This animated Power Point resource tells a ghost story in the Gothic tradition. It is set in a grave-yard at midnight and uses such devices as owls hooting, wind howling and trees scratching against the window panes of a creepy church in order to make your blood run cold.Students are encouraged to see setting as character within the tale.The story is one of tragic loss: William Blythe is one of the thousands of young boys who lost their lives in a corner of a foreign field during the Great War. Sarah, his sister, remembers a happier time when they played as children on a warm summer’s day. Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is included as reference to a Victorian novel which could be classed as a famous ghost story and the character of Scrooge is brought to life with descriptive writing.Images are included of ghostly hands and tree silhouettes which could be used to inspire discussion and independent learning. This resource could be used to inspire creative writing or as a means to revise devices used by authors to create a ghostly atmosphere. The story reveals that William lost his life at Passchendaele and could be used to support studies of the effects of war on the family members left behind. As we look back over a hundred years of history, we are reminded of the sense of loss felt by the wider family left at home. Sarah is subjected to some of the same horrors that her brother would have endured on the battlefield.Opportunities for further reading and study are given. This resource could be used to support the study of novels by Dickens, Mary Shelley or Edgar Allan Poe. Suitable for ages 10+

This resource is presented as an animated Powerpoint and in word format and takes inspiration from Newt Scamander’s fifty-second edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It showcases the native British breeds of dragon , namely the Common Welsh Green and the Hebridean Black. Pupils scour the information comparing and contrasting the physical attributes of these magnificent creatures in order to answer a series of questions. The answers are provided. Finally, they put their letter writing skills to the test by applying for an apprenticeship as a dragon trainer based in the Outer Hebrides under the auspices of the MacFusty clan.Pupils are reminded of the conventions of formal letter writing. This is an activity which will appeal to Harry Potter fans and is one of three similar resources which can be found in my shop, each with different extended writing options. Suitable for ages 8+

This power point presentation gives an overview of what a Victorian Christmas was like including customs of the day such as The Christmas Tree, Parlour Games and Festive Food. Particular emphasis is given on how Dickens' novels A Christmas Carol and The Pickwick Papers helped to make Christmas more popular with the general public than other festivals. This resource will prove useful when studying Dickens' novels and thinking about historical context. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Powerpoint gives advice on how to make a persuasive speech by following five simple steps. The AFOREST acronym is used to remind students of the features of persuasive writing.Pupils are required to write speeches of their own , putting themselves forward for election as head boy or head girl in the form of Ronald Dump who wants to build a wall in the school gym or , alternatively, as Angela Smirkle who advocates an open door policy. This resource is ideal for revising persuasive writing techniques in light of the current political shananigans and is suitable for students aged 11 to 16.

This Power Point resource show cases the dirty thirty : the thirty most common spelling mistakes. Pupils are given five at a time to try and memorise and then insert them into sentences to show they understand their meaning. Tips are given along the way as to how to remember tricky spellings whilst also encouraging the students to share their own techniques for better spelling. A useful resource to drop into lessons to check spelling abilities at every stage of the education journey.I include one of my popular quizzes which will aid revision of spelling grammar and punctuation. Answers are provided for ease of marking. Ages 10+

This power point showcases some famous Victorians such as Faraday and Darwin, engineers such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel and authors such as Charlotte Bronte and Charles Dickens. The presentation also includes an infamous Victorian: Jack the Ripper and the people who were suspected of being this notorious serial killer. Brief biographical details are given and an overview of major achievements/incidents given. Suitable for ages10+

This power point presentation takes apart Charles Causley's poem bit by bit and offers an interpretation of the relationship between Lulu, the mother and the younger sibling and suggests that the rag doll abandoned by Lulu in her hurry to leave, epitomises her own lost childhood as she escapes her mother's over protection. A brief biography of Charles Causley is also included. This resource could be used when studying poetry or for discussion purposes and is suitable for ages 12+

This animated Power Point gives a brief history of the newspaper and its evolution to the present day. Students are alerted to the tricks that publishers resort to in order to maintain their readership. The freedom of the press is something we need to preserve in this day and age and pupils are asked to compare tabloids and broadsheets to note their differences in style and content. User generated content is referenced as modern technology enables us all to act as journalists and report news as it happens. Students are asked to match ten definitions to key terms such as byline and exclusive. Finally, students are given the opportunity to put what they have learned into practice and write their own newspaper article, either about the stabbing of a teenager in a local fast food outlet, or an international affairs event which sees Trump and Putin arm wrestle for ownership of the Arctic Circle. This resource is suitable for ages 12+ and it would be useful for students to have copies of tabloid/broadsheet newspapers to investigate along with highlighter pens to identify features.

This animated powerpoint comprises eight slides celebrating the spooky spectacle of Halloween. There are plenty of exercises involving adjectives, adverbs, fronted adverbials and apostrophes as well as poetry which could be used as a starting point for creative writing. This resource would be ideal to use on the run up to half term as a means of revision or as inspiration for writing when trying to conjure up a spooky atmosphere. This resource is intended to be used with pupils from 7 to 14 years.

