This is that old chestnut “Think of a number” but with a twist, as this time there is no need to subtract the number you first thought of to accurately predict the result. A late bit of fun for end of term whilst still calling on those important addition and multiplication skills! Use as a PowerPoint or simply print the middle slide.

Like the earlier Homophones word spiral puzzles, all of the words used in these ten word-search puzzles are commonly misspelt or confused with other similar-sounding words. There is a printable sheet for the pupils and a solution sheet highlighting the fourteen words in each puzzle for the teacher. To make the words easier to locate on the solution sheet I have highlighted the first letter of each word in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two or more words running in different directions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

This file contains six Adverbs crossword puzzles. The student will be asked to name the adverbs from the clues provided, and then enter these into the matching squares in the numbered grid. There are printable sheets for the student and there is a solutions sheet for the teacher. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

Each file contains three puzzles all related to British Prime Ministers since 1800. In the word-search puzzle the pupil has to find in the grid all the Prime Ministers listed. There is a printable sheet for the pupil and a solution sheet for the teacher – as usual, to make the answers easier to locate I have highlighted the first letter of each name in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two names running in different directions. In the Criss-Cross Puzzles the pupils will be asked to name the Prime Minister who served in the years listed, and then enter this into the matching squares in the numbered grid. Again I have included solution sheets for the teacher. I have since included a PDF version.

I have selected a second batch of puzzles and worksheets which parents may find easier to access if all under the ‘Home Learning’ heading and again I do hope they will find them useful during this period.

This file contains one criss-cross puzzle and one wordsearch, both using characters who appear in Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman”. In the criss-cross puzzle the student will be asked to name the characters from the clues provided, and then enter these into the matching squares in the numbered grid. In the wordsearch puzzle the student has to find in the grid all the characters listed. For both puzzles, there is a printable sheet for the student and a solution sheet for the teacher. As usual, to make the answers easier to locate in the word-search solution, I have highlighted the first letter of each name in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two names running in different directions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

I have put together a batch of my resources which I hope will be useful for parents at this time.

The Times Tables Challenge can be used in school or at home to test Times Tables skill and speed. There are 10 worksheets, each containing 4 identical randomly-placed Times Tables (1-12). The aim is to see how quickly Grid 1 can be completed, with a box to record the time taken, then later the same can be done with Grid 2 and so on to see if speed and accuracy can be improved upon. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

This file contains one crossword and one wordsearch, using characters etc from Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”. In the crossword the student will be asked to name the characters etc from the clues provided, and then enter these into the matching squares in the numbered grid. In the wordsearch puzzle the student has to find in the grid all the characters listed. For both puzzles, there is a printable sheet for the student and a solution sheet for the teacher. As usual, to make the answers easier to locate in the wordsearch solution, I have highlighted the first letter of each name in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two names running in different directions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference

This file contains one criss-cross puzzle and one wordsearch, both using characters who appear in Charles Dickens’ work “A Christmas Carol”. In the criss-cross puzzle the student will be asked to name the characters from the clues provided, and then enter these into the matching squares in the numbered grid. In the wordsearch puzzle the student has to find in the grid all the characters listed. For both puzzles, there is a printable sheet for the student and a solution sheet for the teacher. As usual, to make the answers easier to locate in the wordsearch solution, I have highlighted the first letter of each name in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two names running in different directions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

In the lead-up to Christmas - simply 15 anagrams to solve to reveal 15 well-known Christmas carols.

As we shall soon be approaching the Christmas season I have brought a seasonal theme to my earlier Cross Numbers Puzzle. The puzzle is designed in the same way as a traditional crossword but using numbers instead of words, each clue is a sum, and the result should be entered into the matching squares on the numbered grid. On this occasion the clues are in part taken from the number of gifts in the song “The Twelve Days of Christmas”. The file contains one puzzle, together with the solution, there is also a sheet containing the lyrics of the song. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

These worksheets are each made up of 12 assorted four-digit column additions which have to be completed by calculating and inserting the missing numbers. There are 12 printable sheets together with solutions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

I have used twenty well-known carols for this Christmas activity, given a line from each carol, the pupil must try to identify the carol it has been taken from. There are two versions, in the first there are no extra clues, the second version has been made slightly easier as it includes an alphabetical list of the carols. There is a printable sheet for the pupil and a solution sheet for the teacher. I do hope that someone can make use of this during the run-up to Christmas.

I have used my earlier ‘Commonly Confused Words’ spreadsheets to create Homophones Tests, this time in PowerPoint format, together with PDF versions, whichever is your preference. All of the words used in these ten tests are commonly misspelt or confused with other similar-sounding words. There are two versions, in the first the pupil simply has to choose from the two words alongside each definition. The second version is a little more demanding as the choice needs to be made from a randomly-sorted list of homophones.

There are 20 Word-search puzzles in this file, using word examples from the National Curriculum. As these are intended for younger pupils I have kept it simple by only placing the words straight across or downwards, not diagonally. On each solution page I have highlighted the first letter of each word in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two words running in different directions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

This file contains one criss-cross puzzle and one wordsearch, both using characters who appear in Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet”. In the criss-cross puzzle the student will be asked to name the characters from the clues provided, and then enter these into the matching squares in the numbered grid. In the wordsearch puzzle the student has to find in the grid all the characters listed. For both puzzles, there is a printable sheet for the student and a solution sheet for the teacher. As usual, to make the answers easier to locate in the word-search solution, I have highlighted the first letter of each name in yellow. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.

For fans of Sudoku, here are five puzzles which can be completed directly onto the computer, with answers provided. I have also included a printable version in PDF.

I am sure that everyone has at some time hesitated before writing the words PRACTICE or PRACTISE into a sentence. Here are some tips for students, together with a small exercise to test their understanding of the difference. There are two versions, PowerPoint and PDF, whichever is your preference.

This file contains wordsearches using characters from J K Rowling’s Harry Potter. Each puzzle relates to one of the four houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry and the student has to find in the grid all the characters listed. As usual, to make the answers easier to locate on the solution sheet, I have highlighted the first letter of each name in yellow, or orange when the letter begins two names running in different directions. I have included two versions, one in PDF and the second an Excel file, whichever is your preference.