This is a 5 lesson Literacy unit all about explorer Christopher Columbus. The plan is aimed at year 2 and gives details of the year 2 curriculum objectives covered. The children develop reading comprehension, writing, editing and SPaG skills during the unit. All five lessons include a SPaG starter which is always linked to Christopher Columbus. The main activity in lesson 1 is a non-fiction reading comprehension, which helps children to learn about Christopher. It is laid out in a SATs style format, containing similar questions to a SATs paper and is differentiated 3 ways. The main activity in lesson 2 is a fictional diary comprehension, written from the point of view of Christopher Columbus before the crew has found the New World. Again it is in a SATs style and is again differentiated 3 ways. Lesson 3 allows children to gather vocabulary using a drama activity and lessons 4 and 5 allow children to write and edit their own diaries as Christopher Columbus. The following documents are included: A detailed 12 page (pdf) document containing 5 lesson plans. Each lesson includes a SPaG starter, introduction, main activity and plenary. A Powerpoint presentation containing the SPaG starter activities. This is non-editable. When you open the PowerPoint click the ‘read only’ button. A set of differentiated non-fiction (pdf) comprehensions on Christopher Columbus. Each level contains 4 pages of text followed by questions. A set of differentiated (pdf) comprehensions containing a fictional diary entry written as Christopher Columbus on his voyage. Each level contains 4 pages of text followed by questions. (The comprehensions are also available separately from my shop. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks1-sats-comprehension-christopher-columbus-history-11530886 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/year-2-comprehension-fictional-diary-christopher-columbus-11643238)

This resource is a reading comprehension activity covering the part of the Christmas story when the Wise Men visit Jesus. I have adapted the bible story to create a descriptive passage for Grade 5 or 6. It is split into three differentiated levels. Higher Ability There is a reading booklet of 3 pages (1132 words), followed by 4 pages of questions (14 questions). The passage is very descriptive and includes some advanced vocabulary. The questions are varied and include finding the meaning of words and phrases, drawing inferences, describing characters, ordering the story, true or false questions and multiple choice tick questions. Middle Ability There is a reading booklet of 3 pages (965 words) followed by 4 pages of questions (14 questions). This passage is slightly shorter and simpler than the higher ability passage. The questions are varied and include finding the meaning of words and phrases, drawing inferences, describing characters, ordering the story, true or false questions and multiple choice tick questions. Lower Ability There is a reading booklet of 3 pages (837 words) followed by 4 pages of questions (12 questions.) This is the shortest, simplest passage, while still challenging the kids. The questions are varied and include finding the meaning of words and phrases, drawing inferences, describing characters, true or false questions and multiple choice tick questions. There is also a set of answers for each level. Standards Covered by this Resource: Grade 5 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.1 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.2 (summarize the text) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3 (Higher Ability) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.4 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.5 (ordering the story question) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.10 (Higher Ability) CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.5.4 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.4 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.5.5 (synonyms) Grade 6 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.4

This resource is a non-fiction comprehension activity for year 2 on Rosa Parks. It is based on the KS1 SATs reading paper and includes 3 differentiated levels with answers. Rosa Parks is listed as a significant individual in the Key Stage 1 History curriculum. Please note no photos of Rosa are included, owing to copyright restrictions. There are a range of ‘what’ and ‘when’ and ‘where’ questions, some multiple choice tick questions and some that require more detailed answers. The activity is also laid out in a similar way to the SATs booklets, with four pages of pictures and short written extracts to read and 2-3 questions per page.

These Year 2 Remembrance Day comprehension activities are split into 3 differentiated levels. Each level contains 3 comprehensions with answers. They are: What is Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday? Why do we wear poppies? ‘The First Remembrance Day’ - A fictional original tale following two children during the two minute silence in November 1919. The higher level (Super Super Challenge) is based on the KS1 SATs reading paper and is a similar length to a SATs paper. The middle level (Super Challenge) is similar to the higher level but contains texts that are slightly shorter and a few easier questions. The lower level (Challenge) contains texts that are much shorter and different easier questions. There are a range of ‘what,’ ‘where,’ and ‘who’ questions, some multiple choice tick questions and some that require more detailed answers. No further preparation required. You might also be interested in: Year 1 Comprehensions : Remembrance Day

This is a set of 6 PowerPoint presentations. Each PowerPoint includes all the Phase 5 high frequency words. There is one word on each slide and the words are in a different order on each PowerPoint. Each PowerPoint has images with a different theme that is unconnected to the words. There are 6 themes - birds, minibeasts, seasons, pirates, dinosaurs and transport. Get your class to call out together or choose targeted children to decode the words. Use throughout the year - fit in during gaps or use during a phonics lesson.

