I am an ex-primary head teacher and English, Maths and History specialist. I've mostly worked in KS2, often in Year 6. Although for the last two years, I've been working in Year 1, which has been delightful!
All the resources have been used successfully with children in a range of schools all over the country.
I am constantly reviewing and updating my resources. Please follow me to ensure that you have the most up to date versions of the resources you buy.
I am an ex-primary head teacher and English, Maths and History specialist. I've mostly worked in KS2, often in Year 6. Although for the last two years, I've been working in Year 1, which has been delightful!
All the resources have been used successfully with children in a range of schools all over the country.
I am constantly reviewing and updating my resources. Please follow me to ensure that you have the most up to date versions of the resources you buy.
A fully narrated youtube clip, PowerPoint show and PowerPoint presentation with hyperlinks to additional learning about the first VE Day in 1945 and how to celebrate VE Day’s 75th anniversary.
The resources includes a fully editable PowerPoint presentation to allow you, if you wish, to replace photos close to where I teach, with photos linked to your own locality.
The video is designed for distribution across a whole school, with sections tailored for KS1 and KS2 and KS2 on its own.
Please feel free to share this widely.
A series of questions, answers and reading journal activity based around all areas of reading. Great alternative to SATs tests or written comprehensions.
LOs
To form and revise opinions about the Victorians
To make comparisons between past and contemporary entertainment.
To make comparisons between today and the past.
To use skimming and scanning to find information for research.
To gather information in order to write persuasively.
To reflect on a completed text
A complete half term's Guided reading for Year 3 or Year 4
Why the Whales Came - HA
Billy the Kid / the BFG - MA
the Ruthless Romans / Esio Trot / the Magic Finger - LA
A complete set of guided reading for a half term.,
The Eagle of the Ninth - HA
War Horse / Why the Whales Came - MA
Yes, No, Maybe / Molly McBride - LA/MA
The Angel of Nitshill Road - LA.
A complete set of Guided Reading resources for a half term.
The Silver Sword- HA
Flour Babies / Diary of a Wimpy Kid - MA
Charlotte's Web / James and the Giant Peach- LA
A series of questions, answers and reading journal activity based around all areas of reading. Great alternative to SATs tests or written comprehensions.
LOs
To make predictions based on what can be learned from a book before reading it.
To reflect on how a historical novel begins.
To reflect upon a key turning point the novel.
To understand how an author drops hints about the importance of certain characters.
To understand how one event changes that whole focus of a narrative.
To understand how an author uses book conventions to bring tension to a narrative.
To reflect on a completed novel.
A collection of resources to get you started teaching about Roman Britain, including three sets of Guided Reading activities based around the hugely popular Horrible History series and the children's classic, the Eagle of the Ninth
A collection of resources to prove a background to life in Roman Britain including two investigative activities and a collection of comprehensions which could be used for homework.
A series of questions, answers and reading journal activity based around all areas of reading. Great alternative to SATs tests or written comprehensions.
LOs
To evaluate the opening of a story.
To understand how an author develops the relationship between his main characters
To understand how an author reflects on larger events beyond the story through the eyes of his characters
To draw comparisons between the behaviour of two main characters in a story
To make predictions based on what you know of the characters in the story.
To reflect on a completed text.
Key Stage 2 comprehensions. Text includes a range of non fiction, fictionalised, historical texts and short poetry. Questions include whole range of SAT style questions such as: inference and deduction, prediction and factual recall. Ideal for Guided groups, homework or whole class activities.
Boudicca – Fact from Fiction
LO: To understand how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. (KS2)
LO: To apply the above to the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 (KS3)
A complete activity to help children understand the way that information about historical figures although rooted in fact, can also have legends attached to them.
The activity consists of:
Teaching Input:
1. A powerpoint providing information about the life and significance of Boudicca, both fact and fiction organised around the following sections:
- who Boudicca was
- her early life
- her relationship with the King Prasutagus
- her marriage
- The uprising
- The destruction of Camulodunum (Colchester
- her Victories
- her defeat and the end
- her legacy to Britain.
This can either be run as an introduction, or shared with children in groups or pairs.
Independent Task:
2. A sorting activity consisting of a series of statements which are either factual or legendary about Boudica. (This includes a fact sheet for teacher use, providing the correct answers and a series of websites which provide additional source information)
3. A template to allow children to sort the information provided into Truth or Legend.
Challenge / Extension / AG&T
Using websites listed, children could try to find additional information about both peoples.
