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.
A comprehensive pack of subtraction practice questions, with answers, that are designed to help kids, age 9-12, get to grips with subtracting both small and large numbers. The exercises include questions on:
simple subtraction sums using number bonds
subtraction with 2, 3 and 4 digits using the column method
subtraction with borrowing from the tens or hundreds column
subtraction sums with missing numbers
subtracting in your head
problem solving for subtraction
We have devised these packs as a supplementary aid to learning maths. They have been created to help teach the problem areas that children struggle with most. Through my work as a tutor, I’ve discovered that children would have problems with particular areas in maths and would find it hard to get their head round difficult concepts. I found that most textbooks contained only a couple of pages of exercises to work through, which does not solve the problem. Therefore, I have devised some structured packs that deal with each subject in greater detail, giving the child loads of examples to work through. If they work through the packs ‘the penny will drop’ and they will grasp the concept.
Answers included.
49 pages
Our maths tests for home and school assess the mathematical ability of children according to their age.
If your child is 9, in his current school year, I suggest you work through Maths Test for 9 year olds. However, if you know your child has a higher or lower ability in maths, select a suitable test e.g. 10 years, 8 years.
As a tutor and primary school teacher, I have been administrating these tests for over 25 years to determine the child’s a!ainment in maths. I usually allow 45/50 minutes for a test. I also sit beside children who need help reading questions - but I encourage them to answer all questions without help, leaving out any they do not understand for a true score.
The tests contain especially chosen questions to test a wide range of mathematical concepts. taught at a particular age - number, measure, shapes, recording data. They examine your child’s ability to interpret different tasks: computational skills, reasoning skills, solving problems and recalling facts.
The raw score is your child’s mark out of the total number of questions, e.g. 50. If he or she scores 38 out of 50, he or she has got 76%. if you would like a standardised score to see your child’s average, please email guineapigeducation@yahoo.co.uk with your child’s raw score and date of birth in years and months.
Have fun doing the test. If your child is stressed, stop and resume the test.
36 pages
The child is asked to read the text and to answer some questions. The last question focuses on the meaning of words used in the text and the child then writes his or her own non fiction piece. The child also works through punctuation exercises - putting in capital letters, full stops and question marks.
Let’s Practise Our Reading Comprehension Packs are a valuable resource to help the child practise essential reading comprehension skills. Each pack includes an article for the child to read and then a series of questions. They are ideal for use with 6-9 year olds, who have reached some degree of reading fluency.
The articles ask the child to retrieve facts, explain information and develop their own ideas as to what the writer is implying. Each pack contains vocabulary exercises, encouraging the child to search for words or phrases with the same meaning.
Each pack takes the form of a mini topic or project.
15 pages
This pack teaches the child how to write a formal letter to argue a point.
The child should use Dear Sir or Madam and end with Yours faithfully or Dear Mr… or Mrs… and end with Yours sincerely. They should use point, evidence and explanation for each paragraph. They will learn how to introduce their viewpoint in a topic sentence, give some evidence and explain it. They will learn how to introduce the counter argument and then to argue against it. The child should read the example letters and prompts and then write their own.
Example Letters Include:
complaints
Letters to council
Help with hangover
The builders are poor
The train is dirty
This series of work packs provides prompts to encourage children to write. It provides starting points, to encourage even the most reluctant writers. Featuring a lively, ‘magazine style’ format to appeal to children of all abilities, these packs are particularly recommended as preparation for creative writing tasks at 11+ or S.A.T.S.
The writer herself often dips into the lively collection of imaginative stories and non fiction articles, to teach her students in tutorials. The packs feature detailed prompts on how to plan and write stories and letters, as well as help with non fiction tasks - writing diaries, reports and persuasive leaflets. There is also plenty of practice in writing techniques - variation of sentences, connectives and grammar and punctuation tips.
19 pages
Read the estate agents description of 44 Acacia Road, Rushford. Then write a description of your house, as if you were an estate agent who is selling it. Next, the child is asked to answer the questions prompts to write about their house.
Describe A Room In My House
Show someone round your house. The child reads the sentences and decide what the buyer likes and what they dislike. The child is asked to think about the rooms in their house and to write about their favourite one. They can use the word prompts to help the , but also add their own ideas.
Write About My Bedroom
The child is asked to make a plan, listing the details he or she wants to include, using the prompts to help them, but also adding their own ideas. Then the child reads the example and writes at least three paragraphs to describe their own bedroom.
Write About My Ideal House
The new headteacher of the school wants to buy a house. The estate agent asks what they are looking for. Read the word choices and fill in the writing prompt - ‘My ideal house is a…’
This series provides prompts to get the child to write. It provides starting points to encourage children of all abilities to write - even the most reluctant writers. With this series they will be inspired to write stories, poems, play scripts, diaries, reports, persuasive leaflets and more.
