Raising standards in KS1 and Special Needs: helping every child to succeed.
I have taught systematic phonics to all ages and abilities for over 30 years. My teaching degree was in Environmental Studies and I hate to see science reduced to box-ticking when there is so much to discover about the wonderful world we live in.
So, I produce Phonic resources that meet the real needs of children and teachers, along with science resources to engage children in learning about the natural world.
Raising standards in KS1 and Special Needs: helping every child to succeed.
I have taught systematic phonics to all ages and abilities for over 30 years. My teaching degree was in Environmental Studies and I hate to see science reduced to box-ticking when there is so much to discover about the wonderful world we live in.
So, I produce Phonic resources that meet the real needs of children and teachers, along with science resources to engage children in learning about the natural world.
Learn about Oak trees with our simple first factual decodable reading book plus a PowerPoint to make guided reading easier.
With only common basic digraphs and trigraphs it will enable your early readers to tackle this subject confidently.
Short with only 8 pages
New vocabulary is highlighted on the page where it is first met.
Everything is explained in simple language and accompanied by photos and drawings.
A clear, easy-to-read font.
The 8-slide PowerPoint has a screen to block off text until revealed and a marker to run under the text as the child/ren read/s.
It is ideal for use when studying a topic on trees or autumn.
Use it for guided reading sessions or for reading comprehension work.
Suited for both classroom use, small group and online tutoring.
This is a National Curriculum/Common Core aligned themed mini-unit about EVERGREENS suitable for K to 1 (Years 1 to 2) and mixed Grade classes, covering Science and English: Informational texts.
The Evergreens mini-project lesson teaches:
· To know that evergreen trees stay green all
year through while deciduous trees drop their
leaves in autumn
· To know that some evergreen plants have
flat leaves and some have leaves called needles
· To know the properties of the leaves of
evergreens - strong to withstand wind and
frost
· To know that the needles are different/grow
differently depending on whether the tree is a
fir, spruce or pine.
Key vocab: evergreen, needles, leaves, deciduous, pine, fir, spruce, Holly, Ivy
The pack includes:
A full lesson plan
PowerPoint overview of the subject
Powerpoint with the 3 reading passages in a format suitable for guided reading
Fact sheet - handy easy-to-read facts for teachers to prep before the lesson or to use with pupils where appropriate
Supporting worksheets with:
· 3 de-codable, differentiated reading comprehension passages with matching comprehension activities
· 3 Differentiated worksheets to help children write about evergreens
A set of photos to be used during the lesson and/or for display.
Flashcards of key vocabulary
16 picture cards to sort into deciduous or evergreen
This is a NO-PREP Lesson – straight out of the pack!
The lesson will cover parts of the ‘plants’ element of most science curricula, providing a wonderful opportunity to teach more of/revise/reinforce the science curriculum while teaching English!
Lesson notes for a lesson about evergreens are included with all the resources you need - except evergreen leaves.
handy easy-to-read facts for teachers to prep before the lesson
pictures
19-slide PowerPoint (with a script under each slide in the notes - use in presentation mode - go to slide show, click three dots bottom left and select ‘Presentation Mode’.))
The pack includes a 31-page PDF, one 19-slide PowerPoint and one guided reading PowerPoint of all three comprehension passages.
A phonetic reader for those beginning to read longer simple texts - with words that can be sounded out using phonic knowledge and only a few most common sight words.
This book starts to introduce words with more than one syllable. Teach the child to chunk the syllables to sound them out.
This book contains factual information about the life-cycle of a butterfly written in fictional style.
Children will have fun learning science as they read!
Learn about butterflies through a simple story.
Use the Butterflies phonic reader with any phonic programme after a child has learned the basic digraphs and trigraphs, for example, after Phase 5 Letters and sounds, or after RWI Speed Set 3 have been completed.
This book is also part of the Reading Made Simple reading programme - 100% FREE.
A complete lesson to help children to learn about the seasonal changes in an Apple Tree that lead to the formation of apples.
Includes
Lesson Plan
2 differentated worksheets to show life-cycle of an apple tree through winter, spring, summer and autumn
Supporting resources: flashcards for 4 key words, original photos, 1 page four mini photos, one for each of the four seasons.
Suggested to be used with our PowerPoint on the same subject:
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-12752722
Buy as a bundle and save!
18 weather-related worksheets and puzzles covering 6 areas of weather:
•What is the weather like today?
•Hot and Cold
•What shall I wear today?
•It’s Windy
•It’s Raining
•General Weather
3 Worksheets for each:
1 easy activity for younger children/lower ability,
2 word searches, 1 easy and 1 harder.
Use for a topic on weather, or as early finisher activities at any time of the year.
The harder words searches were originally written for a class of Y3 children so can be used with that age group too.
These worksheets are included in the Weather Project Pack but are listed here separately for those who only want the worksheets.
10 birds to colour.
Hand-drawn originals.
Suitable for ages 5 +.
Help children to learn:
to identify different birds,
to appreciate their differing colourings and structures
to sort birds
Ideas for use:
Colouring for early finishers - much Science can be learned from colouring birds, so this would not be a ‘busy’ activity.