Plenary
Mark with the children, getting them to identify how they knew whether or not something was a legend or the truth (links with Literacy language of myths and legends).
Pose and discuss the statement Why do you think there are so many stories told about Boudica.
Who’s who? Do you know your Romano Britons from your Anglo Saxon?
LO: To understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections and draw contrasts (KS2)
LO: To apply the above to the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 (KS3)
A complete activity to help children understand the similarities and differences between the Anglo Saxon and Romano British societies in Britain during the first millennium.
The activity consists of:
Teaching Input:
1. A PowerPoint identifying the key similarities and differences between the Romano Britons and Anglo Saxons including information about their:
- Origins
- settlements
- everyday lives
- lives of women and children
- laws and punishments
- beliefs
- stories and legends
- legacy.
This can either be run as an introduction, or shared with children in groups or pairs.
Independent Task:
2. A sorting activity consisting of a series of statements which apply to Romano Britons, Anglo Saxons, both, or neither. (This includes a fact sheet for teacher use, providing the correct answers and a series of websites which provide additional source information)
3. A set of different templates to allow you to choose how this information is then represented.
Challenge / Extension / AG&T
Using websites listed, children could try to find additional information about both peoples.
Plenary
Mark with the children, getting them to identify which description applies to which people.
Pose and discuss the statement The Anglo Saxons period is often called the Dark Ages because it is said that they destroyed Roman civilisation. In what ways were the Anglo Saxons more civilised than the Romans?
Who’s who? Do you know your Anglo Saxon from your Norman?
LO: To understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections and draw contrasts (KS2)
LO: To apply the above to the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 (KS3)
A complete activity to help children understand the similarities and differences between the Anglo Saxon and Normans invaders and settlers in Britain between the fall of the Roman Empire and the early medieval period.
The activity consists of:
Teaching Input:
1. A powerpoint identifying the key similarities and differences between the Anglo Saxons and Normans including information about their:
- Origins
- settlements
- everyday lives
- lives of women and children
- laws and punishments
- beliefs
- stories and legends
- legacy.
This can either be run as an introduction, or shared with children in groups or pairs.
Independent Task:
2. A sorting activity consisting of a series of statements which apply to Normans, Anglo Saxons, both, or neither. (This includes a fact sheet for teacher use, providing the correct answers and a series of websites which provide additional source information)
3. A set of different templates to allow you to choose how this information is then represented.
Challenge / Extension / AG&T
Using websites listed, children could try to find additional information about both peoples.
Plenary
Mark with the children, getting them to identify which description applies to which people.
Pose and discuss the statement The Norman invasion destroyed more than it created.
A set of resources to enable you to bring the Anglo Saxon period to life.
This includes a choice of two different sets of comprehension questions (the latter differentiated) , as well as two investigation type activities and a time line which can be used for display as well as at the start and end of the topic for assessment.
Also inow ncluding a Time-line of British history to allow you to provide a context of where Anglo Saxon Britain fits in the larger history of the British Isles.
This is a fourth in a series of resources designed to develop children's understanding of time-lines and their appreciation of where a particular historical period fits into the chronology of history.
Learning Objective:
To know and understand the history of these islands (Great Britain) as a coherent, chronological narrative, from the earliest times to the present day.
A series of activities designed to begin any history topic linked to the Anglo Saxon period including:
Resource 1: Anglo Saxon Time-line – with dates
Resource 2: Definition cards of the Anglo Saxon Time period.
Resources 3: Anglo Saxon Time-line– without dates.
Resource 4: Anglo SaxonTime-line Cards
Resource 5: Interactive Tudor Time-line without dates.
A Word document detailing some suggested activities for working with time-lines.
Learning Outcomes:
Children will be able to:
• Understand how the islands of Britain have changed over time.
• Understand that although the period they are studying is termed Anglo Saxon, there is considerable cross over with the end of Roman Britain, and the Viking period.
• Compare and contrast key events in British history.
Any feedback on these resources, their effectiveness, additions and areas in which they can be improved would be very welcome.