More than this, the child will learn writing techniques; simple, compound and complex sentences, connectives and spelling, punctuation and grammar tips. There is an emphasis on improving vocabulary - looking at lots of better word choices: harder adjectives, more powerful verbs and adverbs.
19 pages
This DIGITAL resource will be added directly to your Google Drive. It can be shared with your children and their parents via Google Classroom or similar platform. It can be used with the interactive white board.
Revise soft c, soft g & words ending in …ing. Read the story ‘Feather World.’
Learn To Read With Phonics Digital 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 drag and drop 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.
Read the story ‘The Fun Fair’ to revise the phonic sounds igh, ea, ear
Read the story and then answer the reading comprehension questions. Younger children might wish to work alongside an adult and answer the comprehension questions orally.
This resource is part of our ‘Learn To Read With Phonics’ reading scheme.
This DIGITAL resource contains a link to access and make a copy into your google drive. It is fully editable and can be shared with your students via Google Classroom or similar platform. Pdf version included.
This resource provides a writing skeleton, so the child can write their own autumn story They should complete the sentences and choose the best words from the multiple choice options or make up their own endings to the sentences. Look at how the story is structured into three paragraphs - a beginning, a middle paragraph building up suspense and an ending. The child can then read and write their own Autumn poem.
This series provides prompts to get the child to write. It provides starting points to encourage children of all abilities to write - even the most reluctant writers. With this series they will be inspired to write stories, poems, play scripts, diaries, reports, persuasive leaflets and more.
More than this, the child will learn writing techniques; simple, compound and complex sentences, connectives and spelling, punctuation and grammar tips. There is an emphasis on improving vocabulary - looking at lots of better word choices: harder adjectives, more powerful verbs and adverbs.
Writing A Balanced Argument work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
This series of work packs set out how to write a well-balanced argument. The student will learn how to structure their writing, putting forward a point of view, backing it up with convincing evidence, building up a relevant counter argument and knocking it down, as well as, putting forward their own comments and opinions. These work packs focus on discursive writing, enabling the pupil to examine points for and against in a variety of subjects suitable for older children and teenage readers - healthy eating, fashion, social issues and many more. The student will learn vital essay writing skills, that will assist their studies in other areas of the curriculum.
In addition to this, the work packs teach organisational and literary devices in persuasive writing, including, figurative language, emotive words, repetition, connectives and use of good vocabulary. The student will learn how to consider writing for the appropriate audience, how to vary sentence types in order to make writing more interesting, and the importance of using good spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the pupil to be successful and gain good grades.
The work packs are ideal for home study and will reinforce the work done in school. They may be purchased in any order. There are a number of titles to choose from. By working through the packs, the student will grow in confidence and will learn to enjoy writing. The packs are also a useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
This series is specifically targeted at Key Stage 2 and 3 (ages 9-14 years), but will also be a valuable resource for those taking GCSE up to grades C and above. They contain material suitable for UK National Curriculum SATS, for those taking 11+ entrance examinations, for GCSE exams and for students learning English as a foreign language.
15 pages
In this resource, the student will learn to write a balanced argument. Then, they should use the points and ideas given, to write their own balanced argument discussing the question (a) Do young people eat too much fast food and (b) Should young people eat more fruit and vegetable?
Writing A Balanced Argument’ work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
This series of work packs set out how to write a well-balanced argument. The student will learn how to structure their writing, putting forward a point of view, backing it up with convincing evidence, building up a relevant counter argument and knocking it down, as well as, putting forward their own comments and opinions. These work packs focus on discursive writing, enabling the pupil to examine points for and against in a variety of subjects suitable for older children and teenage readers - healthy eating, fashion, social issues and many more. The student will learn vital essay writing skills, that will assist their studies in other areas of the curriculum.
In addition to this, the work packs teach organisational and literary devices in persuasive writing, including, figurative language, emotive words, repetition, connectives and use of good vocabulary. The student will learn how to consider writing for the appropriate audience, how to vary sentence types in order to make writing more interesting, and the importance of using good spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the pupil to be successful and gain good grades.
The work packs are ideal for home study and will reinforce the work done in school. They may be purchased in any order. There are a number of titles to choose from. By working through the packs, the student will grow in confidence and will learn to enjoy writing. The packs are also a useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
This series is specifically targeted at Key Stage 2 and 3 (ages 9-14 years), but will also be a valuable resource for those taking GCSE up to grades C and above. They contain material suitable for UK National Curriculum SATS, for those taking 11+ entrance examinations, for GCSE exams and for students learning English as a foreign language.
