Every term, thousands of students take part in a Pobble Live Lesson. These free, interactive sessions bring writing to life. They combine expert modelling, imaginative prompts, and classroom participation to help even reluctant writers pick up a pen with confidence.
For me, they’re more than just a Pobble event. They’re a reminder of what I’ve always loved most about education: teaching.
Even though I now lead Pobble as a co-founder, I still make time to step back into the classroom, connect with teachers and students, and model writing live. There’s nothing quite like that moment when a student sees their sentence shared aloud and realises their words matter. It is impossible to replicate that feeling behind a desk.
In a recent lesson, we partnered with the brilliant team at NumBots to deliver a space-themed writing session inspired by Rusty the robot. Over 300 classrooms joined us live, not just from the UK, but as far away as China. It was the perfect mix of sci-fi, curiosity, and Pobble creativity.
We began with this prompt:
'For Rusty the NumBot, it started off as just a normal night in the scrapheap. The other robots were going about their usual nightly business whilst Rusty sifted through recycled rubbish, hoping someone had dumped a flat-screen TV! But just as he reached for another pile of metal, a brilliant light beamed down, surrounding only him. Blinking, Rusty looked up and gasped. There, in the doorway of a hovering UFO, stood AlienBot, waving excitedly. “Finally, a new adventure!” Rusty grinned, his circuits buzzing with excitement. He stepped forward, ready for whatever surprises awaited. Tonight wasn’t just about scrap, it was about stars, space, and the thrill of the unknown…'
Within minutes, the chat was buzzing with vivid sentences from young writers. The creativity was astonishing:
“Peering through the window, Rusty gazed at the endless sea of stars that looked like white chocolate buttons swimming in a pool of dark chocolate.”
— Class Severn, Ewyas Harold Primary
“The sky was pink with blue and purple cotton-candy clouds. The ground looked like pebbles but, if you looked closer, it was jelly beans coated in sugar.”
— Cathedral School
“As the bright beam surrounded him, Rusty’s surface began to buzz and the rust came off to show beautiful colours.”
— St Anne’s Shankill
Each time I read out a pupil’s line, you could feel the joy ripple through classrooms. Teachers told us their students were cheering when they heard their names mentioned.
That’s why I still host these sessions. It gives me the chance to celebrate children’s ideas in the moment, build their confidence as writers, and remind them that their words have power.
Explore the Rusty and NumBots Lesson
Pobble Live Lessons are not about one theme or story. While Rusty was a hit, every session follows the same core approach. A creative prompt, purposeful modelling, vocabulary building, and shared writing. The themes change, but the learning outcomes stay consistent.
We also work with fantastic partners such as TT Rock Stars, Picture News, and World Book Day, creating cross-curricular lessons that blend writing with maths, current affairs, or reading for pleasure. These collaborations help students connect their writing to topics they already love.
So far, these sessions have inspired over 80,000 students to pick up their pens, think creatively, and enjoy writing together.
Some sessions are seasonal, like our Christmas writing celebration with Adobe. Others tie into big classroom moments like World Book Day, NAPLAN preparation, or football stories with the English Football League. Whether it is writing about dragons, astronauts, or climate change, students are inspired to write for a real audience.
Teachers love them too. The lessons offer a chance to:
See teaching strategies in action
Introduce a fresh writing prompt
Watch how students respond to structured modelling
Leave with resources and ideas to use again
You don't have to take our word for it. Here is what teachers said after joining recent sessions:
“Our class wrote more today than they have all week.” — Ms Morgan, Sugar Hill
“Thank you for the brilliant resources and engaging session. We've had a blast!” — Alice Croft, Marlborough Primary
“Fantastic way to start our writing topic. So many ideas flowing now.” — Sarah Coxon, Kirkham and Wesham Primary
“Wow! What a session! The children are still talking about it.” — Rebekah Wallace, Millbrook School
Each session is completely free and designed to work in your classroom. All you need is a screen, an internet connection, and your class of young writers. The sessions are aimed at students aged 7 to 11 and usually last 90 minutes. After the lesson, you’ll receive a copy of the slides so you can revisit the writing or use the prompt again in your own time.
Browse upcoming Pobble Live Lessons and register your class here
Let your students be part of a shared writing experience that builds confidence, sparks creativity, and shows them just how powerful their words can be.
Pobble Education Ltd,
Rosehay,
Tremorvah Wood Lane,
Truro, TR1 1PZ,
Cornwall, UK