Alfred the Great – Fact from Fiction
LO: To understand how people’s lives have shaped this nation and how Britain has influenced and been influenced by the wider world. (KS2)
LO: To apply the above to the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 (KS3)
A complete activity to help children understand the way that information about historical figures although rooted in fact, can also have legends attached to them.
The activity consists of:
Teaching Input:
1. A powerpoint providing information about the life and significance of Alfred the Great, both fact and fiction organised around the following sections:
- who Alfred was
- his early life
- his early reign
- Wessex under siege
- his flight and exile in the Marshes of Althelney
- his victory over the Vikings
- the subsequent peace
- the end of his reign
- his legacy to Britain.
This can either be run as an introduction, or shared with children in groups or pairs.
Independent Task:
2. A sorting activity consisting of a series of statements which are either factual or legendary about King Alfred. (This includes a fact sheet for teacher use, providing the correct answers and a series of websites which provide additional source information)
3. A template to allow children to sort the information provided into Truth or Legend.
Challenge / Extension / AG&T
Using websites listed, children could try to find additional information about both peoples.
Plenary
Mark with the children, getting them to identify how they knew whether or not something was a legend or the truth (links with Literacy language of myths and legends).
Pose and discuss the statement Why do you think there are so many stories told about Alfred the Great.
LO: To understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance, and use them to make connections and draw contrasts (KS2)
LO: To apply the above to the study of an aspect or theme in British history that consolidates and extends pupils’ chronological knowledge from before 1066 (KS3)
A complete activity to help children understand the similarities and differences between the Anglo Saxon and Viking invaders and settlers in Britain between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Norman conquest of 1066.
The activity consists of:
Teaching Input:
1. A powerpoint identifying the key similarities and differences between the Anglo Saxons and Vikings including information about their:
- Origins
- settlements
- everyday lives
- lives of women and children
- laws and punishments
- beliefs
- stories and legends
- legacy.
This can either be run as an introduction, or shared with children in groups or pairs.
Independent Task:
2. A sorting activity consisting of a series of statements which apply to Vikings, Anglo Saxons, both, or neither. (This includes a fact sheet for teacher use, providing the correct answers and a series of websites which provide additional source information)
3. A set of different templates to allow you to choose how this information is then represented.
Challenge / Extension / AG&T
Using websites listed, children could try to find additional information about both peoples.
Plenary
Mark with the children, getting them to identify which description applies to which people.
Pose and discuss the statement The Anglo Saxons and Vikings had more in common than they were different.
A collection of a series of SATs styled comprehensions to choose from in the final weeks before the 2017
Ideal for use with groups in guided work, or as a whole class activity.
A great introductory activity or mini topic on the way that Victorian society changed during Victorian times.
This mini topic uses the Market Place PowerPoint to present to your whole class a series round robin / market place / carousel activities. Each of six groups will have skim and scan, research and present information on one of the six following areas of interest:
The Abolition of Slavery
Child Labour
The changing role of education in the lives of children
The industrial revolution and its impact on Victorian life.
The changing role of Women
Workhouses and the Poor Law
They will then gather information from the other five groups before answering a quiz based on this information.
In addition to meeting the learning objectives, children will also develop turn taking, team work, collaborative research and effective presentation strategies.
Learning Objectives:
To organise and select relevant historical information from a range of sources.
To devise and answer questions about the changes to society during the Victorian period.
Learning Outcomes:
To have researched and recalled this historical time period.
To have explained to others and understood for themselves the impact of change on life in Britain.
Drawing on the new History Curriculum and focussing on Aims: Strands 4 and 5 this resource includes:
A collection of nine quotes from contemporary sources,
An explanation of five activities that can be carried out using these resources
Planning Templates to support arguments and a chart to help summarise arguments about the campaign for votes for women.
Learning Objectives:
• To understand historical concepts such as continuity and change, cause and consequence, similarity, difference and significance,
• To make connections, draw contrasts, analyse trends, frame historically-valid questions and create their own structured accounts, including written narratives and analyses
• To understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed.
Learning Outcomes:
Pupils will be able to:
• recognise and discern between arguments made for and against allowing women the vote.
• draw on primary resources to produce a reasoned debate on the pros and cons of allowing women the vote.
• produce their own persuasive argument in favour (or against) allowing women the vote.
• produce a balanced argument on the advantages and disadvantages of allowing women the vote.
• Produce their own written narrative about the campaign for women to be allowed to vote.