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Dicing with Grammar

Average Rating4.72
(based on 221 reviews)

It's simple really: English grammar can be a very dry subject, but this need not be the case. For a few years now, I have been developing a games-based approach to teaching important grammar concepts. It is amazing how the introduction of dice takes the learning into a new place - the element of chance making it seem less like work and more like play. Because I test my games extensively in the classroom, I get a feel for what works. Dump your boring worksheets and start dicing with grammar.

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It's simple really: English grammar can be a very dry subject, but this need not be the case. For a few years now, I have been developing a games-based approach to teaching important grammar concepts. It is amazing how the introduction of dice takes the learning into a new place - the element of chance making it seem less like work and more like play. Because I test my games extensively in the classroom, I get a feel for what works. Dump your boring worksheets and start dicing with grammar.
Place value, multiplying whole numbers and decimals by 10, 100 and 1000
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Place value, multiplying whole numbers and decimals by 10, 100 and 1000

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A simple time saving resource. Working in pairs, children have to pick numbers from one group and then pick operators from another group. Every class I have taught needs practise at this key skill, and this is a quick and easy way for them to generate lots of questions and discuss their answers. This resource is 3 PowerPoint slides designed to be used as activity sheets. The activities become more challenging, involving more decimal places and more digits. I recommend using place value sliders with this activity - they are easy to make if you don't have any. I have also included a very simple dice game, covering the same objective. This can be easily differentiated by using more (or less ) dice. I hope you find these activities as useful as I have.
Quiz, Quiz, Trade Cards (Charles Darwin)
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Quiz, Quiz, Trade Cards (Charles Darwin)

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Quiz, Quiz, Trade is a fun and active way for children to learn facts. The cards can be tailored to cover any subject area, topic or learning objective and are particularly useful for introducing a new subject area that your class wouldn't already know lots about. You could include a range of differentiated questions, but I have often found that the children you least expect will learn the more complicated facts after playing this game. The idea behind Quiz, Quiz, Trade is that it is a fun, non-threatening and exciting game that is inclusive for all and will help all children in your class to acquire knowledge quickly. Really handy when you just need them to have a bit of background knowledge or learn something quickly in order to apply or develop the knowledge in their work. Quiz, Quiz, Trade can be used for any age group (my cards are all aimed at years 4-6) that will be able to read the questions and answers. I have used Quiz, Quiz, Trade in observations with much success (see instruction page) and consistently use it to introduce new topics in class-the children love it!
Quiz, Quiz, Trade Cards (Circles)
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Quiz, Quiz, Trade Cards (Circles)

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Quiz, Quiz, Trade is a fun and active way for children to learn facts. The cards can be tailored to cover any subject area, topic or learning objective and are particularly useful for introducing a new subject area that your class wouldn't already know lots about. You could include a range of differentiated questions, but I have often found that the children you least expect will learn the more complicated facts after playing this game. The idea behind Quiz, Quiz, Trade is that it is a fun, non-threatening and exciting game that is inclusive for all and will help all children in your class to acquire knowledge quickly. Really handy when you just need them to have a bit of background knowledge or learn something quickly in order to apply or develop the knowledge in their work. Quiz, Quiz, Trade can be used for any age group (my cards are all aimed at years 4-6) that will be able to read the questions and answers. I have used Quiz, Quiz, Trade in observations with much success (see instruction page) and consistently use it to introduce new topics in class-the children love it!
Earth, Moon and Sun - Quiz, Quiz, Trade, Key Stage 2, space
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Earth, Moon and Sun - Quiz, Quiz, Trade, Key Stage 2, space

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Updated instructions now added Quiz, Quiz, Trade is a fun and active way for children to learn facts. The cards can be tailored to cover any subject area, topic or learning objective and are particularly useful for introducing a new subject area that your class wouldn’t already know lots about. You could include a range of differentiated questions, but I have often found that the children you least expect will learn the more complicated facts after playing this game. The idea behind Quiz, Quiz, Trade is that it is a fun, non-threatening and exciting game that is inclusive for all and will help all children in your class to acquire knowledge quickly. Really handy when you just need them to have a bit of background knowledge or learn something quickly in order to apply or develop the knowledge in their work. Quiz, Quiz, Trade can be used for any age group (my cards are all aimed at years 4-6) that will be able to read the questions and answers. I have used Quiz, Quiz, Trade in observations with much success (see instruction page) and consistently use it to introduce new topics in class-the children love it!
Subtracting multiples of 10
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Subtracting multiples of 10

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This is a lesson I used with a year 3 class, but it would be useful for any class learning how to subtract multiples of 10 using a money context. There is a very detailed lesson plan, a presentation to guide the class along and all resources. You will also need a lot of 10p coins: ten 10p coins per pair of children. Just photocopy some if they’ve all gone missing! After a few warm-ups, the children begin with some giving change role play activities, before moving on to working on open numberlines. A lot of thought has been given to differentiation throughout the session. The independent work is differentiated three ways. There are extension activities as well and some challenges for the plenary. This session may run over an hour, depending on how speedy your class are.
Paragraph Party! Grouping information, organise paragraphs, fun whole class activity, football
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Paragraph Party! Grouping information, organise paragraphs, fun whole class activity, football

