A teacher and tutor with more than thirty years' experience working in both mainstream and independent schools. I have an Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from UEA and have written a dissertation about encouraging children to write. I am a mother of three and interested in all things green. I am in the process of setting up my TES shop and hope to launch my "Spagbag" resources which are suitable for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.
A teacher and tutor with more than thirty years' experience working in both mainstream and independent schools. I have an Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from UEA and have written a dissertation about encouraging children to write. I am a mother of three and interested in all things green. I am in the process of setting up my TES shop and hope to launch my "Spagbag" resources which are suitable for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.
This worksheet will prove useful for pupils engaged in their own research into seas and oceans and supports many resources available in my shop.
Suitable for all ages.
This resource accompanies a Power Point presentation which can be found in my shop but could also be used without it. It tests pupils' knowledge about the firefly squid and their understanding of bioluminescence including photophore cells. It gives pupils the opportunity to unscramble key words from the text and to go further with their own research about oceans with specific reference to Japan.
This resource would be useful for World Oceans Day but could also be used for any investigation into sea-life and ocean phenomena.
Suitable for ages 10+
This power Point takes extracts from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, removes the punctuation, and asks the audience to rewrite the paragraphs inserting the necessary capital letters and punctuation marks to bring them back to life again.Pupils will need to consider paragraphing, capital letters and question marks. They will need to insert speech marks and apostrophes for contractions. They will need to think about starting a new line when a different character begins speaking. The perfected passages do magically appear and will inspire pupils to read and explore further for themselves. Formal and informal letters are looked at from the hand of J.K.Rowling and pupils are asked to write either a formal or informal letter for themselves. The formal letter explains why Harry Potter is to be expelled from Hogwarts; the informal letter is written by Harry himself explaining to his beloved Snuffles about the terrible week he's been having at Hogwarts.Pupils are given a further task of inviting either Neville, Draco or Hermione to a special event at their own school and are asked to consider why they wish this character in particular to attend.
This resource is intended to support the practice of perfecting punctuation in a fun way and also examine the skills of letter writing. Pupils will be inspired to read more widely from J K Rowling's novels, whilst also revising their writing skills.
Suitable for Potter fans of all ages. This resource will add an extra dimension to revision.
This Power Point resource takes extracts from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and asks pupils to identify deliberate spelling errors in the text. The words are everyday words but the passages will inspire discussion, further reading and creative writing. The correct answers will magically appear. Pupils will need to use their comprehension skills to answer the questions at the end. There is an extended writing exercise where pupils need to decide what they would fix if they had their own roll of Spellotape . There is an exercise to do involving choosing the correct homophone from the brackets to make the sentences correct. There is also a task in which pupils are required to substitute more powerful verbs in order to make the passage more dramatic. Included is a comprehension about ancient broomstick games played around the world which will appeal to those interested in Quidditch.
This resource is one of many to be found in my shop and will appeal to Potter fans. Prior knowledge of the book is not necessary but the aim is to encourage pupils to explore further into this world of magic.
Suitable for ages 8+
This quiz is based on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Two possible answers are provided to each question. If the wrong answer is selected a mysterious forfeit is revealed. If the correct answer is selected then that leaves more precious reading time . Included is an information text about ancient broom-stick games from around the world where pupils are required to compare and contrast the evolution of various hilarious games and will be inspired to invent their own gaming broomstick perhaps.
This resource will complement the reading of J.K.Rowling's book but will also appeal to Potter fans in general. This is ideal to use as a post SATS brain teaser and will encourage further reading at the same time...
Suitable for ages 8+
I have bundled together three resources which will be useful when studying seas, oceans and beaches. Two of the resources take the form of quizzes and the Summertime resource is a description of a walk on the beach where the audience guess the items that have been scavenged on the shore-line.
Suitable for ages 7+
This animated Power Point tests knowledge of the sea shore. Each question has three possible answers. The correct answer is revealed on the shell motif and extra information is revealed below. Extra points can be awarded for lengthier answers such as giving two reasons why crabs have claws.
