A fifteen-lesson writing unit, leading students towards writing their own information text about two rainforest creatures. This unit of writing is ideal for students who have already studied the rainforest or to be taught alongside a rainforest topic (try ours here!). Students spend time at the start of the unit reading sample information texts to understand their purpose and structure. They then research two rainforest creatures to write their own texts about, they can use the rainforest fact files provided and we strongly advise also using textbooks or the internet to support their research. The first ten lessons explore the text type and sentence level work. The final five lessons allow time to write the information text. The unit uses three differentiated example text types about giant anteaters and red-eyed tree frogs to support students’ understanding. Where appropriate, each lesson is differentiated and carefully planned to suit different students’ needs. Answers (or example answers) are provided, where appropriate. Lesson order: • Hook lesson: read through the sample information texts with parts missing, students can try to work out what the texts are about and gain an understanding of the purpose of information texts. • Identify key features, students use the sample texts to understand and identify the key features in information texts. • Sorting information, students begin researching their rainforest creatures using the rainforest fact files provided and class books/the internet. Students complete a mind map to sort the information they find. • Answering questions in more detail, students use a chatterbox to answer questions about their creatures in more detail. • Using present tense, students will learn how information texts use present tense and practise writing in the present tense. • Using third person pronouns, students will learn how information texts use third person pronouns and practise using them to avoid repeating nouns. • Comparing and contrasting the two rainforest creatures using conjunctions and adverbials. • Writing a glossary for the information texts. • Exploring how rhetorical questions are used in information texts and practise writing them, • Introducing headings and sub-headings, students will use these to plan their information texts in preparation for writing. • Writing the introduction, looking at examples and creating a shared write as a class. • Writing the second and third paragraphs, more detail about the rainforest creatures. • Writing the conclusion. • Students can practise editing using our ‘information text to edit’ before editing their own work. • Publishing texts. Looking for more? Try our newspaper writing units, available for Years 3&4 and Years 5&6. Or our Year 3&4 explanation text.

A fifteen lesson writing unit, leading students towards writing their own newspaper article based on a fictional event: people have lost their shadows This would make a great unit to be taught alongside a Science unit on light and shadows, or as a way to revisit Scientific knowledge. The lessons beginning with exploring the text type, followed by sentence level work and ending with writing their newspaper report. The unit uses differentiated example text types throughout to support students understanding. Where appropriate, each lesson is differentiated and carefully planned to suit different students needs. Lesson order: Hook lesson: introducing the newspaper story, people have lost their shadows. Students take part in a fun treasure hunt activity to piece together the story. Identifying and sorting features of a newspaper report, using differentiated example texts. Sorting facts and opinions, understanding their use in a newspaper report. Writing headlines. Writing captions, including using prepositions. Generating appropriate vocabulary for our newspaper report. Generating fronted adverbials to be used in our newspaper report. Understanding and using conjunctions, this fun activity involves students rolling a dice to see which conjunction makes sense in a sentence and which fits best. Writing in the past tense. Writing quotes, punctuating direct speech for quotes in a newspaper report. This lesson also includes a hot seating activity for the whole class to engage in. Writing the report: writing the introduction. Writing the report: writing the main body. Writing the report: writing the conclusion. Writing the report: editing. Writing the report: publishing.

Ideal for use in Lower Key Stage Two, builds on the work done in Year Two on subordinating conjunctions. Subordinating conjunction activity sheets with three levels of differentiation including a range of activities to help children recognise and understand the meaning of different subordinating conjunctions. Answers included. Subordinating conjunction passages, short paragraphs with three levels of differentiation where children need to identify the subordinating conjunctions used. Ideal as a short activity or a grammar session. Answers included. Coordinating conjunction activity sheets with three levels of differentiation including a range of activities to help children recognise and use different coordinating conjunctions. Answers included. Coordinating conjunction passages, short paragraphs with three levels of differentiation where children need to identify the coordinating conjunctions used. Ideal as a short activity or a grammar session. Answers included. Conjunction talk cards. A range of questions including identifying the missing conjunction in a sentence, discussing the effectiveness of a conjunction and explaining how different conjunctions can change the meaning of a sentence. Answers included. Conjunction display cards. National Curriculum Links – Years 3 and 4 Pupils should be taught to extend the range of sentences with more than one clause by using a wider range of conjunctions, including when, if, because, although. Use conjunctions to express time and cause. Assessing the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing and suggesting improvements. Differentiation Subordinating conjunctions: when, because, if, that, however, although. Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or. Subordinating conjunctions: when, because, if, that, however, although, as, until, before, while, even though. Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, so, yet. Subordinating conjunctions: when, because, if, that, however, although, as, until, before, while, even though, since, provided that, unless. Coordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, so, yet, for, nor.

