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A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Bad Beginning - KS2 Comprehension Activities Booklet!
This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Lemony Snicket's 'A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Bad Beginning.' Teachers have found them particularly useful in comprehension or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the upper KS2 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They also relate to key extracts, characters, and themes from the story, ensuring that children gain a deep understanding of the text.
Activities within the booklet include:
- 'An Interview with Violet' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Understand what is read by drawing on information from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas, and using quotations for illustration;'
- 'Snicket's Description' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Explain meanings of words that they know and ask the meaning of new words. Link the meaning of new words to words that they already know;'
- 'Count Olaf' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Understand what is read by drawing on information from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas, and using quotations for illustration;'
- 'Figurative Language in 'A Series of Unfortunate Events' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, to create an impact on the reader.'
Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is 21 pages in length!) I've also added it as a PDF in case the formatting differs on your computer.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included).
Triangulation of T+L Quality: Grids for Observations, Book Monitoring, and Pupil Progress
This resource pack is comprised of:
1.) Observation & Learning Walk Performance Grid
2.) Marking and Feedback Performance Grid
3.) Pupil Progress Performance Grid
For use alongside lesson observations, learning walks, book monitoring, and discussions about pupil progress, these succinct performance grids enable observers to gauge, categorise, and feedback on teaching and learning using OFSTED guidance for effective teaching. The documents provide descriptors of 'outstanding', 'good', 'requires improvement' and 'inadequate' practice within appropriately considered teaching and learning focus areas, for example: Questioning, Positive Feedback, Use of Additional Adults, Noticing Data Trends and Plotting Interventions etc. Schools who opt to grade individual teachers on their performance have noted that these are helpful aids in arriving at an overall judgement.
Mother, Any Distance... Simon Armitage - Love/ Relationships Poetry
This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Simon Armitage’s contemporary relationships poem ‘Mother, Any Distance...’ In particular, students learn how the poet’s use of figurative language portrays the key messages in the poem, for example the maternal relationship between the speaker and his mother.
Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including:
-Discussing and applying the key messages and meanings in the poem;
-Understanding key contextual information about the poet and his life;
-Reading and interpreting the poem;
-Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features;
- Identifying and analysing the poet's use of figurative language;
-Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Simon Armitage presents the strength of the maternal bond in Mother, Any Distance;
-Peer assessing their partners' analysis attempts.
Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful, engaging and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem)
- Copy of poem;
- Figurative Language in 'Mother, Any Distance' worksheet;
- Figurative Language in 'Mother, Any Distance' answer-sheet;
- Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses;
- Comprehensive lesson plan.
There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.
Year 6 Guided Reading Comprehension Activities Booklet! (Aligned with the New Curriculum)
Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 6 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts.
Activities and games within the booklet include:
- Texts from other Cultures - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Increase their familiarity with a wide range of books, including from our literary heritage, and books from other cultures and traditions.'
- Court Case: Defending a Text, and Room 101 - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Provide reasoned justifications for your views, Explain and discuss and understanding of what has been read, including through presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on topic.'
- Stress Graph - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Understand what you read by drawing comparisons within and between books.'
Plus many more activities (the booklet is over 20 pages in length!)
All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)
Sonnet 116 - William Shakespeare - Love and Relationships Poetry
This lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 116.’ In particular, students learn how metaphor, the sonnet structure, rhyme, and iambic pentameter help the poet to get across his message about love.
Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including:
-Exploring the key concept of 'love' and its many meanings;
-Understanding key information about William Shakespeare and his sonnets;
-Reading and interpreting the poem;
-Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features;
-Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Shakespeare gets across his messages about love in the poem, through the use of language and structure;
-Peer assessing each other's learning attempts.
Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem)
- Copy of poem;
- Structural devices worksheet
- Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses;
- Comprehensive lesson plan.
There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.
What Were They Like? Denise Levertov - Vietnam War Poem
These resources enable students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Denise Levertov’s Vietnam War poem ‘What Were They Like?’ In particular, students learn about the historical context of the Vietnam War. They also learn how features of language and structure aid the impact of the poem.
Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including:
-Exploring the historical concept of the Vietnam War;
-Understanding key information about Denise Levertov and her life;
-Reading and interpreting the poem;
-Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features;
-Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Levertov gets across her feelings about war in the poem, through the use of language and structure;
-Peer assessing each other's learning attempts.
Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem)
- Copy of poem;
- Structural devices worksheet
- Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses;
- Comprehensive lesson plan.
There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.
Space Mission: Find us a New Earth!
The year is 2086, and the students are needed for a special mission!
This space mission has been designed to provide students with a fun and interesting group challenge, whilst also building key skills in critical thinking and collaboration, and essential knowledge for Science, English, and Mathematics.
Students are placed in a scenario in which Earth is no longer habitable, and humans must seek to move to another planet in the Universe. Compiled for them is information on each of the potentially most habitable planets that are known to man (these are the real planets that have been confirmed by NASA and other agencies as having the most potential for life). In reading the key information, students will be drawing upon their knowledge of Science terminology, and will need to make some Maths calculations to work out implications of living on different planets.
What will become clear fairly quickly is that none of the potential planets are perfect, and they must use reasoned judgements to determine which of them have cons that could perhaps be overcome. They then present their ideas, using clear and articulate speaking and listening skills, and write up their report, using appropriate written communication (a scaffold is provided to frame this).
Everything is provided for you to download, print, and teach:
- A comprehensive, whole-activity PowerPoint that guides the students through the mission;
- Detailed and colourful information sheets on each of the contender planets for being the next Earth (these include links to amazing websites that can provide the children with more information);
- A ‘Pros and Cons’ scaffold, to help students record their findings;
- An information sheet on the ‘habitable zone’ around stars;
- A scaffold for writing up findings;
- Sorting cards for help with determining the key features of habitable planets;
- Full teacher guidance.
Considering the time and effort that it took to create these resources, I think that they offer exceptional value. Whenever I have used this activity before, it has taken at least 2-3 lessons, including the introduction, starter challenge, main mission, presentations, and write-up. I originally have used this with mid-ability Year 6,7, and 8 groups, but colleagues have easily adapted it for students across key stages 2-4.
All images have been cited at the end of the PowerPoint presentation and are licensed for commercial use.
Camera Shots and Angles!
This lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of camera shots and angles, and in particular those used in horror movies. This should enable them to design their own sequences of camera shots and angles when producing their own moving image media texts.
I used this lesson in the middle of the planning phase of a horror film trailer. However, as the main learning for the lesson is to be able to define, identify. analyse and use each of the camera shots and angles, it can be used for students at any stage of a media studies course. It includes a range of tasks, most of which are differentiated for different ability ranges, and includes lots of engaging subject matter. The lesson follows a clear learning journey, which is visually expressed to the students frequently throughout the PowerPoint presentation. The learning journey enables students to:
- Define each of the camera angles and shots through a group activity;
- Identify each of the shots and angles in movies stills;
- Analyse why different shots and angles are effective after watching a segment of a film;
- Create their own sequence of camera shots and angles for a short moving image piece;
- Evaluate their success in using effective camera shots and angles.
NOTE: The subject matter used for the final stages of the analysis task may be visually disturbing or inappropriate for some younger students - please check this section and alter it if you need to - you may wish just to pause the video before it gets too gory!
All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson.
Learning Walk/ Teacher Development Checklists!
These comprehensive checklists have been created to aid school leaders when performing learning walks with a particular focus e.g. questioning, differentiation, etc. Clearly structured and organised, they present a central idea surrounded by a breakdown of a number of its key components.
For the user, this layout provides a simple reference list of each of the desirable skills, categorised appropriately. The checklists also provide an alternative to regular feedback methods, which often focus too heavily on the standard or ‘judgement’, as opposed to being a developmental tool.