A score card , feedback and full answers are given at the end.
Suitable for ages 7+
I have bundled together ten resources which investigate some of the wondrous creatures that inhabit the seas and oceans and use bioluminescence to their advantage. I include two quizzes about the properties of water which include inspiring quotes and poetry which will prompt further investigation into and discussion about the natural world. Other resources take inspiration from David Attenborough and focus on the problem of plastic waste within our seas and oceans.
Suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power point contains twenty questions about water and tests scientific and geographical knowledge. All answers are included. A poem is revealed in the form of a riddle about the sea and inspirational quotes are included to get pupils thinking more about conservation.
This quiz could be dropped into any lesson when investigating the properties of water, or more generally seas and oceans.
Suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power Point has twenty questions all to do with water and its properties. The questions test scientific and geographical knowledge. This resource includes a poem about the sea which is told rather like a riddle.
This quiz can be dropped into any lesson concerning water and could be used as a resource for revision or to kick start further investigation and independent research. I include a word document about the problem of plastic waste in our seas and oceans which includes some advice from Greenpeace. Students are invited to contribute ideas of their own to help solve this growing problem and they are encouraged to design a poster outlining the issue.
Suitable for ages 8+
This word document accompanies the PowerPoint presentation on bioluminescence which can be found in my shop. This resource can be used together with the Power Point or as a stand alone activity. Pupils are given detailed information explaining what bioluminescence is and, in particular, how marine creatures such as the firefly squid use it to their advantage. Pupils are asked comprehension questions and invited to explore further by drawing diagrams or , more generally, investigating Japan and engaging in their own independent research.
This resource is suitable for ages 10+ and contains scientific terminology which may require further explanation. Links are given to useful websites.
This Power Point explains what bioluminescence is and explores in particular how the firefly squid exhibits this strange phenomenon. Detailed information is given in a fifteen slide presentation. Pupils are asked questions about the information given and asked to make further investigations, including drawing diagrams to show where the photophore cells might be found on the squid or, more generally, about Japan itself.
This resource will promote discussion and further scientific exploration whilst testing comprehension skills. Included is a worksheet to aid independent research.
Suitable for ages 10+
This Power Point uses a story, poem and graphics to illustrate the similarities between humans and the properties of glass. Pupils are asked to compare the similarities between broken glass and fractured personalities and how we need to be more resilient in our everyday lives. This resource could be used throughout the year but would be particularly appropriate during anti-bullying week.Students discuss phrases such as “don’t bottle it up” and “glass half empty”. Pupils may like to do further research into the breaking of a glass as part of the Jewish wedding ceremony.
This resource is intended to provoke discussion and could be used in tutor time, as an assembly or for times of reflection. Alternatively, It could be used to inspire creative writing.
Suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power Point asks pupils to identify adjectives and nouns, adverbs and abstract nouns. Pupils are given colour synonyms to sort into groups according to blue, green , yellow or red. They are given a poem about the sea to consider and also a poem about a lawn mower. Pupils are required to write their own descriptive passages or poems using techniques such as personification and alliteration.
Pupils are given a variety of scenes to describe such as an erupting volcano, a misty graveyard or a bat-infested cave. Finally, students are required to use literary devices to describe inanimate objects such as a kettle, washing machine, sewing machine, printer or phone.
I also include a resource which allows pupils to demonstrate their knowledge of punctuation by inserting a wide variety into lengthier paragraphs.This leads to an opportunity to write descriptively about a person they admire.
These resources will be useful when revising descriptive techniques and offer students plenty of ideas and opportunities to hone their writing skills.
Suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power Point takes extracts from J.K.Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and removes the punctuation from them. Passages are deliberately chosen to test students’ knowledge of newspaper articles, leaflets, dialogue and informal letters. They are required to write out the words and are given clues how to organise the information. The corrected versions will magically appear. Finally students, inspired by the passages, are required to choose between two options to write about: designing a leaflet about defending your household against the threat of Death Eaters or designing a poster advertising an invisibility cloak for sale. Trivia questions regarding Potter are included along with a quiz to see who can make the most Muggle words out of the letters contained within some of the characters’ names. A further resource about ancient broomstick games is included with comprehension questions and answers.