This is a set of 6 PowerPoint presentations. Each PowerPoint includes all the Phase 4 high frequency words. There is one word on each slide and the words are in a different order on each PowerPoint. Each PowerPoint has images with a different theme that is unconnected to the words. There are 6 themes - birds, minibeasts, seasons, pirates, dinosaurs and transport. Get your class to call out together or choose targeted children to decode the words. Use throughout the year - fit in during gaps or use during a phonics lesson.

This is a set of 6 PowerPoint presentations. Each PowerPoint includes all the Phase 3 high frequency words. There is one word on each slide and the words are in a different order on each PowerPoint. Each PowerPoint has images with a different theme that is unconnected to the words. There are 6 themes - birds, minibeasts, seasons, pirates, dinosaurs and transport. Get your class to call out together or choose targeted children to decode the words. Use throughout the year - fit in during gaps or use during a phonics lesson.

This is a set of 6 PowerPoint presentations. Each PowerPoint includes all the Phase 2 high frequency words. There is one word on each slide and the words are in a different order on each PowerPoint. Each PowerPoint has images with a different theme that is unconnected to the words. There are 6 themes - birds, minibeasts, seasons, pirates, dinosaurs and transport. Get your class to call out together or choose targeted children to decode the words. Use throughout the year - fit in during gaps or use during a phonics lesson.

This resource contains a comprehension pack on ‘Remembrance Day.’ There are four different comprehensions: What is Remembrance Day? The First Remembrance Day Why do we wear poppies? The History of the Poppy It includes answers and is suitable for using with year 1. Each comprehension contains a short piece of text (about 5 sentences) with words that can be sounded out. There are three trickier words which have pictures to help children work out what they say. The text is followed by 5 simple questions. There is also a powerpoint included in the pack containing a slide for each text so that you can go through the comprehensions before the children complete them. Each slide also contains 3 words that are trickier to sound out, with sound buttons underneath them. You might be interested in: Year 2 Comprehensions - Remembrance Day

A set of 20 alien-themed PowerPoints to help your class revise the phonemes for each of phases 2 to 5. Each PowerPoint contains 1 sound and 1 picture per slide. Simply click to reveal each sound. There are 5 PowerPoints for each phase. All the sounds are in a random order on each PowerPoint, to ensure children don’t simply learn the order. A perfect daily filler or starter which can be used instead of flashcards to ensure every child can properly see the graphemes.

A set of 10 PowerPoints to help your class practise all phonemes on a daily basis. Each of the 10 PowerPoints contain every phoneme from phases 2 to 5, with one phoneme per slide. The phonemes are shown in a random order on each PowerPoint. Get the whole class to call out or choose certain children for targeted sounds. Perfect for using instead of flashcards, as it ensures the whole class can definitely see the graphemes. This set of PowerPoints uses an alien theme. Look out for other themes coming soon to Blossoming Minds’ shop.

This is Blossoming Minds’ second set of 10 PowerPoints to help prepare your class for the Phonics Screening Check. Each PowerPoint includes 40 words, one on each slide. 20 words are pretend or ‘alien’ words and 20 are real words. They are organised in the same way as the screening check, starting with four simple phase 2 words, before moving on to phase 3, 4 and 5 and concluding with more complex words. Get your class to call out together or choose targeted children to decode the words. Use throughout the year - fit in during 5 minute gaps or use during a phonics lesson to make sure your entire class are prepared for the screening check!

An interactive PowerPoint to help your class revise the first half of phase 3 phonics. The PowerPoint consists of 20 activities that focus on the skill of reading. They could be used as fillers for a whole month, or as part of a phonics lesson. Example activities include: speed reading finding the odd one out, finding as many ‘ch’ words as possible before the timer finishes… …and many more! I have created the PowerPoint to use with my year 1 class throughout the month of September as a revision activity, so some of the activities have an autumn/back to school theme. However, you can easily use them at any point in the year. 14 phase 3 sounds are covered, up to the ‘ee’ sound. This is the first in Blossoming Minds’ new series of phonics filler activities! Follow us to see when we add more.

This resource is a comprehension booklet aimed at Lower Key Stage 2 (7-9 yrs). It is based around an entertaining, rhyming poem called ‘Around the World this Summer’ and would be perfect to use before or after the summer holidays as a springboard to children discussing their own holidays or writing their own poetry. There are three differentiated booklets. The higher booklet has two pages of text for the children to read before they complete a range of questions based on a mixture of the KS1 and KS2 SATs. The middle and lower ability booklets have the text split into separate pages with questions on each page. PDF file format.