A bundle of activities that are ideal in Upper Key Stage Two to help you teach pupils how to use colons. Colon activity sheets with three levels of differentiation that have a range of activities allowing children to use colons correctly and correct sentences that haven’t used colons correctly. Answers included. Colon talk cards, a range of questions including questions about how colons can be used and identifying where they can be used in a sentence. Perfect for use in pairs or small groups to consolidate what children know about how to use colons. Colon passages. Short paragraphs with three levels of differentiation where children need to identify where the colons need to go. Ideal as a short activity or as part of a grammar session. Answers included. National Curriculum Year 6 statutory content to be introduced – Use of the semi-colon, colon and dash to mark the boundary between independent clauses [for example, It’s raining; I’m fed up]. Use of the colon to introduce a list and use of semi-colons within lists. Years 5 and 6 – Pupils should be taught to indicate grammatical and other features by using semi-colons, colons or dashes to mark boundaries between independent clauses. Pupils should be taught to indicate grammatical and other features by using using a colon to introduce a list. Differentiation Using colons to introduce lists. Using colons to introduce lists and single words. Using colons to introduce lists, single words, speech and to separate independent clauses.

Ideal for use in Y4 when this objective is introduced, covering common verbs and verb forms that are used incorrectly. ‘Standard verb form’ activity sheets with three levels of differentiation including a range of activities to help children identify when a particular verb or verb form should be used in Standard English. ‘Standard verb form’ talk cards. A selection of questions cards for children to identify whether or not a sentence is written in Standard English or not. Ideal for use pairs or small groups National Curriculum Links – Years 3 and 4 Terminology to be introduced in Year 4 – Standard English forms for verb inflections instead of local spoken forms. Was/were and did/done Including the words above and was/were and did/done including for plural verbs. Brought/bought, didn’t/don’t, goes/go. Including the words above and borrowed/lent, have/of and learnt/taught.

Semi-colon activity sheets with three levels of differentiation that have a range of activities allowing children to use semi-colons correctly, inset them in the correct place and mark sentences that have tried to use them. Answers included. Semi-colon talk cards, a range of questions including questions about how semi-colons can be used and identifying where they can be used in a sentence. Perfect for use in pairs or small groups to consolidate what children know about using semi-colons. Semi-colon passages. Short paragraphs with three levels of differentiation where children need to identify where the semi-colons need to go. Ideal as a short activity or as part of a grammar session. Answers included. National Curriculum Year 6 statutory content to be introduced – Use of the semi-colon, colon and dash to mark the boundary between independent clauses [for example, It’s raining; I’m fed up]. Use of the colon to introduce a list and use of semi-colons within lists. Years 5 and 6 – Pupils should be taught to indicate grammatical and other features by using semi-colons, colons or dashes to mark boundaries between independent clauses. Differentiation Separating detailed items in a list and using semi-colons to replace conjunctions. Separating detailed items in a list, using semi-colons to replace conjunctions and to separate related clauses. Separating detailed items in a list, using semi-colons to replace conjunctions and to separate related clauses in multi-clause sentences.

A bundle of activities to teach relative clauses in Year 5 and 6. ‘Relative clauses’ activity sheets with three levels of differentiation. Includes a range of activities to allow children to identify relative clauses, write their own and think about the purpose within their own writing. Answers included. ‘Relative clauses’ passages. Short paragraphs with three levels of differentiation where children need to identify the relative clauses used. Ideal as a short activity or as part of a grammar session. Answers included. ‘Relative clauses’ game cards. A range of questions for children to ask each other as part of paired or group work. Relative pronouns display cards. National Curriculum Links Year 5 statutory content to be introduced – Relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that, or an omitted relative pronoun. Years 5 and 6 – Pupils should be taught to develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English Appendix 2 by using relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that or with an implied (i.e. omitted) relative pronoun Differentiation Relative clauses beginning with who and which, at the end of sentences. Relative clauses beginning with who, which, that, where, when and whose. Embedded clauses and at the end of sentences. Relative clauses beginning with who, which, that, where, when and whose. Implied relative pronouns. Embedded clauses and at the end of sentences, as part of multi-clause sentences.

Fourteen weeks of morning task activities, four activities per week. These morning activities are perfect for the start of the day, after break or lunch. We know how these times of the school day can be tricky and there is a lot going on, each day’s activity focuses on one objective with a challenge for any students who need it. They are designed to review curriculum knowledge that students have already learnt about, so are a perfect way to warm up for the day. These activities are prepared for the first term of Year 3 but can be used whenever, keep an eye out for morning tasks for the rest of the year. Objectives cover: Adding 10 and 100 Times tables Mental addition and subtraction Spelling, including common exception words Word classes Number sequences Ordering and comparing numbers and more! PPT and worksheets. Answers/examples provided where appropriate. Try the first week’s morning activities for free.