This resource is intended to be a fun way of revising necessary language skills whilst encouraging wider reading at the same time.
Suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power Point takes extracts from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and the half-blood Prince and asks students to spot deliberate spelling mistakes. The spellings are ordinary words hidden within extraordinary passages. The answers will magically appear. Students are asked to show-case their knowledge of homophones such as witch and which and include as many as they can in a paragraph of their own. They are required to make "Muggle" words out of the letters within some of the characters' names. Finally they have the chance to write their own creative piece involving a hex which glues your tongue to the roof of your mouth, a jinx which makes your toe-nails grow alarmingly quickly or a muffliato spell which causes mayhem by means of the victim experiencing an unidentifiable buzzing sound in their ears. I include another resource about dragon breeds with comprehension questions and answers.
This resource is intended to be used to reinforce spelling, punctuation and grammar in a fun way as well as encouraging wider reading . Suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power Point comprises a fun quiz where the audience choose between three options as to how to help a friend in a tricky situation. A short story follows about Amy who struggles to make friends at school. Comprehension questions are included which ask the students to think about Amy's words and actions and what she could have done differently. Students are asked to think about a time when they have responded well in a challenging situation. Finally the students are required to choose between two options to write about: what qualities do they look for in a friend? Is there a member of staff they admire and who has given them some good advice when trying to solve a problem at school?
This resource could be used all year round but would be particularly useful during anti-bullying week and would and help pupils to consider how we are all different and yet all equal.
Words which have -ie in the spelling are included and pupils are required to put them in sentences to show their meaning.
This resource would be ideal to use if friendship problems are an issue and could be used as a starting point for wider discussion. I include a supporting word document which could be used as a homework task or alongside the Powerpoint.
Suitable for ages 7+
This Power Point is ideal for Mother's Day and will call upon pupils to use their creative skills . A poem about a Mum for every day of the week is presented and pupils have to draw a mum to fit each description. Can you guess which Mum is most like yours? Pupils need to use their knowledge of times tables to complete the multiplication mosaic. If they fill in the co-ordinates properly, they will create a colourful pixelated pot plant. They will need to solve a coded message and a crossword , the answers will form words to do with family matters. Once the crossword is solved they are then required to use the words to create a paragraph of their own about their own family, friends and pets.
This resource is suitable for ages 7+
This animated Power Point is based on extracts taken from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Pupils are asked to re-write passages inserting the necessary punctuation and missing capital letters. The correctly punctuated passages will magically appear, once they have made an attempt to recreate Rowling's work. Two of the passages take the form of letters; one formal and one informal. The other extracts take the form of dialogues so that pupils will need to insert speech marks and question marks and remember to begin a new line when a different character starts to speak.
Students are asked to write their own letters and have the choice whether to select a formal or informal tone for their writing.
Students are required to form as many Muggle words of their own out of the letters contained within some of the principal characters' names.
This resource is intended to be used when revising formal and informal letters as well as when revising punctuation in general. Other Harry Potter themed resources can be found in my shop.
This resource is suitable for ages 10+
This animated Power Point asks pupils to examine extracts taken from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and try to spot deliberate spelling mistakes. Pupils split into houses as if in Hogwarts and answer questions from the extracts. Finally they choose between two writing challenges. One is to invent their own recipe for Butterbeer and write instructions on how to make it. The other is to write a descriptive piece , explaining how to make a spell using Neville's mimbulus mimbletonia, a sinister looking cactus-plant whose stinksap smells of rancid manure.
This resource is intended to be used to encourage further reading, whilst also revising spelling. The extracts chosen will inspire pupils to write their own descriptive pieces.
Other Potter based resources can be found in my shop.
Suitable for ages 10+