Hi! I am a teacher with over 20 years' experience at Primary level. I try to make my resources as challenging as possible with a slice of fun, while cramming in as much detail as possible into the guided reading / writing activities, plays, worksheets and comprehension exercises that I produce. I also create and publish a range of free worksheets and resources, which now account for over 40% of my published resources. Any feedback and suggestions welcome!
Hi! I am a teacher with over 20 years' experience at Primary level. I try to make my resources as challenging as possible with a slice of fun, while cramming in as much detail as possible into the guided reading / writing activities, plays, worksheets and comprehension exercises that I produce. I also create and publish a range of free worksheets and resources, which now account for over 40% of my published resources. Any feedback and suggestions welcome!
‘A Victorian Diary’ is a series of 15 minute videos showing life in Victorian times. Events are reported by fictional character Maggie Johnson and by other characters she meets, providing different perspectives. This series is brilliant just to watch and enjoy, but it can also be used to help develop literacy skills.
These are resources based on chapters 2 and 3 and also include generic diary writing templates.
The chapter 2 resource is a punctuation and proof reading exercise. Pupils have to read and correct a diary entry, written from Maggie’s perspective. It could also be used as an example of writing in diary style and lead to the pupils writing their own version.
The main learning objective of the Chapter 3 worksheet is to develop pupils’ understanding of empathy, but there is activities on prediction skills and note - taking. Alongside the worksheet I have created some excerpts and images to cement the main learning objective.
The pack contains a set of comprehension exercises covering all 15 chapters of the book. The activities are presented in two different formats: the first format consists of handy A4 worksheets which the pupils work on. Each A4 worksheet includes a reading challenge extension task. The second format requires the pupils to write the answers in their exercise books, and as there are 2 question sheets per A4 sheet this means the question sheets can be easily cut in half and stuck into the pupils’ books if required.
Each comprehension worksheet has a range of different questions, with 20 marks available (allowing for a % score to be made too!). I have tried to design questions which allow success for less able children but with challenging, higher order questions for above average pupils. Harder questions are signified by being awarded extra marks (up to 3 marks as in the SATs and key stage tests). Each comprehension has a learning objective in line with Year 3/4 National Curriculum objectives and requires the reading of one, two or three chapters of the book (most chapters are small).
The worksheets are are all written in Word, so can be easily adapted - for instance you could also add your own questions, objectives etc.
There are various ways to use this resource, including
As part of a shared reading session, with the pupils completing the written tasks after discussion and analysis of the text as a class or group.
As independent written tasks for the rest of the class, while the teacher is reading with a smaller group.
As an additional, ready-made resource to support the study of George’s Marvellous Medicine as a Unit of Work / class book.
As a stand-alone, independent reading activity / assessment.
As a useful teacher prompt/ discussion leader when doing a guided read.
SPAG ACTIVITIES
I have also included 5 SPAG activities which are based on the first 6 chapters. They include practice in proof reading, verb tenses, spelling and questions based on SATS format.
The pack contains a set of comprehension exercises covering all 10 chapters of the book. The activities are presented on A4 worksheets which the pupils work on. Each A4 worksheet includes a reading challenge extension task.
Each comprehension worksheet has a range of different questions, with 20 marks available (allowing for a % score to be made too!). I have tried to design questions which allow success for less able children but with challenging, higher order questions for above average pupils. Harder questions are signified by being awarded extra marks (up to 3 marks as in the SATs and key stage tests). Each reading comprehension requires the reading of one chapter of the book (except for chapters 9 and 10, which I have combined into one comprehension sheet as the chapters are small).
The worksheets are are all written in Microsoft Word, so can be easily adapted - for instance you could also add your own questions, objectives etc.
There are various ways to use this resource, including:
As part of a shared reading session, with the pupils completing the written tasks after discussion and analysis of the text as a class or group.
As independent written tasks for the rest of the class, while the teacher is reading with a smaller group.
As an additional, ready-made resource to support the study of The Angel of Nitshill Road as a Unit of Work / class book.
As a stand-alone, independent reading activity / assessment.
As a useful teacher prompt/ discussion leader when doing a guided read.
A simple 6 - question maths sheet for use with year 5.
Two activity sheets are pasted on to a single A4 sheet, so it needs to be trimmed.
Could be used as an assessment activity, a whole class lesson or an independent task.
A range of questions that could be used as practice, assessment or an independent / homework task.
There are two tasks to every A4 sheet so needs to be trimmed.
There are 2 tasks to complete on this worksheet:
1 - Ten comprehension questions.
2 - ly Adverbs activity
Both activities could be independent reading / writing tasks and require each student to have a copy of Chapter One (or the book!.