Once a bird has been coloured, more could be found out about it. This could lead to research, factual writing, as well as Science work as the bird’s characteristics are studied.
If different children take a different bird, then they can share what they have learned and comparisons can be made.
Not for use as Clip Art.
Two PowerPoints suitable for use when teaching about Seasons/weather/changing levels of light through the year.
Covers many areas of science:
Seasons:
Learn what changes to look out for across the four seasons
Learn that days get shorter and longer throughout the year
How this affects the weather
How the seasons affect us: what we wear/what we do
How the seasons affect plants and animals
Light and Dark
Darkness is the absence of light
The sun is the main source of light on Planet Earth
Reminds pupils never to look directly at the sun
The sun provides warmth too - or Earth would be very cold
Why plants need the sun: to make food to help them reproduce
Creatures of the day (the need for survival)
Shadows - how they are formed
Plants and animals that prefer the shade and why (the need for survival)
Creatures of the night
Nocturnal (the need for survival)
Both with full narration notes plus notes under slides for use in Presenter View.
This 57-slide PowerPoint takes KS1 children through the seasons, starting with summer.
They will:
Learn what changes to look out for across the four seasons
Learn that days get shorter and longer throughout the year
How this affects the weather
How the seasons/weather affect us: what we wear/what we do
How the seasons affect plants and animals
Bright photos and simple explanation makes it accessible to all abilities in the class and will engage even reluctant learners.
Simple text for children to read on each slide. More information is provided for the teacher to read, if desired, in PDF form or under each slide.
Simply click when ready to progress to the next slide. All animations occur automatically.
Why not follow it with our Light and Dark PowerPoint?
Light and Dark PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12761117
You may also be interested in:
All About Autumn PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12422557
Autumn Leaves PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12398686
Conkers Life-cycle PowerPoint:https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12401942
Frogs Life-cycle PowerPoint: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12410937
This powerPoint about Light and Dark can help children to begin to understand the relationship between all living things and the sun; our need of light and the sun. This PowerPoint can help pupils learn or revise some aspects of the Y1/Y2 curriculum providing continuity of learning, and setting the context for Y3 work.
Simply explained, children will learn:
Darkness is the absence of light
The sun is the main source of light on Planet Earth
Reminds pupils never to look directly at the sun
The sun provides warmth too - or Earth would be very cold
Why plants need the sun: to make food to help them reproduce
Creatures of the day (the need for survival)
Shadows - how they are formed
Plants and animals that prefer the shade and why (the need for survival)
Creatures of the night
Nocturnal (the need for survival)
KS1 children can also learn:
To name some common animals
Why certain creatures/plants come out in the daytime/night time
Why plants need light
The basic needs of animals for survival
This PowerPoint is silent but comes with full narration notes, both under each slide for use in Presenter View, or as a PDF.
Why not follow this up with our Seasons PowerPoint?
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12761222
Yes, Y1 can study the life-cycle of a frog.
If frogs or frogspawn captures your children’s interest then use it to teach KS1 Science. Just because the National Curriculum says do life-cycles in Y2, it does not mean you cannot touch the subject in Y1! Much can be learnt that can actually covers the Y1 Science Curriculum!
KS1 Overview:
To enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly-constructed world around them. They should be encouraged to be curious and ask questions about what they notice.
Y1: Animals, including humans
Statutory requirements
identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores.
Y1 Science is all about arousing interest in the world around the child - use whatever is at hand, such as…
Butterflies: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12679180
Conkers: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12239335
Squirrels: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12742537
Frog-life-cycle worksheets for Y1:
Stick the pictures of the frog’s life-cycle in order - 2 choices of format.
A life-cycle mat for display, or to stimulate discussion/writing
A frog development poster/mat for display/discussion
A sheet on which to write descriptive words about a frog.
A picture to colour for early finishers.
Use with our Frog-Life-cycle PowerPoint for Y1 and Y2!
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12410937
Young children are always fascinated by frog spawn and frogs.
Life-cycles is not just for Y2!
These sheets help teach the Science National curriculum for Y1:
KS1 Overview:
To enable pupils to experience and observe phenomena, looking more closely at the natural and humanly-constructed world around them. They should be encouraged to be curious and ask questions about what they notice.
*
Y1: Animals, including humans
Statutory requirements
identify and name a variety of common animals including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals
identify and name a variety of common animals that are carnivores, herbivores and omnivores
These frog Life-cycle worksheets can be used in mixed Y1/Y2 classes when Y2 children are learning about frog life-cycle, or in Y1 classes.
Watch and learn the seasonal changes in an Apple Tree that lead to the formation of apples.
32 slide PowerPoint. Helps children to learn
The life cycle of an apple tree through winter, spring, summer and autumn with beautiful pictures. Watch leaves unfolding day by day and then see the blossom appear.
How apples grow on trees: watch the development of apples from the swelling at the base of the flower, through to ripe, juicy apples.
Learn the parts of an apple tree: leaves, buds, sepals, fruit, seeds, blossom, flowers,
Learn simply about pollination and the concept of seed dispersal
Great in Y1 to teach changes through the seasons.
