Where each app is taught
Apps & tools
Almost everything runs in a browser or the Microsoft 365 web apps, so it works on both iPads and Windows laptops. Where a task is smoother on a laptop (for example Excel, file management in File Explorer, or Teams), that is noted in the “Tools / apps” column. “Word for the web” is used where real-time co-authoring is the point of the lesson.Almost everything runs in the browser, so it works on both tablets and Chromebooks. Where a task is smoother with a keyboard and trackpad (for example Google Sheets, file management in the Files app, or Google Classroom), that is noted in the “Tools / apps” column. Sharing a Google Doc with editing rights is used where real-time co-editing is the point of the lesson.Everything here runs on the iPad, in the built-in apps or in Safari. Where a task is smoother with a keyboard (for example Numbers, or longer writing in Pages), attach one if you have them. Pages with Collaborate turned on is used where real-time co-editing is the point of the lesson. Email, surveys and handing work out come from your school's Microsoft or Google accounts.
Your school's platform
The course was written for Microsoft 365, but the skills are the same whichever
suite your school runs. Pick yours from the dropdown at the top of every page — it shows the platform
you are reading now — and the whole site renames itself: app names, tips, lesson plans, prep lists and
search all follow. Your choice is remembered on this device, and a link ending
?platform=google opens the site already
switched, which is handy when sharing it with a school that uses something else.
-
Microsoft 365
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive and Teams
The course as originally written: Microsoft 365 apps on iPads and Windows laptops, with OneDrive as the home for pupils' work and Teams for distributing materials.
Devices: iPads and Windows laptops
Signing in: School Microsoft 365 account (username and password, or a login card). -
Google Workspace for Education
Docs, Slides, Sheets, Gmail, Drive and Classroom
The same 120 lessons taught with Google Workspace for Education: Docs, Slides and Sheets in the browser, Google Drive as the home for pupils' work, and Google Classroom for handing out materials and collecting work.
Devices: tablets and Chromebooks
Signing in: School Google account (username and password, or a QR/picture login for younger pupils). -
Apple (iPad-led)
Pages, Keynote, Numbers, Files and iCloud Drive
For schools that teach mainly through the built-in iPad apps: Pages, Keynote and Numbers, with Files and iCloud Drive for saving and organising.
Devices: iPads
Signing in: Managed Apple Account, plus the school's Microsoft or Google account for email.Apple is a device-and-apps platform rather than a full school suite: email, surveys and handing work out still come from whichever tenancy your school runs (Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace). Those lessons name both options so you can pick the one your school uses.
The same app, named on each platform
| Microsoft 365 | Google Workspace | Apple / iPad |
|---|---|---|
| Web browser | Web browser | Web browser |
| Word | Google Docs | Pages |
| OneDrive | Google Drive | iCloud Drive |
| PowerPoint | Google Slides | Keynote |
| Excel | Google Sheets | Numbers |
| Outlook | Gmail | |
| Word for the web | Google Docs (co-editing) | Pages (co-editing) |
| Teams | Google Classroom | Schoolwork |
| Forms | Google Forms | Forms |
| File Explorer | Files app | Files app |
| Dictate | Voice typing | Dictation |
| Immersive Reader | Select-to-Speak | Speak Screen |
| Mixed M365 | Mixed Workspace | Mixed iPad apps |
| OneNote | Google Keep | Notes |
| Outlook calendar | Google Calendar | Calendar |
| Snap layouts | Split screen | Split View |
| Windows | Chromebook | iPad |
Nothing else changes: the objectives, the 30-minute shape, the online-safety strand and the week-by-week sequence are identical on every platform.
Every app, and the lessons that use it
Web browser
Works on iPad and laptop. Used for searching and for ProjectEVOLVE lessons.Chrome on a Chromebook or tablet. Used for searching and for ProjectEVOLVE lessons.Safari on the iPad. Used for searching and for ProjectEVOLVE lessons.
