LolaAziza’s secret fairy door 
    Morpurgo, MichaelBeowulfClassic, myths and legends, monsters
    Morpurgo, MichaelKensuke’s KingdomSurvival, nature, WW2, islands, shipwrecks, Japan
    Morpurgo, MichaelFriend or foe 
    Morpurgo, MichaelThe butterfly lion 
    Morpurgo, MichaelThe wreck of the Zanzibar 
    Mould, ChrisPirates ‘N’ Pistols; Ten Swashbuckling Pirate TalesPirates
    Nadin, JoannaJoe All AloneLondon, parents
    Naidoo, BeverlyJourney To Jo’burgSouth Africa, apartheid
    Naidoo, BeverlyCinderella of the Nile 
    Nicholls, SallyAn Island of Our OwnAdventure, Orphans
    Noyes, AlfredThe highwayman 
    Palacio, R JWonderDisability, bullying
    Parry Heide, FlorenceThe Day of Ahmed’s SecretModern Egypt, Arabic
    Patel, SerenaAnisha, Accidental Detective 
    Patel, SerenaAnisha, Accidental Detective: school’s cancelled! 
    Pirotta, SaviourThe golden horsemen of Baghdad 
    Pirotta, SaviourThe stolen spear 
    Pullman, PhilipClockwork: or All Wound UpFantasy, Classic
    Pullman, PhilipAlladin 
    Rai, BaliNow or NeverDunkirk, WW2, historical, Indian soldiers
    Rauf, OnjaliThe Boy at the Back of the ClassRefugees, Syria, bullying, politics
    Reeve, PhilipRail HeadScience fiction
    Riddell, ChrisGoth Girl And The Ghost Of A MouseHumour
    Riddell, ChrisOttoline and the yellow cat 
    Ridley, PhilipKrindlekraxMonsters, bullying, bravery
    Ringgold, FaithTar beach 
    Riordan, RickPercy Jackson and the lightning thief 
    Robinson, MichelleHow to wash a woolly mammoth 
    Rowling, J. K.Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone 
    Roy, NilanjanaThe WildingsIndia, cats
    Rundell, KatherineThe Wolf WilderAdventure, Russia, Historical fiction (Russian Revolution) Wolves
    Sachar, LouisHolesJustice
    Sendak, MauriceWhere the wild things are 
    Seo, Emily SatokoThe perfect sushi 
    Shakespeare, WilliamMacbeth Prose edition by Tony Ross
    Sheibani, JionThe worries : Sohal finds a friend 
    Shepherd, AndyThe boy who grew dragons 
    Silverstein, Shelthe giving tree 
    Slater, KimSmartMystery, Disability, Domestic Abuse, Aspergers/ autism
    Smith, DanMy Friend The EnemyWorld War Two, the Blitz
    Solomons, DavidMy Brother Is A SuperheroHumour, superheroes, sibling rivalry
    Soundar, ChitraJar Of PicklesIndia, Short Stories
    Stanev, MartinThe planet in a pickle jar 
    Swindells, RobertIce Palace 
    Tan, ShaunThe lost thing 
    Todd-Stanton, JoeThe Secret of Black RockIslands, graphic novels
    Todd-Stanton, JoeArthur and the golden rope 
    Tolstoy, AlekseiThe Gigantic Turnip 
    Torday, PiersThe last wild 
    Uman, JenniferJemmy ButtonColonialism, Charles Darwin, British Empire
    Villa, Alvaro F.Flood 
    Ward, HelenVarmints 
    White, E BCharlotte’s WebFarms
    Williams, MarciaAncient Egypt : tales of gods and pharaohs 
    Zephaniah, BenjaminWindrush Child 
  • eBook platform and ‘The Day’ Newspaper

    eBook platform and ‘The Day’ Newspaper

    eResources banner

    Schools Library Services eBooks platform

    Now searchable by Accelerated Reader levels!

    All subscribing schools can use our eBook lending service.  To receive logins to your accounts, please contact the schools library service. Following the link will allow you to view our eBook stock.

    We are now part of the London Schools Library Services eBook consortium, meaning that schools have access to an even wider range of eBooks.

    Why use our platform?