A useful Curriculum Plan and lots of activities / worksheets / PPs / Pics / Posters on the geography of Brazil and the Amazon Rainforest.
List of Resources:
A factfile containing some basic facts about the country
A cloze procedure activity on Brazilian landscapes and the Amazon,
A mindmap task.
A research activity to help learn the basic facts about Brazil - where it is located in the world, population figures etc. This could be used alongside Activity 1 or as a research lesson to use when beginning the topic.
An investigating Brazil worksheet for pupils to use when researching using books and internet sources.
PP on the landscapes of Brazil.
Three posters which can be used as part of a display for your Brazil topic and also for comprehension / reading activities. Each poster is factual, with key geographical words highlighted, and uses illustrations. The three posters are:
Brazilian History People and Culture Wildlife
Two comprehension exercises based on the Amazon rainforest:
These resources focus on exploring rainforests through literacy and give lots of scope for follow up writing activities! They’re also useful in the study of conservation issues.
Comprehension 1 - consists of a detailed A4 sized text on the Amazon rainforest, including conservation issues. The question sheet is designed to stick in the pupils’ books and includes lesson objectives and 2 differentiated dictionary challenges.
Comprehension 2 - an A4 - sized cloze procedure exercise called ‘What is a Rainforest?’
Map of world rainforests with space for written tasks.
Seven pages of rainforest images which are useful for initiating and inspiring a rainforest art project.
Also included are three posters which can be used as part of a display for your Brazil topic and also for comprehension / reading activities. Each poster is factual, with key geographical words highlighted, and uses illustrations. The three posters are:
Brazilian History / People and Culture / Wildlife
These resources focus on exploring rainforests through literacy and give lots of scope for follow up writing activities! They’re also useful in the study of conservation issues. As some of the language is tricky the comprehensions are mainly suitable for Year 5 and above, but could be a challenge for a bright Year 4 class!
Comprehension 1 - consists of a detailed A4 sized text on the Amazon rainforest, including conservation issues. The question sheet is designed to stick in the pupils’ books and includes lesson objectives and 2 differentiated dictionary challenges.
Comprehension 2 - an A4 - sized cloze procedure exercise called ‘What is a Rainforest?’
Map of world rainforests with space for written tasks.
Seven pages of rainforest images which are useful for initiating and inspiring a rainforest art project.
Over resources altogether.
They are suitable for Years 4 to 6 and can be tweaked to suit your class. The following topics are included: Electricity, Sound, Tudors, Rainforests, Brazil, Great Britain, Victorian Toys and Games, Street Child by Berlie Doherty, Victorian Inventions and Penguins.
There are also plenty of other activities included to work alongside the comprehension activities, such as adjectives worksheets, vocabulary challenges, powerpoints, various sorting activities and research challenges.
Based on two poems from the ‘English Alive’ series of literacy books for Key Stage Two. Contains two detailed lesson plans written in simple language, giving step by step instructions to make your lessons go smoothly (!) - plus scope for follow up lessons in reading and writing poetry.
The lessons teach use of verbs, similes and poem structure in fun activities where pupils write and perform their own poems based on the two poems read. Pupils will play interactive starter games, read and discuss poems and write and perform their own poems based on the models provided. The accent is on fun!!!
Theme: Feelings
Objectives include: 1) Compare and contrast poems on a similar theme.
2) Recognise and begin to use similes.
3) Use rhythm and rhyming couplets
This is a unit of work for anyone planning an anti bullying week or anyone teaching anti bullying issues through literacy / drama / PSHE.
It incorporates the excellent book for Upper Key Stage Two, ‘The Angel of Nitshill Road’, in particular using the first two chapters in exploring a range of bullying and peer pressure issues.
Includes:
*Full planning for anti bullying week, with 5 detailed lesson plans.
*Drama activities incorporated into the literacy sessions.
*Anti bullying Posters PP
*Link to further activities for ‘The Angel of Nitshill Road’
*2 comprehension exercises
This is a bundle of 4 activities based on a 21 page powerpoint presentation and a non fiction text called, ‘Why don’t penguins feel the cold?’ The PP could be used as a starter or discussion activity or as a stand alone activity. The other activities include:
* Cloze procedure - 10 missing words
* Dictionary Challenge
* Cartoon picture - invent a caption
There are also lots of opportunities, within this pack, for pupils to practise their non fiction writing .
Five worksheets about Victorian inventions and inventors for Key Stage Two.
The first worksheet has two activities: firstly, pupils will discuss and link Victorian inventors with their inventions; secondly, there are four questions to discuss and answer. The questions focus on the significance and impact of several inventions.
The worksheet will work best when it follows on from discussion and looking at artifacts or photographs, where pupils will have thought about the relative merits of the inventions and asked whether they are relevant today.