This animated Powerpoint presentation looks at the major influences and philosophies prevalent in Shakespeare's day, so that students come to a wider understanding of his work , his life and the society in which he lived. The Roman Catholic Church, Science and Astronomy, Voyages of Exploration,The Divine Right of Kings, Humanism and The Renaissance are covered here. The Great Chain of Being, the Zodiac, the Elements and Humours as well as the Wheel of Fortune all feature in this resource. This presentation could be used to provide information, putting Shakespeare into context before going on to examine his work in more detail. Similarly , it could be used to inspire students to go on and explore topics such as humanism in more depth. I include a worksheet which will provide a framework for pupils to do their own independent research about Elizabethan theatre. Suitable for ages 14+

This resource draws comparisons between an Elizabethan audience and a contemporary audience of a Shakespeare play. Comparisons are made between the size of an average audience, the age, the cost per ticket, the social class, their expectations of a play and their behaviour as audience members. In formation is given about the role of the fool, boy actors and the hierarchical nature of the performers within an acting company. This information is relevant particularly to Shakespeare and the Globe. Suitable for ages 12+

This Powerpoint resource is intended to be used to improve spelling throughout years 9 to 11. It includes 60 words most commonly misspelt by students and various tips on how to learn them such as look, say, cover, write and check. Students are encouraged to look for smaller words within the longest spellings and to break them down into parts as well as other tips for specific words. Exercises are given where students have to complete sentences, solve anagrams and invent their own sentences using three given words from the set. A word document containing the words split into five sets of twelve words can be used to enable ease of learning and repeated practice. I include one of my popular spelling, punctuation and grammar quizzes which includes answers for ease of marking. This resource is intended for use by students aged 12+

This animated Powerpoint exhibits passages from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which have deliberate spelling mistakes in them. Pupils are required to read the passages carefully to see if they can identify the mistakes. The corrected passages will magically appear. Homophones are introduced and students are set the challenge of writing interesting sentences of their own which demonstrate their understanding of such words as which and witch etc. Another spelling game is introduced where the audience have to make up as many muggle (ordinary) words as they can out of Potter's fabulous incantations. This is intended as a fun way to practise spelling whilst also encouraging careful reading at the same time. Ideal for Halloween week and beyond. Suitable for Potter fans of all ages.

This animated Power Point resource looks at anxiety issues facing young teenagers today and shares tips on how to cope. Mindfulness is one tool to cope with anxiety as are talking therapies and artistic pursuits . A poem called “the room inside” is displayed which could be used as a starting point to a discussion about mental health. Students are asked to consider volunteering and doing something positive with their time once exams are over. An extract from Eleanor Morgan’s book “Anxiety for Beginners” is given and six plot ideas are given which relate to anxiety. Pupils are asked to select one of these to write about. Students are asked to think about the saying “every cloud has a silver lining” and to share strategies for developing resilience. A Power Point on mindfulness and how to deal with difficult and troubling emotions is included which could be used when problems and anxieties surface within a group situation. Especially useful at this time of year when the pressure of exams on the horizon is beginning to mount. Suitable for ages 12+

This animated Power point resource describes a day out at the sea-side for the Lute family who think they know all about pollution and yet show that their knowledge is as shallow as the sea lapping up against the litter with which they have decorated their sandcastle. The audience are requested to think how the family could have behaved differently and to question what their own families do on days out at the coast. Included is the famous riddle about St Ives and so the pupils can see how a small problem can be multiplied and that we should be all doing our bit by picking up the plastic one piece at a time. Ideal as a discussion starting point on the effects of pollution especially in a coastal setting and as the Summer holidays approach, a cautionary tale! This resource will stretch reading and comprehension skills as well as providing an opportunity to demonstrate maths skills at the same time… recommended for ages 8+

This animated Power Point takes extracts from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince and asks students to spot deliberate spelling mistakes. The spellings are ordinary words hidden within extraordinary passages. The answers will magically appear. Students are asked to show-case their knowledge of homophones such as witch and which and include as many as they can in a paragraph of their own. They are required to make "Muggle" words out of the letters within some of the characters' names. Finally they have the chance to write their own creative piece involving a hex which glues your tongue to the roof of your mouth, a jinx which makes your toe-nails grow alarmingly quickly or a muffliato spell which causes mayhem by means of the victim experiencing an unidentifiable buzzing sound in their ears. I include another resource about dragon breeds with comprehension questions and answers. This resource is intended to be used to reinforce spelling, punctuation and grammar in a fun way as well as encouraging wider reading . Suitable for ages 10+

This resource looks at the problems faced by sea turtles in our polluted world and asks pupils to think of ways in which they might help creatures such as these. There is a how to guide on drawing a sea turtle and also a further investigation worksheet on finding out what sea turtles like to eat. This resource would support study of seas and oceans and conservation issues. I include a Planet Patrol puzzle which has over twenty interlocked words to find concerning endangered animals. This could be easily differentiated to suit age and ability. All answers provided. This resource compliments other resources available in my shop. Suitable for ages 8+

This animated Power Point resource presents itself in the format of an Examination straight out of Hogwarts. Students read the descriptions of fantastic creatures such as the Hippogriff, the Basilisk and even the humble Puffskein and then answer questions about the information they have read. Students are required to draw detailed diagrams from the information they have acquired and are asked to compile their own entry to the latest edition of Fantastic Creatures concerning a new breed of werewolf. Answers and feedback are provided in a humorous manner. This resource is ideal to use in any exam period as a means of encouraging descriptive and informative writing whilst also inspiring students to read more widely from the pages of J.K.Rowling. Suitable for Potter fans of all ages.

This Power Point tests knowledge of plurals, the use of commas and apostrophes in contractions. It asks pupils to find the opposite by adding a prefix and alphabetical ordering. Students will meet Joe who loves football but hates homework and who needs a little help with his spelling. This resource is intended as a revision tool and is one of many that can be found in my shop. It can be dropped into a revision session on the run up to SATS or assessment weeks. All answers are provided at the end , so pupils can easily identify their own mistakes without taking up valuable teaching time. Suitable for ages 10+