This richly illustrated creative writing sheet will engage your Reception and Year 1 emergent writers, triggering ideas about what could be under the sea, and encouraging adventurous descriptive language. See differentiated versions too - same price. See my inspiring videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 reading of published poem - ‘Treasure Chest Mystery’ - https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMarEm9uVBDEGPTykSlkAfT6jdVArKlPen6X5lk1le7dqUc89gEztNjSO7V6qsxUQ?key=X0hIWmdaV1M0Q2lHYURKbDdIVFFPMTVBTWRUdkhn Warm your class to the subject first, building ideas of what could be under the sea, and words for describing those items, including fish - the only given item here. Fish might be various colours and patterns (stripy, spotty), fast or slow, darting, dashing or twitching, scaly, shiny, twinkly, shimmering, or even quiet, peaceful, friendly or gentle.

This home-made creative writing frame is in the form of a snake, in a jungle setting. The starter phrase, ‘This snake is’, invites describing words on the line through the snake. The task could be presented as poetry-writing or just as a description. WARM-UP - Motivate and inform your group first through other snake- and jungle-themed activities, such as pretending to be making your way through a jungle, encountering creatures, fallen trees, swamps and other hazards, and discussing pictures of snakes. WORD IDEAS - Elicit words that could be used in this writing activity, such as ‘long’, ‘twisty’, ‘scaly’, ‘fast’, ‘dry’, ‘slimy’, ‘twirly’, ‘poisonous’, ‘shy’, ‘hungry’, ‘loopy’, ‘curly’ and ‘hissing’. SEE ALSO - Harder version **- https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/snake-picture-poem-frame-yr-2-11885186 JUNGLE writing + colouring sheet - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/jungle-writing-colouring-sheet-1-line-12045631 .

This serene scene will appeal to your children’s imagination, as they put themselves in the place of the happily gliding children. With the ocean, palm trees and setting sun below, and the soft, clear sky around them, this fantastical image will inspire your class to write, draw, discuss or enact the concepts conveyed. It could be used in combination with my magic mat poetry-writing sheet, for instance, available in my shop here. It will also brighten up a dark corner, of course!

Young children will enjoy thinking up a word or more to complete the phrase - This frog is…, and having a go at writing it on the line provided. More words can be added below, as wanted. Encourage sounding out and emergent writing, rather than accuracy, with this writing activity, to build confidence in independent writing. Perhaps prompt for - green, hoppy, wet, patchy, jumpy, friendly, smiling, splashy or croaking, if ideas are needed. See my other simple writing sheets on wildlife themes for more variety.

Young children will enjoy thinking up a word or more to complete the given phrase - I can see… , and having a go at sounding it out and writing it on the line provided. They can then be rewarded with colouring fun, shading in this fascinating picture. For the writing, encourage children to study the picture and identify some of its features first, then let them choose their favourite one or few to write. Examples to prompt for if needed - a snail, a bird, flowers, grass, leaves, sky, the sun, a ladybird. Able writers could be encouraged to add a describing word or other embellishment. The resource promotes literacy, fine motor control, colour and shape awareness and an appreciation of the natural world.

My poem, ‘My Town at Night’ is exciting and atmospheric, stretching imaginations and language, and offering a spur for creative writing. I’ve used it very successfully with Year 3 classes upwards, together with pictures and discussion of the colours, shapes and mysteries of lit-up streets. Now on YouTube with sound & pictures! https://youtu.be/BNzvD31flwo The poem has been published twice over by https://theschoolmagazine.com.au/The School Magazine, Australia - .

This lively seaside picture has two wavy line spaces for describing words for the sea: “The sea is … and …”, and there’s a whole line below for further ideas. Young children will enjoy thinking up two words or more to describe the sea and having a go at writing them, before colouring in the waves, sea creatures, sand, bucket and spade and more. Children in my poetry workshops use the sheet with enthusiasm, for both writing and colouring. See my two harder versions too, plus Shells writing sheet: - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/seaside-writing-frame-r-y1-12099509, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/seaside-writing-frame-y2-3-12099502 (free) and https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/shells-can-be-illustrated-writing-frame-guide-sheet-12099487 . Video (looking at shells) https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9

An inspiring seascape with gaps to write words and phrases in, for Yrs 2-6, as a starter sheet for poetry or creative writing, or a picture poem in its own right, use adaptable for different aims, ages and abilities. Also provided: the picture free from word gaps; guide sheet for teachers. The 15 white writing slots in and around this inviting scene offer scope for expressive describing words, similes and phrases. GUIDE: the accompanying teacher’s guide sheet provides a comprehensive list of word and simile ideas for use as spurs and examples for students. USES: Literacy - building vocabulary, simile-writing, preparing for poetry or descriptive writing; Topic enhancement: a simple, effective way to enthuse pupils in topics, e.g. seaside, ocean, seasons, weather, water, coastlines, sea pollution or global warming, while also enhancing literacy. Time filler: offers learning through fun for any spare 10 minutes. See my other words-in-gaps sheets too.

Sea-themed haiku poetry - lesson plan, including 3 frames with gaps to fill, 3 starter lines, information about haiku and how they work, warm-up tips, and a whirl of ocean thoughts to spur discussion and writing ideas. The sea has wonderful potential as a poetic theme, possessing such a wealth of features and variables, including many contradictory ones: it can be both deep and shallow, warm and freezing, colourful or grey as iron, gentle or savage. It’s fresh, yet ancient, fun, yet formidable. It offers up a kaleidoscope of colours, sounds and moods. A haiku looks so small and simple, yet it can convey any concept you like, with impact. For more themes, see my Trees, Birds, Butterfly, and Dragon Haiku sheets too.