    • eBook platforms are expensive for schools to set up. Why not use a ready made platform that comes as part of your subscription to our service?
    • No annual running costs or minimum spend requirements on new books
    • No admin worries. Send us your reader data and we will upload it
    • Books selected for their suitability for primary and secondary schools

    Access to the platform at no additional cost is available to:

    • Primary schools with a whole-school subscription to the Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services (e.g. Silver or Gold lending package)
    • Secondary schools subscribing to the current creative literature package

    Other schools may pay an additional subscription for the eBooks package

    About the ePlatform

    Provided via the Wheelers platform, the current collection comprises of popular fiction for ages 9/10 and upwards, many chosen from previous years’ Teen Booklists and Must Reads booklists.

    • The platform is intended for staff and pupils to have direct access to the collection as a 24/7 library
    • The age range of the books is for primary school year 5 up to sixth form
    • Books unsuitable for younger readers are age restricted*
    • Teachers and librarians can use the collection to keep up-to-date with new children’s and young adult fiction.
    • Up to 2 eBooks can be borrowed at a time
    • eBooks are ‘loaned’ for 2 weeks at a time
    • Books can be read online on a PC or downloaded to an eBook reader or any tablet.  Please note that Kindle readers are not compatible, but Kindle Fire tablets are
    • Borrowing and downloading support is available on the platform site

    Teachers interested in using the platform with their school should contact Jacob Turner at the Schools Library Service.

    jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk

    020 7364 6428

    *Age restrictions are applied by librarians at the schools library services managing the eBooks platforms. Restrictions are based purely on our own judgement and may not be in line with your own views.

    How to start using the platform

    1. Browse the collection and make a decision as to how you wish to use it in your school. Do you want all pupils and staff to have access, or are you going to use it to support smaller reading groups?
    2. Register your staff and pupil users. Email the completed login template for eBooks platform to jacob.turner@towerhamlets.gov.uk
    3. We will contact you to go over essential details about using the platform
    4. Start reading!

    Advice and support

    Advice on how to implement eBooks and eResources in your school, including:

    • Free user groups each term-time Monday
    • Choosing an appropriate platform
    • Inclusion and support, including looking at special educational needs
    • How eBooks can be used in the classroom
    • Legal and copyright questions answered!

    Other eResources

    The Day – daily news service

    Available at a discounted rate via consortium membership

     

  • Posters and Picture Packs

    Posters and Picture Packs

    PostersBanner

    Posters

    Covering all curriculum topics including:

    • Science explanations
    • Human body and anatomy
    • Animals and plants
    • Geographical features
    • History and timelines
    • Maps (loacal, continental, world)

    Instructional posters including:

    • PSHE and diversity awareness
    • Anti-bullying
    • Feelings and behaviour
    • Road safety

    Art posters including

    • Portraits
    • World art
    • Art periods and movements form early art to contemporary works
    • Posters and propaganda
    • Architecture

    Picture Packs

    We have picture packs covering all the usual topic areas and some less usual ones! Picture packs can contain between 6 and 30+ images depending on subject.

    Curriculum areas include

    • Religion, including celebrations, symbols and sacred texts
    • All areas of science including plants and animals
    • Geography including maps and islands and pirates
    • Technology and design, including fairground rides and circuses and carnival costumes
    • Art by subject or movement

     

  • Story Tents

    Story Tents

    Story tent banner

    The story tents were developed by the HEC Global Learning Centre – now Global Learning London – in partnership with several Tower Hamlets schools. These tents are available to borrow for your school for a whole term or just for a few days. They can be used as part of a class topic or with a professional storyteller.

    Full details of storytents (pdf document)

    Each story tent contains:

    • Eight illustrated side panels
    • A box of supporting resources
    • Teacher’s information pack including:
    • background information
    • how to utilise the ‘StoryTent’ as a class, year or whole school initiative
    • National Curriculum schemes of work
    • literacy hour lesson plans
    • ideas and activities
    • details of cross-curricula links
    • Instructions for putting up your tent

  • Literacy & Numeracy Collection

    Literacy & Numeracy Collection

    Lit banner1

    Our literacy and numeracy collection holds dedicated booksets, big books and games.

