This Power Point uses the techniques of mindfulness as a tool to combat anxiety. The audience is encouraged to observe their troublesome thoughts and deal with them, clarifying the mind and freeing it up for more reasoned thinking.Different scenarios are presented which evoke the senses and help the students focus on their breathing whilst thoughts and feelings are observed and compartmentalised. The purpose of this resource is to assist pupils at times of pressure and anxiety such as exam periods or when stress levels are running high.I include ideas for creative writing about anxiety attacks as a way of dealing with powerful emotions which can sabotage our best efforts. This resource is suitable for all ages but is most relevant to those aged 12+ Other resources regarding anger issues and mindfulness can be found in my shop.

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 resource is ideal for the run up to Easter. It includes a short story about a visit to a free range egg farm and comprehension questions to check understanding of the humorous nuances. The differences between free range and caged hens eggs could be used to inspire further independent investigation and research.A passage from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone is included which describes the birth of Norbert a baby dragon. A poem is included about a dragon birth and students are invited to write descriptively about the birth of a dragon as it bursts from its shell. Lots of ideas and explorations here around eggs and the symbolism surrounding them. Ideal for Potter fans . Suitable for ages 8+

This Power Point presentation tells the story of how the animals took part in a race across a river in order to impress the Emperor with their physical prowess and skill. As the animals splashed and scrambled around in the water , the Emperor decided which animal was worthy to represent each year. Not only will the students enjoy the story but also they will be required to work out which animal represents year 2020 in the Chinese Zodiac. Pupils are required to think about their own strengths and weaknesses and to set goals in order to improve on their own capabilities in 2020. Suitable for ages 7+

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 could be used to revise different aspects of grammar such as adjectives, adverbs, proper nouns and modal verbs. Students are given opportunities to flesh out the characters of Sarah, Mr Grizzle and Mrs Plumworthy-Brown using their descriptive writing skills. This resource accompanies a Power Point about the Waverley Manor Mystery which is a tragic story set in the Victorian era and can be found in my shop. Suitable for ages 8+

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 animated Power Point asks the audience to look outside and identify signs in nature that Autumn is on its way. Pupils are encouraged to use all five senses to experience the season by observing colour changes as well as noticing the passage of time through the alteration of clocks. A recipe for vegetable stew is included to appeal to taste buds and to create a lingering aroma. Students are asked to find out some interesting facts about spiders and to look out for nature’s crochet patterns on the hedgerows as they travel to school. The splendid sights, sounds , smalls and tastes of Autumn can be found here in poetry, of different formats including a haiku in which syllables need to be counted . Pupils are asked to consider the colour red and its synonyms and are encouraged to write poetry of their own. A poem about the wind is included which personifies this weather phenomenon and shows how nature can adopt human characteristics, sending shivers down our spines. This resource would be ideal to use during the Autumn term as a collection of poetry or to stimulate sensory exploration and creative writing about the seasonal changes. Suitable for ages 7 +

This resource is ideal for Father’s Day with funny poems about Dads , crosswords and spelling activities related to the need to buy Dad a present for his special day. Children are reminded about what an average Dad is expected to do and are asked to think of ways in which they could make this Father’s Day a pleasant one.

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+