2nd worksheet: Images of Victorian inventions
3rd and 4th worksheets: Comparing Victorian objects with modern
5th worksheet: Welcome to the Victorian Museum activity. For this activity you need to place obscure and interesting Victorian artefacts (or photos of them) on each table of classroom. Pupils go round to each table and try to figure out what each artefact is!
This is a literacy pack containing chapter- by - chapter activities for the first five chapters of the book Matilda by Roald Dahl. For each of the five chapters there is a comprehension / guided reading activity and a SPaG activity, plus several additional vocabulary and writing tasks.
Each A4 comprehension worksheet has a variety of questions worth 20 marks and could be used as an independent task, as part of a guided reading session, reading assessment or whole class teaching.
Each SPaG worksheet is double A4 - sized, with space for pupils’ answers. It could be used as part of SATs practice as I have styled the questions in a similar vein. Similarly, pupils could do the worksheet as an independent task or as part of whole class revision for the SATs. There are 25 marks available - which again allows pupils to find their percentage score! At the end of the formal questions there is an extension spelling task on each sheet.
There are two extra Vocabulary and spelling activities included for chapter one, plus a writing task. I have also included a landscape - version of the comprehension task with space on the worksheet for the pupils’ answers.
All activities are created in Word so can be edited to your own designs.
Answer sheets are included!
The pack consists of 4 comprehension worksheets with additional SPAG activities, plus two combined 20 question comprehensions, all written in Word on A4 worksheets.
Each of the 4 main worksheets contains 10 questions on the book. The comprehension questions cover the whole book in 4 worksheets.
On each worksheet there is a comprehension and writing activity as follows:
Worksheet 1 - Comprehension based on pages 8 to 18
- Dictionary Challenge
Worksheet 2 - Comprehension based on pages 19 to 36
- Spelling Challenge
Worksheet 3 - Comprehension based on pages 37 to 49
- Vibrant Verbs activity
Worksheet 4 - Comprehension based on pages 50 to 60
-Sensational Similes activity
Additionally, I have made two 20 question comprehension worksheets, scoring 24 and 26 respectively, giving a whole book score of 50. These could be used as an assessment resource or for pupils to work on independently.
Lastly, I have combined the 4 writing activities on two A4 worksheets.
There are 17 questions, based on chapter one of Matilda, on two sides of A4.
The questions are written in SATs format and offer 1, 2 or 3 marks.
Altogether, 25 marks are available, meaning pupils can work out their percentage score at the end.
Answer sheet included.
Could be used as an independent task, homework or for SATs revision.
There is also an A4 spelling worksheet with 3 tasks for independent work.
There are 4 plays for use with Upper Key Stage Two:
Palm Sunday - 4 speaking parts
Palm Sunday - 7 speaking parts
Good Friday - 13 speaking parts
Peter’s Denial - 8 speaking parts
The plays can be used in guided reading sessions, as part of drama and R.E. lessons or even as class assemblies.
The two Palm Sunday plays are similar, with one being longer and having more speaking parts. They both use the modern day concept of ‘Live News’ reporting for dramatic effect.
Peter’s Denial and Good Friday could be acted out in small groups or read as a class.
Suitable for Years 4-6 and helps to support the skill of note taking.
Pupils love the latest text message abbreviations so will enjoy working in pairs to find all the abbreviations contained in this worksheet.
It is a worksheet in 2 halves, the second activity is simpler and can be used to support pupils with SEN.
Useful for topic - based literacy lessons. Could also be used to stimulate non fiction writing.
First comprehension has detailed non fiction text followed by 10 questions.
Second comprehension consists of 20 cloze procedure missing words.
Third and fourth comprehensions look at the human ear and are both on the same A4 worksheet - cut in half to differentiate.
This is a humorous, child - friendly 30 - 40 minute musical play with 10 separate scenes. It tells the story of Christopher Columbus’ first voyage to find a westward rout to the ‘Indies’.There are 6 main parts, 21 speaking parts altogether and other singing and dancing roles that will easily accommodate a class of 30. It can be practised and performed as a whole class or, as part of drama activities, in groups. Pupils will learn all about the conditions for sailors in the 15th century, the reasons why the voyage was so important and the story of why Columbus became known for discovering ‘The New World’.
However, the accent in this play is most definitely FUN!!! There are jokes, an S-Factor scene (giving opportunities for pupils talents to be showcased), magicians, singing, dancing and slots where you can insert your own class’s ideas!!!
If performed as a whole class play, it would take two or more weeks of rehearsals and learning the parts before delivering a performance. Alternatively, it can be used as a group reader for a group of 6 children, with the pupils switching roles and playing the roles of more than one character.