- Y3 Going online safely Wk 1
- Y3 Keeping information private Wk 6
- Y3 Showing respect online Wk 11
- Y3 Searching safely Wk 16
- Y3 A balanced digital life Wk 21
- Y3 My creative work Wk 26
- Y4 Being a good digital citizen Wk 1
- Y4 Private and personal information Wk 6
- Y4 The power of words Wk 11
- Y4 Is it true? reliable information Wk 16
- Y4 A balanced digital life Wk 21
- Y4 Whose is it anyway? Wk 26
- Y5 Our digital community Wk 1
- Y5 Strong passwords & security Wk 6
- Y5 Spam and scams Wk 11
- Y5 Evaluating and citing sources Wk 16
- Y5 Picture perfect: edited images Wk 21
- Y5 Using and crediting work Wk 26
- Y5 Two windows at once Extra
- Y6 Talking safely online Wk 1
- Y6 Privacy rules and policies Wk 6
- Y6 What’s cyberbullying? Wk 11
- Y6 Media and stereotypes Wk 16
- Y6 Advanced searching Wk 17
- Y6 Fact-checking Wk 19
- Y6 Super digital citizen Wk 21
- Y6 A healthy digital life into secondary Wk 26
- Y6 Reaching your work from home Extra
WordGoogle DocsPages
Writing and layout. Save to OneDrive so work follows pupils across devices.Writing and layout. Saves to Google Drive automatically, so work follows pupils across devices.Writing and layout. Save to iCloud Drive so work follows pupils across devices.
- Y3 Mouse, keyboard & touch Wk 3
- Y3 Creating and saving work Wk 4
- Y3 Formatting text Wk 7
- Y3 Adding pictures Wk 8
- Y3 Editing and improving Wk 9
- Y3 Mini-project: fact poster Wk 10
- Y3 Review and catch-up Wk 15
- Y3 Lists and tables in WordLists and tables in Google DocsLists and tables in Pages Wk 24
- Y3 End-of-year project (1): plan Wk 27
- Y3 End-of-year project (2): make Wk 28
- Y4 Working with tables Wk 7
- Y4 Headings and lists Wk 8
- Y4 Layout and images Wk 9
- Y4 Mini-project: a report Wk 10
- Y4 Sharing a document Wk 17
- Y4 Reading it back Extra
- Y4 Writing by voice Extra
- Y4 Printing well Extra
- Y5 Two windows at once Extra
- Y6 Version history Wk 4
- Y6 Longer documents Wk 7
- Y6 Combining apps Wk 8
- Y6 Designing for an audience Wk 9
- Y6 Project chunk Wk 10
- Y6 Referencing Wk 18
- Y6 Mini research project Wk 20
OneDriveGoogle DriveiCloud Drive
Cloud storage. The home for everything — saving, organising, sharing, versions.Cloud storage. The home for everything — saving, organising, sharing, version history.Cloud storage in the Files app. The home for everything — saving, organising, sharing, versions.
- Y3 Introducing OneDriveIntroducing Google DriveIntroducing iCloud Drive Wk 5
- Y3 Folders and file names Wk 22
- Y3 Finding and moving files Wk 23
- Y3 Consolidation Wk 25
- Y3 End-of-year project (3): organise Wk 29
- Y4 Confident across devices Wk 2
- Y4 Folder structures Wk 3
- Y4 Managing files Wk 4
- Y4 Recap task Wk 5
- Y4 Attachments Wk 14
- Y4 Sharing a document Wk 17
- Y5 Cloud vs device Wk 2
- Y5 Sharing files Wk 3
- Y5 Permissions Wk 4
- Y5 Recap Wk 5
- Y5 Project (1): set up Wk 27
- Y6 Managing shared folders Wk 3
- Y6 Version history Wk 4
- Y6 Managing shared resources Wk 14
- Y6 Project (1): plan & set up Wk 22
- Y6 Reaching your work from home Extra
PowerPointGoogle SlidesKeynote
Slides and presenting. Keep templates simple so pupils focus on the content.Slides and presenting. Keep templates simple so pupils focus on the content.Slides and presenting. Keep templates simple so pupils focus on the content — Magic Move is a good reward, not the lesson.
- Y3 Introducing PowerPointIntroducing Google SlidesIntroducing Keynote Wk 17
- Y3 Images and layout Wk 18
- Y3 Presenting to others Wk 19
- Y3 Mini-project: 3-slide talk Wk 20
- Y3 End-of-year project (1): plan Wk 27
- Y3 End-of-year project (2): make Wk 28
- Y4 PowerPoint with notesGoogle Slides with notesKeynote with notes Wk 22
- Y4 Consolidation Wk 25
- Y4 Project (3): present Wk 29
- Y5 Presenting data Wk 24
- Y5 Consolidation Wk 25
- Y5 Project (3): present Wk 29
- Y6 Combining apps Wk 8
- Y6 Designing for an audience Wk 9
- Y6 Mini research project Wk 20
- Y6 Project (3): data & media Wk 24
- Y6 Project (6): present Wk 28
ExcelGoogle SheetsNumbers
Data, simple formulas and charts. Smoother on a laptop than an iPad.Data, simple formulas and charts. Smoother on a Chromebook than a tablet.Data, simple formulas and charts. Numbers starts from a blank canvas — add a table first.
