Hi,
We are Sally and Amanda from Guinea Pig Education. We present a range of complimentary teaching aids and workbooks to use in your classroom or as homework – in both print and digital format.
We aim to raise reading standards and to develop literacy skills, with our ‘fun for kids’ phonic reading resources.
We also offer support for pupils aged 4-16 years. We highly recommend our comprehension and creative writing resources - which build confidence and develop imagination.
Hi,
We are Sally and Amanda from Guinea Pig Education. We present a range of complimentary teaching aids and workbooks to use in your classroom or as homework – in both print and digital format.
We aim to raise reading standards and to develop literacy skills, with our ‘fun for kids’ phonic reading resources.
We also offer support for pupils aged 4-16 years. We highly recommend our comprehension and creative writing resources - which build confidence and develop imagination.
Read our beautifully illustrated version of the classic fairy tale The Ugly Duckling, by Hans Christian Andersen, and answer the comprehension questions.
This activity will encourage kids, age 6-9, to think about what it means to be different and to not fit in; and how we should treat everyone kindly and not judge by appearance, because everyone is unique.
55 pages
Learn Initial Consonant Blends (as in sn, sp, dr, gr) and read the sentences.
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
23 pages
Learn The Phonic Sounds ee and ea (as in Frank can see the sea)
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
19 pages
A series of work packs called ‘Read, Write And Play’, for children of 3-7 years.
For young children of 3-5 years, read the stories aloud and discuss the content of the story with the child, answering the questions. Get the child to draw a picture from the story. Help him or her write a sentence about it, so they can trace or copy over the letters. Make the puppet and act out the story.
For older children, aged 5-7 (who have some reading skills), get the child to read the story and answer the questions in sentences. The questions cover comprehension skills, retrieving information, using language and inference. Colour the pictures and then draw your own picture and write your own version of the story. Make the puppet and then act out the story with your child.
Our back to school book is filled with activities and stories, with fun questions to answer. It features our loveable characters, Pom Pom, Zoggy and Sam, as they share memorable moments from their school day with us. It includes some pages where you can record your own back to school adventures.
Contents
The Day Before School
There’s A Smart Alien At School
Sam and Kim’s Week
Pom Pom and the School Day
Activities (wordsearch, word wheel challenge, puzzle)
Sam Writes About School
Sam Talks About His Teacher
91 pages
Using Nouns And Adjectives
Improve Your English Work Packs teach the child good English. They help improve the child’s punctuation, spelling and grammar skills. There are a wide range of packs to choose from, providing practice in sentence writing, use of connectives and parts of speech. The child will also be introduced to literary techniques - similes, metaphors and other stylistic devices.
The format of each pack is so simple. The pages are quick and easy to work through, so the child will learn fast and remember skills taught easily. Each pack includes a lesson plan, with structured exercises, including answer pages. Improve Your English Work Packs save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
Included in this series, there are eight structured assessment tests, to test vocabulary, capital letters, punctuation, spelling and use of English language with answers.
Learn Magic e (as in fine, cake, pine and game)
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
21 pages
Learn the ending ck (Learn To Read With Phonics Pack)
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
A Quick Look At The Basics Of English Grammar
‘Improve Your English As A Foreign Language’ Work Packs save hours of time when preparing lessons for students where English is a second language . The packs are suitable for intermediary speakers of English, who want to improve their written English.
Each work pack uses our humorous comic character ‘the alien Zoggy’ to guide the student. They provide a fun light hearted approach to learning English (suitable for young learners of 8 years plus through to adult).
The work packs help the student:
To learn idioms and colloquial phrases used by fluent English speakers (which often catch the foreign speaker out)
To use the right preposition after the verb
To set out and write formal letters in English
To expand their vocabulary for speaking and writing, by replacing boring words with more interesting words
To improve their skills in English grammar
Each pack includes tuition pages and follow up exercises to practice the skills learnt.
By the time the student has worked through each pack, their command of English will be at a much higher standard.
Learn consonant digraphs ch, sh, th and vowel digraphs oo, ee. Read the sentences and match the words/phrases to the pictures.
