A structured comprehension on 'The Sea' by James Reeve and a word mat to prompt discussion of any poem. Suitable for upper KS2 and KS3. For differentiation, you can select which questions children complete, or for group discussion you can use the poetry word mat. The session started by discussing the poem and finding examples of poetic techniques, such as rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia, assonance and sibilant sounds. We discussed the change in the three verses. For extension, pupils could either write a river metaphor (see river metaphor poem ), or alternatively find points of comparison between the river and a different things (see worksheet).

Pupils are given the opening of Secret Garden and a grid giving clues to techniques used to show character. An example of the grid is below: Point - We find out about Mary Lennox’s character from what the narrator tells us directly about her. Evidence – I know this because it says… Explanation – This shows that… Working with the word document, pupils have to copy quotations from the text that prove the character points listed and paste them into the grid table. Next they fill in the table by explaining how their quotation proves the point. There are three sheets, differentiated for different abilities, requiring children who need more support to just fill in the section explaining how their quotation proves their point. There is a worksheet to show pupils how to work out clues to a character and an explanation of PEE (point, evidence, explain) the task can also be done on paper without a computer using the text. I asked the children to use three colours for the point, evidence, explanation.

An easy simile poem idea that can deliver some surprisingly creative ideas There's an example, ideas sheet and scaffold. I found an example of a 'If my Thoughts Took Shape' poem years ago and recently made the scaffold and ideas sheet to structure and support pupils.

Worksheet to find the point of comparison

This delivers great short story writing results for upper KS2, because this photo story includes a scaffold frame to support weaker writers to get good story writing results. It also includes a popular visual stimulus and a story start. It also includes a vocabulary building sheet to develop the vocabulary of the most able. I started the task by watching Steve Backshall's Shark Bites - very short CBBC programmes on sharks, including the Great White. Next, I read the extract from Anthony Horowitz's Skeleton Key where Alex Rider came in contact with a shark and discussed how the writer uses description of the character's feelings as well as description of the shark to build suspense. The worksheet of vocabulary can be used to model an effective noun phrase and sentence to describe the shark as a speaking and listening, or guided writing task. The story starts with a diver swimming next to a tiger shark and everything is calm. Next, he notices the shadow of a great white approaching. The pupils need to finish this story start. I suggested that the story ends with the diver getting away from the shark. The children that need more support could work with the scaffold frame for guided story writing to structure their work and show how feelings and description are required to build suspense. We also listened to 'Jaws' music from John Williams.

This activity is inspired by Dru’s spy vehicle in Despicable Me 3. There is an example of an explanation text written about Dru’s vehicle to show to class and to discuss features of an explanatory text. Children draw and write an explanation of how their minion vehicle works supported by an ideas bank, scaffold frame and teaching notes. There is a list of ultimate spy vehicle features for discussion and teaching notes and scaffold frame to ensure you get good explanation text writing results. There are examples of a Year 4s work to give an idea of the end product. There is also an optional extension task included.

There is a list of ultimate spy vehicle features for discussion. There are teaching notes and a scaffold frame to ensure you get good explanation text writing results. There is also an Alex Rider jet pack task, if required.

Pupils write explanatory texts that they enjoy and which allow for their creativity. There is a list of ultimate spy vehicle features for discussion and ideas. There are teaching notes and scaffold frame to ensure you get good explanation text writing results. There are examples of a spy vehicle explanation text written by a Year 6 to give an idea of the end product. There is also an optional extension task included.

List of hairdresser titles to demonstrate word play.

Explanatory texts - Non fiction learning mat with connectives to help pupils to write explanations.