Fourteen weeks of morning task activities, four activities per week. These morning activities are perfect for the start of the day, after break or lunch. We know how these times of the school day can be tricky and there is a lot going on, each day’s activity focuses on one objective with a challenge for any students who need it. They are designed to review curriculum knowledge that students have already learnt about, so are a perfect way to warm up for the day. These activities are prepared for the first term of Year 4 but can be used whenever, keep an eye out for morning tasks for the rest of the year or buy our Autumn and Spring bundle here. Objectives cover: Times tables Writing numbers in words and digits Roman numerals Addition and subtraction Adjectives, nouns, verbs and adverbs Spelling Writing instructions, play scripts and cartoon strips Editing writing Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. Try the first week’s morning activities for free.

Eleven weeks of morning task activities, four activities per week. These morning activities are perfect for the start of the day, after break or lunch. We know how these times of the school day can be tricky and there’s a lot going on, each day’s activity focuses on one objective with a challenge for any students who need it. They are designed to review curriculum knowledge that students have already learnt about, so are a perfect way to warm up for the day. These activities are prepared for the second term of Year 4 but can be used whenever, keep an eye out for morning tasks for the rest of the year or buy our Autumn and Spring Bundle here. Objectives and activities include: Multiplication and division facts Multiplying and dividing by 10 and 100 Multiplying 2 and 3 digit numbers by 1 digit Perimeter Recognising fractions and their equivalents Writing decimals Sequences and patterns Adjectives, nouns, verbs and adverbs Spelling Following instructions to create an image Speech Writing stories and letters Reading comprehensions Try the first week of Autumn morning activities for free here.

Ideal for use in Year 4 when fronted adverbials are first introduced or for consolidation in later years. Fronted adverbials activity sheet with 3 levels of differentiation including a range of activities to allow children to identify and use a range of fronted adverbials. Answers included. Fronted adverbials passages, short paragraphs with three levels of differentiation where children need to identify the fronted adverbials. Ideal as a short activity or a grammar session. Answers included. ‘Punctuating fronted adverbials with a comma’ activity sheet. A range of activities to encourage and remind children how to punctuate fronted adverbials with a comma. Answers included. ‘Punctuating fronted adverbials with a comma’ passage, a paragraph where children need to add the commas to the fronted adverbials they find. Answers included. ‘Fronted adverbials’ story. A short story about Ursula the Unicorn that children need to improve by adding fronted adverbials. National Curriculum Links – Years 3 and 4 Terminology to be introduced in Year 4: fronted adverbial. Years 3 and 4: Pupils should be taught to develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English Appendix 2 by using fronted adverbials. Differentiation Fronted adverbials to show time and ‘ly’ adverbials to show how. Above + fronted adverbials to show time, place and how. Above + fronted adverbials to show how often and possibility.

Ideal for use in Year 3 when using ‘a’ or ‘an’ is introduced or consolidation in later years. PPT with the rules for adding ‘a’ and ‘an’ including the common exceptions to the rule and a quickfire **quiz**. Activity sheets with three levels of differentiation to allow children to identify when ‘a’ or ‘an’ needs to be used across a variety of words. National Curriculum Links Use of the forms a or an according to whether the next word begins with a consonant or a vowel Differentiation Using ‘a’ and ‘an’ before a range of words, no exceptions to the rule. Using ‘a’ and ‘an’ before a range of more increasingly difficult words, no exceptions to the rule. Applying their knowledge to sentences. Using ‘a’ and ‘an’ before a range of words including exceptions to the rule. Applying their knowledge to sentences and paragraphs.

Ideal for use in Year 4 when the possessive apostrophes objective is first introduced or in later years for consolidation. ‘Plural possessive apostrophes’ PPT. A guide to how to use apostrophes for plural nouns with a **quiz** to allow for practise in class. ‘Possessive apostrophes’ activity sheets with three levels of differentiation including a range of activities to allow children to practise using and adding apostrophes. National Curriculum Links Year 4 statutory content to be introduced – Apostrophes to mark plural possession Differentiation Adding apostrophes to singular nouns to consolidate previous learning. Adding apostrophes to plural nouns that end in an ‘s’. Adding apostrophes to plural nouns that end in an ‘s’ and those that don’t e.g. children.