21 pages
Writing A Balanced Argument work packs are essential for all students, of 9-14 years, wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
This series of work packs set out how to write a well-balanced argument. The student will learn how to structure their writing, putting forward a point of view, backing it up with convincing evidence, building up a relevant counter argument and knocking it down, as well as, putting forward their own comments and opinions. These work packs focus on discursive writing, enabling the pupil to examine points for and against in a variety of subjects suitable for older children and teenage readers - healthy eating, fashion, social issues and many more. The student will learn vital essay writing skills, that will assist their studies in other areas of the curriculum.
In addition to this, the work packs teach organisational and literary devices in persuasive writing, including, figurative language, emotive words, repetition, connectives and use of good vocabulary. The student will learn how to consider writing for the appropriate audience, how to vary sentence types in order to make writing more interesting, and the importance of using good spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the pupil to be successful and gain good grades.
The work packs are ideal for home study and will reinforce the work done in school. They may be purchased in any order. There are a number of titles to choose from. By working through the packs, the student will grow in confidence and will learn to enjoy writing. The packs are also a useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
9 pages
Information Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
Information Writing work packs concentrate specifically on information writing, providing everything needed to stimulate a child to write. The child is taught to recognise the difference between facts and opinions. Each pack in this series concentrates on a different aspect of information writing including: writing to advise, writing to inform, writing to explain, writing to analyse, review and comment, giving examples. The child is taught how a newspaper article is structured, how to write formal and informal letters, diaries, police reports, e-mails, biographies, autobiographies, interviews, book reviews and many more.
The work packs contain starting point for writing, helping the child to form ideas, enabling him or her to structure their work and organise it into paragraphs. Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the student to be successful and gain good grades.
The packs are a very useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks. The specimen lesson plans and examples contained within each work pack will give the student ideas to build on and provide practice to develop their writing skills. Each work pack provides children with ideas for writing, especially reluctant writers who require starting points to write. Each work pack provides a safe topic that children will be comfortable with.
19 pages
Persuasive Writing work packs are essential for all students, of 9-14 years, wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
Persuasive Writing work packs teach children how to write from different points of view and how opinions can be used to make articles biased. This series of work packs will enable the student to write convincingly in letters, leaflets, brochures and newspaper articles for example. The packs include a lively collection of writings, poems and a play to inspire the pupils. These are designed as starting points, ideal for the student who finds it difficult to think up ideas for writing, challenging them to recreate their own persuasive pieces.
In addition to this, the packs teach organisational and literary devices in persuasive writing, including, figurative language, emotive words, repetition, connectives and use of good vocabulary. The student will learn how to consider writing for the appropriate audience, how to vary sentence types in order to make writing more interesting, and the importance of using good spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the pupil to be successful and gain good grades.
The work packs are ideal for home study and will reinforce the work done in school. They may be purchased in any order. There are a number of titles to choose from. By working through the packs, the student will grow in confidence and will learn to enjoy writing. The packs are also a useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
15 pages
This resource shows the student how to plan and write a story effectively. Learn how to structure and organise your ideas into three paragraphs; and think about character, setting and plot. It also contains some words skill practice, showing you how to make your writing more interesting, by using well-chosen adjectives and adverbs. Complete the exercises and read the word lists to help you create believable characters and settings.
Creative Story Writing work packs cut down preparation time when planning creative writing tasks. Easy to follow, each pack includes an example of how you can build on a title, to first plan a story for 9-12 year olds and then write it.
How To Use Your Work Pack:
Make sure the child/children know that stories must be planned
Read the model story in the pack
Ask the child/children to write down the names of the characters in the story
Ask the child/children to write down where the setting takes place
Ask the child/children to write down what the plot is
Identify the most exciting part of the story (the climax of the story or suspense)
Ask the child/children to plan a similar story - with a beginning, a middle and an end
Ask the child/children to rewrite their own version of the story
Ask the child/children to read their version of the story aloud
Creative Story Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. The work packs will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. Each pack is designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.
Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Each pack contains vital hints and tips on gaining those top grades.
25 pages
Between the ages of 9 and 12, children have to complete Standardised.Assessment.Tests (Sats). To help them practise for these tests, we have produced a new series of comprehension booklets. The Standards and Testing Agency states that the child has 1 hour to complete the test, answering the questions in the answer booklet. Read one text and answer the questions about that text, before moving onto the next text. There are three texts and three sets of questions in each booklet.
The tests in this booklet are based on the KS2 Reading Assessment sample papers. It is important to try and complete them in an hour, but it is your choice. The more tests you practise the quicker you will get.
42 pages
Between the ages of 9 and 12, children have to complete Standardised.Assessment.Tests (Sats). To help them practise for these tests, we have produced a new series of comprehension booklets. The Standards and Testing Agency states that the child has 1 hour to complete the test, answering the questions in the answer booklet. Read one text and answer the questions about that text, before moving onto the next text. There are three texts and three sets of questions in each booklet.