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour in sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Get the child/children to colour in the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
Read the charming story, set in days gone by, about the Clever Cat; colour the pictures; answer the questions to see how much you can remember; and make a puppet.
For young children of 3-5 years, read the story aloud and discuss the content of the story with the child, answering the questions. Get the child to draw a picture from the story. Help him or her write a sentence about it, so they can trace or copy over the letters. Make the puppet and act out the story.
For older children, aged 5-7 (who have some reading skills), get the child to read the story and answer the questions in sentences. The questions cover comprehension skills, retrieving information, using language and inference. Colour the pictures and then draw your own picture and write your own version of the story. Make the puppet and then act out the story with your child.
Part of the Read, Write and Play series, for children age 3-7
Read the delightful story “Chloe and the Hedgehogs”; colour the pictures; answer the questions to see how much you can remember; and make a puppet.
For young children of 3-5 years, read the story aloud and discuss the content of the story with the child, answering the questions. Get the child to draw a picture from the story. Help him or her write a sentence about it, so they can trace or copy over the letters. Make the puppet and act out the story.
For older children, aged 5-7 (who have some reading skills), get the child to read the story and answer the questions in sentences. The questions cover comprehension skills, retrieving information, using language and inference. Colour the pictures and then draw your own picture and write your own version of the story. Make the puppet and then act out the story with your child.
Part of the Read, Write and Play series, for children age 3-7.
If you have enjoyed reading our adapted version of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, why not have a go at answering the questions to see how much you have remembered. There are some pictures to colour too.
It is never too early to practise comprehension skills to see if your children have understood what they have read and to develop their skills of analysis. So, we have put together a series of questions to help your children do just that.
In fact, there are three types of questions, those that require the child to retrieve, or find facts that are hiding in the texts; those that ask the child to give a logical explanation of what they have observed. This means the child will need to form his or her own opinion, deduce, or infer, what is implied in the text. Some questions require the child to understand phrases or vocabulary used.
Younger children can just call out the answers, while older children can work through the pages to test their comprehension skills.
Includes answers.
90 pages.
Age 6-10
Follow up creative writing activities based on the book Park Lane School Presents… The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. This story is written by a primary school teacher and based on a real play performed by a class of 9 year olds. Sam, the central character, is a real pupil from Class 4.
Sam loves drama and would like to see himself in a star acting part, but when it comes to the casting, he gets nervous and freezes in the audition. His teacher assesses that he will be more comfortable with a small part and a technical role backstage - which Sam reluctantly accepts.
Through Sam, we experience all the feelings of excitement as the class work together on the play, preparing props and costumes. We experience the euphoria of the first night and that temptation for a child to peep out from behind the stage curtain to wave at mum and dad.
Children will empathise with Sam, with his feelings of excitement, disappointment, anxiety, envy and so on. These are emotions and feelings they will have experienced. This opens up an opportunity for feedback. In addition to this, children can try and imagine how parents feel and how the teachers feel.
In this pack, we have put together some questions and writing exercises that will give your child the chance to explore their own experiences and feelings. Colour in the pictures.
For children age 6-10
45 pages
This beautifully illustrated story of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz has been retold and adapted from the original, well loved, fantasy tale by L. Frank Baum, published in 1900. When Dorothy’s house is blown away to an enchanted land of magic, her quest is to save her beloved dog, Toto, and return home. She sets out on an adventure, with her new friends, to seek help from the Great Wizard, Oz. She needs to be brave; she needs to be strong to overcome the many trials she will meet on the way. The author wrote that it is a story, full of wonder and joy, written to entertain children.
This book is for confident readers, age 6-10. It is a longer, more developed story, written in chapters, with colour pictures throughout.
Buy alongside The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Workbook and have a go at answering the comprehension questions and colouring the pictures.
12 chapters
68 pages
When Sam’s teacher announces to the class that they will be performing a school play, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Sam is hopeful he will get a star acting part. Is he really cut out to be an actor? Sam is in for a surprise. Working together to put on the play, prompts weeks of hard work, but it is all worth it on the night. A true story about a real school play.
This book is for confident readers. It is a longer, more developed story, written in chapters, with pictures throughout. For children age 6-10.