    Guided reading and other booksets:

    • Sets of 6 or 7 books for shared reading (counts as 1 item on your ticket)
    • Banded reading sets for KS1 (see below for levels)
    • KS1 Phonics Bug booksets
    • Fiction and non-fiction booksets for KS2
    • Sets of picturebooks by literacy strand
    • Numeracy sets of big and small books by theme

    Catch-up

    Games:

    • Board games and card games
    • Phonics games
    • Spelling, word blends, synonyms, and other language types
    • Number operation and counting games
    • Basic to upper primary levels
    • Literacy and numeracy games for PCs and Macs (no site licence required)

    Big Books:

    We have a special collection of Big Books arranged by language type, including:

    • Patterned language
    • Genre
    • Traditional
    • Other cultures
    • Plays
    • Poetry
    • Report/ Recount
    • Discussion/ Persuasion
    • Significant authors
    • Familiar settings

    We support the following reading bands at Key Stage 1:

    Standard KS1 Colour Bands cover publishers including Pearson, Badger and Collins

    Guide to NC Level Book Band (standard) Year Group Stage within the programme of study Reading Recovery LevelApprox phonics phaseRead Write Inc.Oxford Reading Tree
    Stepping StonesPinkRSecure1-22  
    Stepping StonesRedRMore able3-53Green/ Purple 
    1cYellow1Beginning6-83/4PinkGreen L2
    1c/1bBlue1Beginning9-114/5OrangeGreen L2
    1b/ 1aGreen1Developing12-145OrangeBlue L3
    1b/ 1aOrange1Developing15-165/6YellowRed L4
    1a/ 2cTurquoise1Secure17-185/6Yellow/ BlueYellow L5/ Orange L6
    2c/ 2bPurple1More able/ Mastering19-206Blue/ GreyOrange L6
    2c/ 2bPurple2Beginning19-206GreyLevel 7/8
    2bGold2Developing21-226n/aLevel 9
    2aWhite2Secure23-24n/an/aLevel 10
    3cLime2More able/ Mastering25-26n/an/aLevel 10/11

    Key stage 2 Guided Reading sets are arranged by Dewey Decimal classification although we stock Ruby to Diamond level books from a variety of reading schemes.

    Guide to NC Level Book Band (Collins Big Cat) Book Band (Pearson)Book Band (Badger)Oxford Reading Tree Year Group Stage within the programme of study Reading Recovery Level (approx.)
    3cLimeLimeLimeLevel 11/ 123Beginning25-26
    3c/ 3bCopperBrownBrownLevel 133Developing26
    3b TopazBrownBrownLevel 143Secure26-27
    3b/ 3aTopaz/ RubyGreyGreyLevel 14/153/4More able/ Mastering (3) Beginning (4)27
    3aRuby/ EmeraldGreyGreyLevel 164Developing27
    4cEmeraldGreyGreyLevel 174Secure28
    4c/ 4bSapphireBlueDark BlueLevel 17/184/5More able/ Mastering (4) Beginning (5)28-29
    4bSapphire/ Diamond BlueDark BlueLevel 195Developing29
    4b/ 4aDiamondBlueDark Blue/ Dark RedLevel 205Secure29-30
    4aDiamondBlue/ RedDark RedLevel 205/6More able/ Mastering (5) Beginning (6)30
    4a/ 5cDiamond/Pearl RedDark Red/ Black 6Developing 
    Within L5PearlRedDark Red/ Black 6Secure 
     PearlRedDark Red/ Black 6More able/ Mastering 

     

     

     

  • Multi-Sensory Stories

    Multi-Sensory Stories

    Storybox

    Multi-sensory story sets are a great way to explore storytelling with children with special educational needs.

    We source these sets from Bag Books and have a large variety to choose from for KS1 to KS3

    Each story pack consists of ‘pages’ to which are attached a variety of objects that feature in the story. The storyteller is free to hand the props to the listeners and invite interaction.

    Search our catalogue for multi-sensory stories

     

     

  • Story props, artefacts & costumes

    Story props, artefacts & costumes

    Enrich the curriculum and inspire your pupils (and teachers!) with fantastic artefacts, props and costumes for all topics, performances and occasions.

    Costumes

    Our costumes can make a school performance come to life, or add depth to any classroom activity.

    • Perfect for history, geography, drama, citizenship, or art
    • Adult and childrens’ sizes
    • Historical costumes from ancient world to Britain since 1930
    • Contemporary costumes from around the world
    • Uniforms/people who help us
    • Drama and pantomime

    How many costumes can I borrow?

    • Unlimited number of costumes

    Local History Artefacts

    In 2022 the Schools Library Services launched ‘This is Our History‘, our local history project, continued in 2025 with the creation of multi-sensory stories. Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it covers the following themes:

    • The Matchgirls’ Strike of 1888
    • The Blitz and the Bombing of the East End
    • East London Bengalis
    • Somali East End
    • London Docklands
    • The Huguenot silk weavers

    Artefacts boxes that are also used as sensory stories

    • A dockworker’s day at West India Quay
    • A journey to West india Quay from Barbados
    • The Est End Suffragettes
    • The Jewish East End
    • The Battle of Cable Street
    • Ragged Schools

    This is Our History page

    The Matchgirls Strike set
    The Ragged Schools set

    Historical Artefacts

    Enrich your history topics with one of our artefacts collections. Artefacts can be an expensive purchase for your school, so why not borrow them instead? Each box contains up to 40 artefacts.