A fifteen-lesson writing unit, leading students towards writing their own explanation text based on a fictional product: a watering robot! Students spend time at the start of the unit designing their own plant watering robot/machine (there is also an option to write about the ladybird robot in the example texts provided). This allows them to focus on how to write an explanation text, without becoming bogged down in exactly how a specific product works, they can tell us! This would make a great unit to be taught alongside a Science unit on plants or living things and their habitats, or as a way to revisit Scientific knowledge. This unit begins with ten lessons exploring the text type and sentence level work. The final five lessons allow them to write their explanation text. The unit uses three differentiated example text types about a ladybird-shaped plant watering robot to supports students’ understanding. Where appropriate, each lesson is differentiated and carefully planned to suit different students’ needs. Lesson order: • Hook lesson: introducing the ladybird robot and its purpose. Students design their own watering robot/machine. • Questions, students answer questions in more detail about their watering robot/machine to have enough detail for their explanation text. • Creating diagrams with technical language, students draw and label diagrams of their robots/machines using technical language. • Identify features of explanation texts, students explore the key features of explanation texts and find examples in the texts provided. • Writing appropriate noun phrases, students will explore appropriate description for an explanation text and practise writing descriptions of their robot/machine. • Using prepositions to clearly describe different parts of the robot. • Writing with fronted adverbials, focussing on fronted adverbials to express time and cause. • Writing with conjunctions, students will use a range of subordinating and coordinating conjunctions to add information or to explain. • Understand and using bullet points, students will explore how they are used and practise writing a list or adding extra information with bullet points. • Introducing headings and sub-headings, students will use these to plan their explanation texts in preparation for writing. • Writing the introduction and second paragraph (explaining what the machine does in more detail), looking at examples and creating a shared write as a class. • Writing the third paragraph (explaining how the machine works). • Writing the conclusion. • Students can practise editing using our ‘explanation text to edit’ before editing their own work. • Publishing texts, including adding detailed diagrams.

A detailed and engaging fifteen-lesson writing unit, guiding learners towards writing a persuasive letter, convincing their headteacher to change the school week to four days. Throughout the unit, students read and refer to differentiated example texts to support their learning and understanding of what a persuasive letter is. The first ten lessons explore the text type and sentence level work. The final five lessons allow time to write the persuasive letter, one step at a time. Where appropriate, each lesson is differentiated and carefully planned to suit different students’ needs. Answers (or example answers) are provided, where appropriate. Lesson order: • Hook lesson: students will be given the chance to practise persuading each other to do simple tasks to understand what persuasion is. They will then read the example text, ending the lesson by exploring pros and cons for the idea of a four-day school week. • Identifying the key features of a persuasive letter, sorting and highlighting the features. • Speaking and listening lesson on exaggerating, students will explore what it means to exaggerate, and the language features used. Then practise exaggerating different reasons for having a four-day school week in pairs or groups. • Power of three, students learn what the power of three is, how it is used in the example texts and practise using it. • Talking directly to the reader using first and second person pronouns, students learn what first and second person pronouns are using a snap game. The independent activities include finding pronouns in the example texts, creating a word mat and re-writing sentences using incorrect pronouns. • Writing opinions as facts. Students learn the effect of writing opinions as facts to be persuasive and have the chance to practise writing some. • Fact finding lesson to create simple statistics, students create questions and poll class/staff members to create their own simple statistics for their letters. • Conjunctions to extend ideas, students explore how different conjunctions are used before the main activity, a matching card game where students need to match two parts of a sentence with a conjunction. • Understanding what rhetorical questions are and how they are used in persuasive letters, students either fill in the blank on an example text with rhetorical questions or create a word mat for rhetorical questions. • Planning our persuasive letter. • Writing the introduction and first paragraph, looking at examples and exploring the language used. • Writing the third paragraph, shared write to support students writing. • Writing the conclusion. • Students can practise editing using our ‘persuasive letter to edit’ before editing their own work. • Publishing texts.

An engaging fifteen lesson writing unit, leading students towards writing their own newspaper article based on a fictional event: a school has lost its gravity! This would make a great unit to be taught alongside a Science unit on forces, or as a way to revisit Scientific knowledge. The first ten lessons explore text type, followed by sentence and word level work. The unit uses differentiated example text types throughout to support students understanding. Lesson Order Hook lesson: a school has lost its gravity! Analysing newspaper articles. Formal vocabulary used in newspapers. Relative clauses used in newspapers. Parenthesis used in newspapers. Rhetorical questions to start and link paragraphs. Technical language (explaining gravity). Appropriate descriptive language used in newspapers. Writing a conclusion, focussing on how the structure is different to other parts of the report. Writing the report: writing the introduction. Writing the report: writing paragraphs 2 and 3. Writing the report: writing paragraph 4 and conclusion. Writing the report: editing, with a report for students to practise editing. Writing the report: publishing.

A fun bundle of activities aimed at Years 3 and 4 to keep students busy and focussed. It includes: Spelling anagrams - rearranging Years 3 and 4 common exception words. Silly story writing - completing a story with different word classes. Four operations colouring picture. 6, 7 and 12 x tables race game (the full collection of 1 - 12 tables race games is available here). Drawing challenge - students must follow the instructions to see what they create. End of year reflection. Answers.