The tests in this booklet are based on the KS2 Reading Assessment sample papers. It is important to try and complete them in an hour, but it is your choice. The more tests you practise the quicker you will get.
31 pages
This resource includes:
Write To Advise On Getting A New Pet
Write An Informal Diary On Your New Pet
This series of resources concentrate specifically on information writing, providing everything needed to stimulate a child to write. The child is taught to recognise the difference between facts and opinions. Each pack in this series concentrates on a different aspect of information writing including: writing to advise, writing to inform, writing to explain, writing to analyse, review and comment, giving examples. The child is taught how a newspaper article is structured, how to write formal and informal letters, diaries, police reports, e-mails, biographies, autobiographies, interviews, book reviews and many more.
Each resource contains starting point for writing, helping the child to form ideas, enabling him or her to structure their work and organise it into paragraphs. Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the student to be successful and gain good grades.
The packs are a very useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks. The specimen lesson plans and examples contained within each work pack will give the student ideas to build on and provide practice to develop their writing skills. Each work pack provides children with ideas for writing, especially reluctant writers who require starting points to write. Each work pack provides a safe topic that children will be comfortable with.
27 pages
‘Writing A Balanced Argument’ work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
Includes:
How To Write A Discursive Argument
Hints And Tips For Writing A Discursive Essay
Writing skeletons, model answers and points for and against the following essays:
Fox Hunting Is Cruel. Discuss
In Favour Of Zoos, Or Not. Discuss.
Should Animals Perform In The Circus?
This series of work packs set out how to write a well-balanced argument. The student will learn how to structure their writing, putting forward a point of view, backing it up with convincing evidence, building up a relevant counter argument and knocking it down, as well as, putting forward their own comments and opinions. These work packs focus on discursive writing, enabling the pupil to examine points for and against in a variety of subjects suitable for older children and teenage readers - healthy eating, fashion, social issues and many more. The student will learn vital essay writing skills, that will assist their studies in other areas of the curriculum.
In addition to this, the work packs teach organisational and literary devices in persuasive writing, including, figurative language, emotive words, repetition, connectives and use of good vocabulary. The student will learn how to consider writing for the appropriate audience, how to vary sentence types in order to make writing more interesting, and the importance of using good spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the pupil to be successful and gain good grades.
The work packs are ideal for home study and will reinforce the work done in school. They may be purchased in any order. There are a number of titles to choose from. By working through the packs, the student will grow in confidence and will learn to enjoy writing. The packs are also a useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
This series is specifically targeted at Key Stage 2 and 3 (ages 9-14 years), but will also be a valuable resource for those taking GCSE up to grades C and above. They contain material suitable for UK National Curriculum SATS, for those taking 11+ entrance examinations, for GCSE exams and for students learning English as a foreign language.
29 pages
Information Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
Information Writing work packs concentrate specifically on information writing, providing everything needed to stimulate a child to write. The child is taught to recognise the difference between facts and opinions. Each pack in this series concentrates on a different aspect of information writing including: writing to advise, writing to inform, writing to explain, writing to analyse, review and comment, giving examples. The child is taught how a newspaper article is structured, how to write formal and informal letters, diaries, police reports, e-mails, biographies, autobiographies, interviews, book reviews and many more.
The work packs contain starting point for writing, helping the child to form ideas, enabling him or her to structure their work and organise it into paragraphs. Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the student to be successful and gain good grades.
The packs are a very useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks. The specimen lesson plans and examples contained within each work pack will give the student ideas to build on and provide practice to develop their writing skills. Each work pack provides children with ideas for writing, especially reluctant writers who require starting points to write. Each work pack provides a safe topic that children will be comfortable with.
19 pages
Fright Night: Write An Article (And More) (Essential Writing Practice With A Spooky Halloween Theme) (9-13 years)
This resource includes five activities:
Read the article ‘Fright Night’ and then write your own spine chilling version to persuade people to visit. Next, write a recount of your visit, using the writing skeleton to help you.
Read the poem ‘Is White Rat Not Convinced?’ Look for rhyming couplets. Have a go at writing your own poem.
Plan your own fancy dress party, using the writing prompts to help you
Write some judges comments for rock band ‘The Graveyard Diggers’ performance on the Z Factor.
Read the newspaper article and then use the template to write your own report, adding some fearsome facts and odious opinions.
An essential series of themed prompts to help children aged 9-12 years to practise their creative writing skills for 11 plus entry exams or S.A.T.S. The packs include an outline to help the child plan his or her own story, article, letter or play script and examples to build on, using harder more challenging vocabulary to stretch more able pupils.