Letters a-d and their phonics are linked to familiar pictures for sounding out and over-writing activities. The letters and words also offer rhythm and pattern for clapping and chanting: a a apple, b b ball, c c cat, d d dog. Fun and meaningful way to learn sounds and practise writing.

Phonics a and s feature in this illustrated reading + writing sheet. Numbers to count too. Text: “2 hats 3 bats 4 cats” . Pale lettering in varied colours for over-writing. See linked sheets: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonic-a-in-cat-12249906 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonic-a-cat-in-a-hat-12251051 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/phonic-a-in-bat-12254461

This reading + writing activity teaches the phonic ‘o’ as in dog, fox and frog. It is fun and attractive, with varied pastel colours to write over. Young children will associate the letters and words with the pictures of familiar animals, helping them to focus on their shapes and sounds, and recall them later. I have many other phonics activities at my shop. See ‘newest’ for others like this.

Phonics to sound-out + words to read and over-write are presented on this colourful, illustrated sheet. ‘big dog’ is presented twice, with smiling dog picture, with g and d repeated for practice. Teaches vowels i and o, differentiates between b and d, and also highlights letter g. Children will love this charming dog, and will be relaxed and encouraged by the pretty flowers. I offer many similar phonics sheets. Please see ‘newest’ on my catalogue.

Phonic ‘a’ (short) writing and recognition practice sheet, with words: cat in a hat, illustrated in colour. Two extra letter a’s to write over, say and learn. The cute cat and bright hat will help children understand and learn the phonic, and the words too. I also have a simple ‘cat’ writing sheet, and many other phonic reading and writing sheets in my catalogue.

Poetry in haiku form, with trees as the theme, is taught here with an introduction to haiku and six examples to complete. Tips for preparation are also given. Trees are familiar to all children, but each child will bring their own experiences, observations, thoughts and feelings to their writing. Trees are fascinating things, providing us with a wealth of glories, services and vital resources. They offer ever-varying colours, shapes, sounds, expressions, silhouettes, textures, fruits, flowers, leaf patterns, and more. They mark the seasons for us, offering summer shade and winter shelter; they inspire us with their noble, statuesque figures against the ever-changing sky; they house wildlife, secure and enrich the soil, and feed the atmosphere with vital elements. Yet around the world, they are being chopped down and uprooted. What will your children decide to say about them, and how, in their 17 syllables? Recommended for upper juniors and higher. 1 A4 page, black and white. Includes 3 haiku frames with gaps to fill, and 3 starter lines/phrases.

Simple writing and colouring autumn leaf sheet for emergent and newly independent writers. Children can either write on the lines (leaf veins), turning the paper round as need be, which is fun to do, or they can write their words in the gaps or round the outside of the picture. Suggested words to prompt for: yellow, brown, red, golden, curly, floaty, light, colourful, soft, thin, old, torn, spotty, pretty, flappy, delicate, crispy.

National Curriculum word lists for Year 2 are represented, category by category, in these 2 spelling tests. Each comes with teacher’s version to read out and children’s child-friendly version to write. First test has 15 questions; second has 16. The children’s versions have gaps to fill; the teacher’s versions have words highlighted to instruct children to write in the gaps provided, as in SATs tests. Children’s papers also have stars to colour in at start and end. See also child-friendly word lists for reading practice and assessment: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks1-spelling-reading-assessment-practice-mid-level-12107263, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks1-spelling-reading-assessment-practice-sheet-hardest-12107572 (mid-level + hardest).

Bring Literacy, Space studies and Healthy Living to life with this hilarious writing sheet. How do Martians keep fit? By swinging from the moon? By running round black holes? By competing in floating races? The line-starters and prompts will fire up ideas and set pens rolling. See the accompanying guide sheet for examples and ideas to prompt with. Recommended for Yr 2 upwards. Pool ideas first - both for space features and keep-fit methods, and share ideas for filling the gaps before independent writing. SEE ALSO: Meals for Martians - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/meals-for-martians-fun-sheet-guide-12115040, and Funny Space Rhymes - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/funny-space-rhymes-12051967 . More space writing resources at my shop: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/katewilliams_poetry?sortBy=newest&p=2 .

Writing about baby animals and springtime is fun and inspiring for young children. These three graded writing frames provide stimulating pictures and easy starting points for verbs and adjectives for baby bunnies, young robins and the fresh spring grass, with spare lines for more on the hardest version, and space for more on all three. There’s plenty to colour too. Preparation: before starting, lead children in imitating young animals, birds and insects that you see in the spring, focusing particularly on rabbits and robins. Elicit appropriate action words, e.g. bouncing, skipping, hopping, bobbing, dancing and playing, for the bunnies, and hopping, flapping, tweeting, singing, pecking, flying and fluttering for the robin. The grass might be tall, fresh, green, wavy, soft, bright, dewy or damp. Discuss how flowers and leaves open out too, as the days grow warmer.

This fun reading card supports teaching of the “oo” phonic and spelling. Newly independent readers will enjoy sounding out the 3 animal-themed sentences and making the creature noises - The dove says coo. The cow says moo. The owl says twit-twoo. An adult can point out the “oo” sounds and prompt a discussion about the sounds and picture, developing phonics, reading, speaking and listening skills simultaneously. See the others in this series.