    • Abolition of Slavery
    • Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome
    • Ancient Rome – Museum of London collection (includes original roman artefacts in addition to replicas)
    • Anglo Saxons
    • Bengalis in East London
    • The Blitz
    • Britain Since 1930
    • The British Empire & East India Company
    • Explorers
    • Fifties and sixties Britain
    • Florence Nightingale
    • Homes (early 20th century)
    • Islamic Golden Age
    • London Docklands
    • Mary Seacole
    • Matchgirls
    • Pirates
    • Shang Dynasty
    • Somali East End
    • Stone age to Iron age
    • Toys and Games
    • ‘Tracks through Poplar’ (steam railways)
    • Tudors
    • Victorian Britain
    • Vikings
    • The Windrush Generation
    • World War 2
    • Writing and Printing
    KS1 History artefacts
    Toys from History
    Stone Age to Iron Age

    Single historical artefacts are also available, including:

    • Artefacts from all of the above eras
    • Ancient Benin
    • Medieval History
    • History within living memory
      • Toys and home computers/ consoles from the 70s, 80s and 90s*
      • Music playback, including a working gramophone, reel to reel, walkmans, etc*
      • Typewriters
    • Navigation and exploration
    • Treasure chests (empty)

    *Electroninc and electrical historical artefacts are usually non-working and for display/ examples only.

    How many artefacts can I borrow?

    • Unlimited single artefacts where available
    • One historical artefacts box per teacher (and no more than one of each type per school)

    Technology that kids won’t believe we had!
    Benin Bronze Leopard

    Our Global History

    Our Global History a series of classroom resources – Artefacts, books and more – researched and produced by the Tower Hamlets Schools Library Services with generous funding from the Aldgate & Allhallows Foundation.

    The resources have been designed to support the Towards an Anti-Racist Curriculum training for Tower Hamlets Schools which has engaged schools in examining how they teach the National Curriculum to reflect the backgrounds and experiences of children in Tower Hamlets schools.

    Our aim is to provide teachers with a wider range of resources to enable them to adequately diversify the curriculum and show them how to plan the de-colonised curriculum.

    The following boxes and accompanying book and online resources are now available

    • The Shang Dynasty
    • The Islamic Golden Age
    • The Windrush Generation
    • The British Empire & The East india Company

    Links to the online resources

    The Islamic Empire
    The Shang Dynasty

    Artefacts from Around the World

    Bring a global dimension to your classroom.

    International artefact boxes include:

    • Shahnameh : The Phoenix of Persia : Iran/ Persia and traditional tales. Produced in collaboration with Tiny Owl Books.
    • Dolls from around the world (boxes for different countries & continents)
    • Where in the World is Barnaby Bear? / Weatherby Bear? / Benita Bear?
    • Countries, including Modern Egypt, France, Australia, Poland
    • Bengal History
    • Deforestation
    • Adinkra and Kente Cloth
    • Olympic Games

    The Shahnameh box
    Costume dolls from around the world

    Individual items can support:

    • International celebrations
    • Black History Month
    • Chinese New Year

    are from:

    • Africa
    • Middle East
    • South America
    • North America
    • India and Bangladesh
    • Europe
    • China
    • Japan

    and include:

    • Textiles and flags for displays
    • Everyday items
    • Festival items
    • Masks
    • Musical instruments
    • Puppets
    • Toys made from recycled materials

    Toys made from recycled materials

    Religious Artefacts

    Artefacts can help pupils gain insight into complex subjects like world faiths and religion.

    • Holy books
    • Celebrations and festivals
    • Christianity
    • Islam
    • Buddhism
    • Sikhism
    • Hinduism
    • Kwanzaa
    • Prayer
    • Religious clothing
    • Weddings

    Buddhism set

    Science Artefacts

    We have a wide selection of artefacts to help teach a range of science topics:

    • Human skeletons
    • Model body parts
    • Teeth
    • Habitats and food chains
    • Lifecycles
    • The Solar System
    • Rocks and fossils
    • Magnets

    The Human body

    Story Props and Sets

    Props and puppets to make any story come to life. Add an extra dimension to your storytelling or literacy sessions, or use a persona doll for PSHE and citizenship.