- Y4 Collecting simple data Wk 23
- Y4 Reading a chart Wk 24
- Y5 Spreadsheet basics Wk 12
- Y5 Simple formulas Wk 13
- Y5 Making a chart Wk 14
- Y5 Review Wk 15
- Y5 Analysing responses Wk 19
- Y5 Mini data project Wk 20
- Y5 Presenting data Wk 24
- Y5 Project (2): create Wk 28
- Y6 Combining apps Wk 8
- Y6 Project chunk Wk 10
- Y6 Project (2): build Wk 23
- Y6 Project (3): data & media Wk 24
OutlookGmailMail
School email. Set up a class distribution list before the first email lesson.School email. Set up a class Google Group before the first email lesson, and check pupil sending is allowed in the Admin console.The iPad Mail app, signed in to your school's Microsoft or Google email. Set up a class group before the first email lesson.
Word for the webGoogle Docs (co-editing)Pages (co-editing)
The browser version — use it when real-time co-authoring is the point of the lesson.The same Google Doc, shared with editing rights — use it when real-time co-editing is the point of the lesson.Pages with Collaborate turned on — use it when real-time co-editing is the point of the lesson.
- Y4 Editing together Wk 18
- Y4 Collaboration etiquette Wk 19
- Y4 Paired task Wk 20
- Y4 Project (1): plan Wk 27
- Y4 Project (2): build Wk 28
- Y5 Real-time co-authoring Wk 7
- Y5 Comments and @mentions Wk 8
- Y5 Suggesting changes Wk 9
- Y5 Collaborative document Wk 10
- Y5 Project (2): create Wk 28
- Y6 Project (2): build Wk 23
- Y6 Project (4): refine Wk 25
TeamsGoogle ClassroomSchoolwork
Channels, posts and shared files. Handy for distributing materials to a class.Classes, posts and assignments. The place to hand out materials and collect work back.Apple Schoolwork handouts, or whichever class platform your school uses to give work out.
Apple Schoolwork covers handouts and progress, but many iPad schools still hand work out through Teams, Google Classroom, Showbie or Seesaw. Use whichever your school has — the lesson works the same.
FormsGoogle FormsForms
Quick surveys and quizzes; responses flow straight into Excel for charts.Quick surveys and quizzes; responses flow straight into Google Sheets for charts.There is no built-in iPad survey app — use Microsoft or Google Forms in Safari, whichever your school has.
iPadOS has no survey app of its own. Use Microsoft Forms or Google Forms in Safari, depending on your school's accounts; the results still open in Numbers.
File ExplorerFiles appFiles app
Windows file management — moving, copying, renaming and deleting files.The Chromebook Files app — moving, copying, renaming and deleting files.The iPad Files app — moving, copying, renaming and deleting files, on iCloud Drive and On My iPad.
DictateVoice typingDictation
Dictate in Word. Say “full stop” and “new line” for punctuation; check the microphone before the lesson.Voice typing in Google Docs (Tools menu). Say “full stop” and “new line” for punctuation.The microphone on the iPad keyboard. Say “full stop” and “new line” for punctuation.
Immersive ReaderSelect-to-SpeakSpeak Screen
Read Aloud and Immersive Reader in Word: has the text read back, and changes size, spacing and background colour.ChromeOS Select-to-Speak reads a selection aloud; Docs handles the text size, spacing and colour.Spoken Content (in Settings → Accessibility) reads the screen aloud; Pages handles size, spacing and colour.
Mixed M365Mixed WorkspaceMixed iPad apps
A project week that pulls together several Microsoft 365 apps.A project week that pulls together several Google Workspace apps.A project week that pulls together several iPad apps.
OneNoteGoogle KeepNotes
A notebook with sections and pages. Saves as pupils type, so there is nothing to lose.Notes and lists that save as pupils type, and drop straight into a Google Doc.Folders and notes in the Notes app. Saves as pupils type, so there is nothing to lose.
Outlook calendarGoogle CalendarCalendar
Organising events and tasks, where pupil calendars are available.Organising events and tasks, where pupil calendars are available.The iPad Calendar app, showing the school account's calendar where pupil calendars are available.
Print preview before printing. Print to PDF works everywhere, and needs no printer or paper.
Snap layoutsSplit screenSplit View
Drag a window to the side of the screen, or use the Windows key with the arrows, to put two side by side.Drag a window to the side of the screen, or hold the maximise button, to put two side by side.Split View on the iPad: drag a second app from the Dock to work with two at once.
WindowsChromebookiPad
Best on a laptop. Good for first logins, the desktop and File Explorer.Best on a Chromebook. Good for first logins, the shelf/launcher and the Files app.The iPad itself — signing in, the Home Screen, Dock, Split View and the Files app.