Great in Y2 to
Help pupils to use the local environment throughout the year to observe how different plants grow. (Plants: Notes and guidance (non-statutory))
Begin to introduce the idea of food chains and how animals and plants in a habitat depend upon each other ( insects pollinating the flowers and animals eating the fruit and helping to disperse the seeds, seeds). These are not discussed in depth, but the PowerPoint could be used as a springboard to further explore these subjects.
This powerpoint is provided in two formats, narrated and un-narrated with narration notes supplied in PDF form as well as being written under each slide so that you can use presenter mode.
Suitable for use in either autumn or spring.
See our other life-cycle Lesson resources and Powerpoints:
Life-cycle of a Horse Chestnut Tree
Apples
Frogs
Daffodils
Butterflies
A 26 slide PowerPoint about Squirrels for EYFS/Y1. Suitable for use a as lesson starter, or to ignite interest, or for reinforcement. Full of beautiful, original photos. Best used in autumn or winter when squirrels are more obvious.
The PowerPoint is read by the teacher, using either the notes seen in presenter view (go to slide show and then into presenter view). or from the notes pack attached in the download.
It can be used to teach the Animals component of the National Curriculum for Science for Year 1.
It starts in story form to engage pupils before leading them to consider:
What squirrels look like - their characteristics
Where they live
What they eat
How they behave
Once studied, pupils can use their knowledge to compare squirrels with other animals.
This PowerPoint can be used with our Squirrel Photo Pack and our Squirrel Worksheets for Y1.
Brought to you by KS1 Nature
All of our EYFS/Y1 popular autumn PowerPoints in a bundle to help you:
Explain what happens in autumn and why
Why leaves change colour and fall
Where and when mushrooms grow and how they differ from plants with green leaves
Where conkers come from and why
Make autumn come alive and increase your pupil’s understanding of the world around them!
Spring, summer, autumn and winter word mats: a complete set of 4 seasons word mats with a difference - the words have the phonic digraphs/trigraphs highlighted in colour.
This has three functions:
The children learn to spell new words quicker when they recognise the sounds they have already been taught in words they have not used before.
The spelling patterns they have already been taught are reinforced as they use the word mat.
The children are delighted to see that many of the ‘new’ words, are words that they can sound out for themselves - when the sounds are highlighted for them! This is a tremendous confidence booster!
It is suitable for all children but of great benefit to those with any special need that makes it hard for the child to have to transfer words from the board to their paper - it can sit right there on the desk making writing so much easier - inspiring confidence!
They can also be used for display as some do.
20 Autumn topic word cards for use however you wish:
display
flashcards
to aid with writing
etc… etc…
Phonetically coded to help early readers.
See our phonetically coded Autumn Word Mat too!
25 Weather words flashcards in a clear font, phonetically coded to help young readers.
Use for:
Writing tasks
Science activities (groups weather by season/kind - e.g. heat/cold/wind etc…)
Word Walls
Literacy Centers
Pocket Charts
Dictionary work
Have you seen our Weather Project Pack?
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12616669
And our Clouds Project Pack?
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12056090
And our Clouds Power Point lesson?
https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12056140
All you need to teach an amazing lesson about the life-cycle of a butterfly:
Lesson notes to make you feel like an expert, and guidance on how to teach the lesson
Supporting Science and language activities with worksheets, differentiated where necessary
Display pack with
Headers to arrange into a bright life-cycle display
4 original photos
Butterfly life-cycle word mat with multiple uses
Life-cycle matching cards for display or to make a game of ordering.
A pack of display items for a study of the butterfly life-cycle.
Includes:
Butterfly life-cycle word mat/poster
A long banner ( 11 A4 pages)which can be either pinned or strung on a string
1 A4 page with title ‘Butterflies’
Butterfly life-cycle flow chart: 1 A4 page each for eggs, caterpillars, chrysalis, butterfly and an arrow to print 4 times
4 initial sounds cards for stages in lifecycle: e/egg; c/caterpillar;c/chrysalis;b/buttefly
4 words and pictures cards for stages in the life-cycle
4 picture cards of stages of the life-cycle with matching word cards: can be used to make games, or for display.
5 strip vocabulary words with pictures
6 Photos
Find lesson notes and worksheets/activities for an amazing lesson/s on the butterfly life-cycle here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12679170
Use our Lesson notes to help you to plan your lesson about the life-cycle of butterflies.Aimed to help stimulate enquiry and observation. Useful as part of work on life-cycles.
How to raise butterflies from the egg stage
Links to the National Curriculum for Science
What to look for/background information for each stage - helping you to feel like an expert!
Questions to help get the class thinking and to model asking questions
Guided reading sheets: blow up for class use, or copy for group/individual use
Use the worksheets for follow up:
Pictures to order the life-cycle of a butterfly
Label the parts of a butterfly
Draw and write about an observed caterpillar/butterfly
Reading comprehension
2 poems with comprehension exercises to follow each (two ability levels)
Decorated writing sheets
See our other life-cycle Lesson resources and Powerpoints:
Life-cycle of a Horse Chestnut Tree
Apples
Frogs
Daffodils
Apples