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THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO MAKE PARAGRAPHING A FUN AND CONCRETE EXPERIENCE. This is a fun and engaging whole class activity about organisation within a paragraph. Using a non-fiction context (information about football) pupils go to a paragraph party. They have to work out who is hosting the party (the topic sentence), who is the uninvited guest (information that doesn’t belong) and various other activities. In short, it’s a lively and memorable way of exploring non-fiction paragraphs.
Colon to introduce a list, dice game, fiction and non-fiction, differentiated 3 ways
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Colon to introduce a list, dice game, fiction and non-fiction, differentiated 3 ways

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I can use a colon to introduce a list (when the clause before the list is independent) This fun dice game gives children lots of opportunities to use a colon to introduce a list. I have included three versions of the game, to ensure that all learners are included and challenged appropriately. On track version: In pairs, use the on track dice guide. As players progress in the game, they must shade one colon on their game board for every item (or noun phrase) they include in each list. The first player to reach the finish is the winner. Support version: In pairs, children use the support dice guide. During each round both players create a list sentence, using the opening clause on the dice guide, and a list of noun phrases. There are visual prompts on the dice guide to support writers with ideas. Challenge version: Use the ‘on track’ dice guide, but ask the children to experiment with lists made up of expanded noun phrases that include commas, wherever possible. They can try using semi-colons to separate the items in each list. Example of a sentence that could be created by playing this dice game at challenge level: To create her magic potion she needed the following: wild mushrooms, from the lower field; oak bark, from the oldest tree in Western Wood; three long, white feathers and a twist of fresh sap, not more than a day old. Your class will soon get the hang of colons to introduce lists if you play this for a session.
colons and dashes, four dice activities
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colons and dashes, four dice activities

4 Resources
Two engaging dice games exploring two different functions of colons (lists and explaining the previous clause). Better than worksheets! I have also included a two useful resources about dashes too.
Goodnight Mr. Tom, three drama activities leading into diary writing
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Goodnight Mr. Tom, three drama activities leading into diary writing

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If you are reading Goodnight Mr. Tom here are three very short drama activities for children to try in pairs. They could be used just to help children engage with the story. I asked children to use these three short pieces of drama to support them in writing a diary entry and they produced some wonderful writing. If you like this creative and active approach to teaching, you will love my pack of 40 grammar games - available to buy in my TES shop. Hope they are of use to someone out there in teacherland. If you use it, please review it! *2200 downloads…2 reviews
Poetry,  What I love about school
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Poetry, What I love about school

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Hi teachers of the world! I love using Roger Mcgough’s fantastic ‘What I love about school’ to motivate pupils to write poetry with patterns. I’ve used it several times, and the children often come up with brilliant poems of their own, once they have had time explore the patterns. A shortened version of the poem, some comprehension activities and planning sheet are included. Have fun! If you like this activity, you may like my grammar games and units of work.
27 editing stations
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27 editing stations

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27 ways to for KS2 writers to edit and improve their own writing. This project was written by Fiona Keeling and Maurice Leahy and has been loosely inspired by Brighton Train Station (bear with us). We put it together to help children develop writing further at the editing stage. The PowerPoint explains how it works, but we are sure you’ll find your own ways to use this. Fiona brings it to life in her classroom with a cap, whistle and realistic train tickets! It was a lot of work, so if you spot the odd error, please let us know and we will put it right. We hope it saves you some precious time. Please leave a review. Happy editing!
first day back poetry
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first day back poetry

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This activity has also been developed into ‘First Week Back Poetry’, a fully resourced one week unit (PowerPoints, plans, activities). It is available from my shop. Please follow this link https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12907781 Upper KS2 poetry activity: ‘What I DIDN’T do over the summer!’ We didn’t all go on amazing holidays over the summer, but there are amazing things in front of our noses. Try this poetry activity with upper KS2 children. If you use this - and I saved you some time - please leave a review in return.
Number the stars
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Number the stars

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A fully resourced, three week, Year 6 writing unit based on chapter 14 of ‘Number the Stars’ by Lois Lowry. This unit links beautifully with history learning, World War 2. If children a familiar with the story of Anne Frank, this text provides another example of what was happening in Europe in the final years of the WW2. All planning, slides and activities are included - no extra work necessary. Outcome After looking closely at chapter 14 of Number the Stars, children write their own suspenseful, historical story about a child who has to take a mysterious and important package on a dangerous journey. **The following objectives are comprehensively covered: ** Grammar skills • Use a parenthesis (a single dash) to add an afterthought • Use short sentences to create suspense • Use expanded noun phrases to add descriptive detail • Personify nouns Composition • Develop a historical character • Build atmosphere and create contrasting settings • Apply an understanding of the key features of historical stories and suspense writing • Plan a story using a familiar structure to support Reading and Vocabulary • Explore unfamiliar vocabulary in context • Develop reading fluency skills • Retrieve information and infer meaning • Retell a traditional story • Identify the key features of historical stories and suspense writing