Teaching Resources
James Nottingham has written 12 books. All of them include references to the Learning Pit. These five books are entirely focused on the best ways to guide students through the Learning Pit. Full details on our books page.
The Learning Challenge
DEEP DIVE INTO THE LEARNING PIT. Bestselling book with practical strategies to guide students through the Learning Pit, effectively transforming surface-level knowledge into deep, long-lasting understanding.
The Learning Pit
QUICK-START GUIDE. A practical book providing a step-by-step roadmap to introducing students to the Learning Pit. Available to download below or for free by subscribers of our video library, PD-OD.com
Lesson Plans: Primary
RESOURCES TO GUIDE 5-12-YEAR-OLDS THROUGH THE PIT. Twenty detailed lesson plans, ready-to-use resources and subject integration to bridge the gap between theory and daily classroom practice.
Lesson Plans: ELA
A HOW-TO GUIDE FOR ELA TEACHERS. Twenty lesson plans to strengthen students’ critical analysis of texts in English Language Arts. Includes photocopiable masters and full-colour strategy cards for immediate classroom use.
School's Out Learning's In
PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES FOR HOME AND SCHOOL. A wealth of activity cards and ‘big questions’ to turn dinner-table conversations (and school lessons) into deep learning opportunities. No training required.
The Learning Pit Basics
Looking for Learning Pit resources? We have plenty to choose from:
- Physical Copies: Visit our Books page to buy from our publishers.
- Digital Downloads: Access a wide variety of resources directly on this page.
Free Starters: Download our first two “Learning Pit Basics” guides at no cost
Learning Pit Overview Guide
A brochure that gives a clear overview of the Learning Pit. Perfect for sharing at PD events, conferences and with parents.
Learning Pit Introduction from TEACH Brilliantly
The Learning Pit pages from James’s most recent book. Perfect for sharing with teaching staff who wish to use the model with their students.
Premium Teaching Resources
In addition to the graphics and posters available on our Graphics pages, here are a range of lesson plans to download. They are available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license enabling you to remix, adapt and build upon the material for noncommercial purposes only.
Pocket Guides
Written by James Nottingham, this concise guidebook offers a clear, practical introduction to the Learning Pit, helping educators confidently design and implement learning challenges in their classrooms. Available in English and Spanish, it’s $10 here (DOWNLOAD)—but it is free for PD-OD members and can be downloaded from the PD-OD site.
Lesson Plan Packs
Grounded in James Nottingham’s Learning Pit, these lesson plans lead students safely and confidently through challenge, uncertainty, and insight. Every plan includes everything teachers need to support productive struggle and help learners emerge with deeper understanding. Click on the product to see the lesson titles and concepts.
Footnote
We encourage teachers and students to create their own illustrations of the Learning Pit. When doing so, we highly recommend drawing the right-hand-side higher than the left. This supports the idea that going through the pit leads to greater understanding. It also avoids the inference that the pit can be avoided by simply ‘jumping over it’
For example, the illustration on the left was the first draft seen in a classroom in an international school in the Middle East. The version on the right is more accurate.