Children will be able to empathise with Sam - with his feelings of excitement, disappointment, anxiety, envy and so on. They are emotions they will have experienced. This opens up an opportunity for feedback. Therefore, we have put together some questions and writing activities that will give your child the chance to explore their own experiences and feelings.
81 pages
Improve Vocabulary Worksheets: Replace the Word Goes (Age 7-11)
Zoggy spies on the work places of Earth’ and ‘Zoggy drives a car’
‘Zoggy Spies On The Work Places Of Earth’
Zoggy spies on the work places of Earth, but it doesn’t take him long to come up with better word choices for the word ‘goes’. Replace the words in bold with better words and then check your answers.
‘Zoggy 'Drives’ A Car’
As Zoggy drives a car, suggest better words to fill the gaps. Choose one of the suggested words or add one of your own.
‘Breakthrough In Vocabulary Work Packs’ are unique, in that they set out to teach children to use higher level or better vocabulary. They are a ‘must have’ guide to improve your child’s writing. These packs demonstrate to children that they need not overuse ‘boring words’ like nice, got and said, because there are much more impressive words.
Our lovable character, Zoggy, the alien from planet Zen, encourages the pupil to work through the packs with him - providing humorous anecdotes about his stay on Earth. There are plenty of exercises to complete, including vocabulary tests exploring the meanings of words.
By the end of this book, the child should have expanded his vocabulary and be able to use better words in his or her own writing.
Improve Vocabulary Worksheets: Replace the word nice (Age 7-11)
Introducing Zoggy. Am I a ‘nice’ guy?
In this pack Zoggy points out that the words ‘nice’ and ‘got’ are boring. There are many alternative words you can use - like ‘cheerful’, ‘jolly’, ‘likeable’ or ‘brilliant’. Help complete Zoggy’s report and choose the right word in the right place or context.
‘Breakthrough In Vocabulary Work Packs’ are unique, in that they set out to teach children to use higher level or better vocabulary. They are a ‘must have’ guide to improve your child’s writing. These packs demonstrate to children that they need not overuse ‘boring words’ like nice, got and said, because there are much more impressive words.
Our lovable character, Zoggy, the alien from planet Zen, encourages the pupil to work through the packs with him - providing humorous anecdotes about his stay on Earth. There are plenty of exercises to complete, including vocabulary tests exploring the meanings of words.
By the end of this book, the child should have expanded his or her vocabulary and be able to use better words in his or her own writing.
Improve Vocabulary Worksheets: Replace the word eat (Age 7-11)
Zoggy ‘eats’… or ‘devours’ an earth meal
Does Zoggy ‘eat’ in a popular restaurant in town? No, he ‘gobbles’, ‘gulps’, ‘guzzles down his food’ very fast. Does he have earth money to pay the bill? Will he become ‘obese’, ‘over weight’ or ‘chubby’ if he eats so much. Consider with Zoggy, what he thought of Earth food. Get your children to record their findings.
‘Breakthrough In Vocabulary Work Packs’ are unique, in that they set out to teach children to use higher level or better vocabulary. They are a ‘must have’ guide to improve your child’s writing. These packs demonstrate to children that they need not overuse ‘boring words’ like nice, got and said, because there are much more impressive words.
Our lovable character, Zoggy, the alien from planet Zen, encourages the pupil to work through the packs with him - providing humorous anecdotes about his stay on Earth. There are plenty of exercises to complete, including vocabulary tests exploring the meanings of words.
By the end of this book, the child should have expanded his vocabulary and be able to use better words in his or her own writing.
9 pages
Learn ‘Area’ With Angry Andrew Area
This pack includes learn area with Angry Andrew Area and a look at metric measurements with Katy Kilogram, Megan Millimetre and Thomas Tonne.
A series of fun maths work packs, to teach basic numeracy skills for 9-12 year olds.
Comical cartoon characters,such as Felicity Factor and Max Multiple are on hand to help children with maths concepts they struggle with.
These packs can be used at home to reinforce work down in school and as a support material to use in school alongside other schemes.
Each pack includes exercises with answers, to enable the teacher or parent to assess if the child has understood the math’s concept learnt.