TASK: Discuss the phrase ‘Home is home, and home is best’ with your classmates. What do you think it means? What does the word ‘home’ mean to you? Imagine you meet someone who doesn’t know the word ‘home’. Draw and describe your idea of ‘home’. CURRICULUM LINKS: (KS1) Understand both the books that they can already read accurately and fluently and those that they listen to by: drawing on what they already know or on background information and vocabulary provided by the teacher answering and asking questions CURRICULUM LINKS: (KS2) Understand what they read, in books they can read independently, by: checking that the text makes sense to them, discussing their understanding and explaining the meaning of words in context asking questions to improve their understanding

Help Bad Nana finish her shopping by drawing what’s in her trolley! Bad Nana is a KS1-aligned, highly illustrated series for young readers. Bad Nana: Older Not Wiser is available now.

Test your knowledge of the story. See how many quiz questions you can answer correctly. Use the book to help you find the answers.

Show and Tell is the fantastically funny new picture book from award-winning and bestselling creative star Rob Biddulph! School has never been so fun! Grow a sunflower, make a volcano, or open a cosmic museum - or many other things besides! This KS1 Teaching Resource pack is jammed with creative and fun activities that will engage all of Biddulph’s readers.

TASK: The journey along the yellow brick road has been full of dangers, for example, in Chapter Eight the raging river and the sleepy poppies. Make a warning poster for one or more of the dangers along the yellow brick road. CURRICULUM LINKS: (KS1) Understand both the books that they can already read accurately and fluently and those that they listen to by: drawing on what they already know or on background information and vocabulary provided by the teacher explain and discuss their understanding of books, poems and material, both those that they listen to and those that they read independently for themselves CURRICULUM LINKS: (KS2) Understand what they read, in books they can read independently, by: summarising the main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas identifying how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning

How many real silly words can you think of for each word type? Compete with your friends to see who can think of the silliest word. (Remember: “Morris, we’re not allowing rude words!”)

Sam made his skateboat using: • Six large planks of wood. • A hammer and some nails. • Six coils of rope. • A roll of gaffer tape. • Two brooms. • Four skateboards. What every day materials can you use to make a boat-raft for the guinea pigs sailing off the coast of Peru towards the UK? Label all the parts you have used, explain what they do and give your boat-raft a name.

Come join one busy dog on her journey to find her place in the world in Odd Dog Out, the third sublimely illustrated book from the bestselling, award-winning Rob Biddulph. Can you find the sausage among the dogs?

TASK: Create your own ‘brainy’ quiz by writing questions to match the answers on the card. CURRICULUM LINKS: (KS1) Understand both the books that they can already read accurately and fluently and those that they listen to by: drawing on what they already know or on background information and vocabulary provided by the teacher answering and asking questions CURRICULUM LINKS: (KS2) Understand what they read, in books they can read independently, by: checking that the text makes sense to them, discussing their understanding and explaining the meaning of words in context asking questions to improve their understanding

The Grotlyn by Benji Davies - a beautifully illustrated rhyming tale about things that go bump in the night. Perfect for readers 4 and up. The Grotlyn was very busy sneaking about the streets. In this word search are fifteen words that describe things the Grotlyn did or was doing. Can you find them all?

Midnight is the time when all children are fast asleep, except of course for… the Midnight Gang. That is when their adventures are just beginning… Who will you share the midnight magic with? Draw your friends!

Try to imagine Sam’s birthdays from Ruby’s perspective. Write Ruby’s diary entry for one day of Sam’s birthday year – you can pick one of the birthdays described in the book, or make up one of your own.

Challenge your friends to come up with the funniest captions for Spock. Begin your captions with the words – “Spock looked at Sam with a strong sense of…”

The activities in Exploring Character can be used to meet the NC requirements in KS2 English to develop an understanding and appreciation of literary texts, including modern fiction by significant children’s authors. And in particular it can help children to: * recognise the choice, use and effect of figurative language, vocabulary and the effects of language * identify how character is created * respond imaginatively, drawing on the whole text.

Making deductions, reading between the lines, about the main characters. As you read the novel try to add more details to the two columns on Scarlet and the two columns about Ivy.

Task: Can you explain what the words highlighted in this extract mean? Did you know that reading The 1,000-year-old Boy will help you to improve your knowledge of, and ability to use, new and interesting vocabulary? Challenge yourself to find out what all of the words on the next pages mean.

Task: Create a leaflet to promote The Saxon Experience that would appeal to children like Aidan, Alfie and Roxy. Think about what might make the visit more fun and engaging for them. Use information from the story as well as your imagination. You may also like to research similar places to get ideas.

Task: Imagine you are Kezia. Write a letter to your maman and papa after they were taken away. You could write as if they have only just been taken or you could write at the point that they have been gone for a while and life has carried on at the farm. Use information from the story and your own imagination. • What are you writing to say? • What might you ask? • How might things have been different? • How much detail will you include in explaining your feelings?

Make your own glasses to look just like Bad Nana! Bad Nana is a KS1-aligned, highly illustrated series for young readers. Bad Nana: Older Not Wiser is available now.

A pack of eleven resource sheets for Key Stage 2 classes related to The Sand Dog by Sarah Lean - author of A Dog Called Homeless. English curriculum links covered include: Maintain positive attitudes to reading - increasing familiarity with wide range of books Understand what they read - drawing inferences such as character’s feelings, thoughts, motives and justifying with evidence Understand what they read - identify how language, structure and presentation contribute to meaning Understand what they read - checking the text makes sense to them, asking questions to improve understanding Understand what they read - summarize the main ideas and identify key details to support them Cross-curricular links included: Geography