This simple game spurs children to read or sound out the 7 words, so they can link them (by pen, pencil or finger) to the correct picture representation below. Some of the words also feature in my ‘Seaside Findings’ phonics game; using both in quick succession will reinforce learning. Suitable for all KS1 and Reception/EY. Able children can add further words and pictures, or write a follow-on sentence about something they have found at the seaside. Younger children can identify initial letters and their phonics, guessing words they can’t yet read, with the help of the pictures. This resource also supports seaside and ocean studies. VIDEO INSPIRATION x 2 (author speaking and reading her poems about seaside wonders): https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 + https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMarEm9uVBDEGPTykSlkAfT6jdVArKlPen6X5lk1le7dqUc89gEztNjSO7V6qsxUQ?key=X0hIWmdaV1M0Q2lHYURKbDdIVFFPMTVBTWRUdkhn

Your class will love choosing a creature - squirrel, frog, owl? - to describe, using the prompts for rich description, action words and imagery. Then there’s the fun of trying it out on the rest of the class, to see who can guess it first. The children will be motivated to listen to each other’s verses - or riddles - too, and there’s plenty of scope for group interaction as the reader picks volunteers from around the room to try to idenfify their creatures. Tips are provided for writing the answer in code, and there’s an anagram to be written too, below. Great for summer term fun, combined with literacy skills- stretching and creativity. Best for Years 3-6.

Literacy boost with exciting twists! Fun, inspiring spelling + vocabulary enhancer about pirates, treasure and oceans. Eight questions, including a rhyme, an anagram, a spelling choice, a type of gem, and more, on an attractive, illustrated sheet. Answers on accompanying sheet. Supports multiple topics, e.g. ocean, pirates, weather, journeys, going for gold, the wider world, voyagers, and seaside, and brings literacy alive. See also my other ocean/pirate lit. resources, e.g. Treasure Map: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/treasure-map-alliteration-game-yr1-6-guide-for-use-11887395 and Stormy Sea: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/stormy-sea-poetry-frame-guide-12043779 .

Fascinating creative opportunity for older/more able writers, depicting the sea as different entities or things. Format and starter lines for a sequence of verses are provided, with quality sample poem, written by myself (published poet) for the purpose. Tip: build up to metaphors by (1) discussing sea in different weathers, climates, times and seasons, enacting and sounding out; (2) elicit words and similes for the variations; (3) invite pupils to try taking out the ‘as… as’ or ‘like’ from their similes to form metaphors (e.g. ‘the sea IS a mirror’; (4) read the sample poem; (5) give out the frames and scrap paper for independent writers and let them write their own, personal versions. See also my many other sea poetry frames in my catalogue, with sub-topics such as sea monsters, seabed mysteries, summer’s day sea, stormy sea and a pirate’s treasure map.

Junior pupils will enjoy writing tree-focused poems inside this tree outline. The summery, countryside setting will inspire ideas, while the short lines encourage careful choice of words and a swinging rhythm. Perhaps encourage similes, alliteration and other poetic techniques, while leaving the general approach and content open. Questions to pose in your for warm-up discussion: is the tree a sunshade for a hot day, a statue, standing against the sky, or a reminder that we need to protect our precious natural world, perhaps? Or is the tree a den, hiding place, or climbing-frame in the writer’s mind? Is it as green as fresh lettuce leaves, glittering emeralds or the tall, silky grass?

This illustrated writing frame offers scope for imaginative input, while also stretching language skills. It can be used for a poem in its own right, or - for more able writers - a springboard for independent writing. The format calls for ideas for different park visitors and features, verbs to describe their actions, and adverbs to embellish them, e.g. ‘Dogs dashing wildly’. Ideas for variations, enrichments and extensions are included. Black/white, PDF

This hand-illustrated, jungle-themed poetry frame sheet spurs young, independent writers to draw on their imagination and passive vocabulary to create an expressive poem about it, and its inhabitants. The line-starters invite description and similes, and the pictures offer inspiration. Ideas can be further explored through the colouring opportunities. While intended primarily as a literacy support and creativity launch pad, the sheet also presents a window onto the natural world. For best outcomes, prepare children first with discussion, pictures or a video of a jungle and the animal types featured here, and act out trying to make your way through a jungle’s exotic undergrowth - in the heat. This poetry frame has been successfully tried and tested during my poetry workshops, as all my TES resources have to date.

Beginner readers will enjoy sounding out the words in this question - “Can you see the bee in the green tree?” and pointing to the bee in the picture. They will also like discussing the picture and the “ee” sounds with an adult. How many "ee"s can they find? Have they ever seen a bee? What can they tell you about them? This resource supports phonics-learning, reading, speaking and listening. See the others in this series. Here’s a related ‘ee’ phonic lullaby, by Rhodri Williams-Wandoch: https://soundcloud.com/rhodri-williams-wandoch/try-to-sleep

This rosy garden apple picture poem celebrates nature, seasons and healthy eating. The 5-line cinquain is simple and attractive to read, view and listen to. Perhaps your class can make up a similar cinquain about apples or another fruit? See my banana poem too, and my other Healthy Eating resources. The poem and photo are by this author, Kate Williams.

Seaside poetry writing on a fabulous seaside photograph! Line starters for free, expressive writing. Example sheet provided, to inspire ideas of all sorts. Flexible for all ages and abilities, written or out loud. Text: In the sea’s sparkly blue I find… In the sea’s soft hum I hear… In the sand’s ______ I feel… Metaphors, description, long or short responses, literal or imaginary - all sorts are welcome here! See also my many other seaside and ocean resources!

A beautiful, inspiring, comforting poem about autumn leaves, their colours, movements and seeming free spirits. Use as a starter for class poetry writing, to spur other ideas for language, imagery, movement and poem forms. Help the children identify the rhyming words (gloaming/roaming, where/care/air, glow(ing)/low/go). Who can spot the question? Any other questions to ask? See my other autumn leaf resources for more inspiration and format ideas.

Autumn leaves words, similes and colouring fun offered on this beautiful picture poem frame for newly independent writers. Leaves go - sailing, flowing, dancing, spinning, gliding, skipping, drifting… They are as colourful as - jewels, flowers, butterflies, rainbows… Wavy lines to write on, reflecting the wavy leaves. Let children gather and inspect leaves first, spinning and flying them. Discuss their movements and colours, and invite simile ideas. See also my other autumn leaves resources and woodland writing sheets.

I’m ___ ing and ___ ing, like a __ , this poem starts, with a long, wavy line down the page for children to take off and fly with their ideas. The accompanying colour sketch will inspire ideas. EXAMPLE: I’m sailing and gliding, like a leaf in the wind, free as the air and merry as sunshine… But now I’m tipping and tilting, like a boat on a rough sea. I’m spinning, spiralling, loop-the-looping. I’m a circus acrobat, vaulting the air… and now calmly cruising the fine, silky skies again. Supports literacy, including vocabulary, writing fluency and encouragement, also weather, travel and transport studies. **SEE ALSO - ** LAND OF L… magic land alliteration game - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/land-of-l-creative-alliteration-fun-12031118 .