Alternatively, these are really handy for teachers looking to develop their practice in the key teaching areas listed below. Included in the pack are checklists for:
-Questioning
-Differentiation
-Utilising Resources (including support staff)
-Engagement
-Building Literacy Skills
-Planning and Expectations
-Building Learning Power
-A blank template for you to design your own based upon your own focus
Note: The checklists are provided as both PDFs (for formatting stability) and Word (so that you can edit them easily) - the Word versions are in the zipfile.
Many Thanks
Pride and Prejudice - Mr Darcy
In this engaging and informative lesson, students are enabled to make sustained and developed interpretations regarding the introduction and development of the character of Mr Darcy in ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ In particular, students learn about how he at first appears solely proud and aloof, before studying the events through which the more subtle aspects of his character emerge.
The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through:
- Establishing how Darcy fits the criteria of the ‘Romantic Hero;’
- Reading and understanding how Darcy is introduced in the novel, using relevant textual evidence;
- Tracking how his character develops through the notable events of the novel;
- Analysing how Austen introduces and develops Darcy’s character through plot events and Elizabeth’s thoughts;
- Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts.
Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive;
- Extract from Chapter 3;
- ‘Development of Darcy’ task resources - with teacher answer sheet;
- Supportive and clear essay template;
- Comprehensive lesson plan.
There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. These resources were originally taught to GCSE students, but with subtle adaptations they have also been used with both younger and older (up to A Level) students.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.
Beatrix Potter Knowledge Organiser!
This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for children learning about Beatrix Potter, particularly those completing a history study of ‘Significant Individuals.’ It contains comprehensive sections entitled:
Overview;
Times in Her Life;
Important Vocabulary;
Beatrix Potter Timeline;
Answers to the Important Questions;
Top Ten Facts.
The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use.
KS2 Negative Numbers!
This stimulating and comprehensive enables students to count forwards and backwards through zero using negative numbers, and to solve number problems and practical problems involving negative numbers, including using negative numbers in context.
The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through:
Defining, exemplifying, and understanding the basic rules of calculations involving negative numbers, through clear and simple explanations;
Demonstrating their understanding through well-differentiated application and challenge activities;
Applying their understanding to real-life problems, for example temperatures, budgets and balances;
Gauging their own understanding through both AfL activities and self-reflection tasks.
Included is:
Whole lesson PowerPoint - clear and precise, colourful and comprehensive;
Bronze, Silver, and Gold level award worksheets - carefully differentiated and provided in both Word and PDF;
Teacher answer sheets;
A detailed teacher lesson plan;
A number line;
I have previously taught this to children in years 5 and 6, although with suitable adaptations it could be used for children between years 3-9.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.
In Paris With You - James Fenton - Love and Relationships Poetry
This lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of James Fenton’s modern relationships poem ‘In Paris With You.’ In particular, students learn how word play, colloquial language, rhyme, and poetic structure can influence the mood and tone of a poem.
Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including:
-Understanding the location described in the poem (Paris) and how it is commonly viewed;
-Understanding key information about James Fentons' life;
-Reading and interpreting the poem;
-Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features;
-Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Sheers gets across the narrator's feelings in the poem, through the use of language and structure;
-Peer assessing each other's learning attempts.
Included is:
- Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem)
- Copy of poem;
- Structural devices worksheet
- Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses;
- Comprehensive lesson plan.
There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.
Teacher Quality Tracking System
These well-designed, easy to use teacher quality trackers allow teaching and learning leaders to monitor the quality of teaching across their departments/ schools over time, focusing on the triangulated performance indicators of: Lesson Observations/Learning Walks, Book/Folder Monitoring, and Pupil Progress. Users can easily view changes in individual, department, key stage, and whole school teaching and learning quality over time.
The tool is automatically formatted to colour code entries from the codes 1 (Outstanding = Green) to 4 (Inadequate = Red) Each entry also updates the ‘average school performance’ table, which in turn alters the line graph showing quality over time. This enables leaders to easily identify trends in performance data. Furthermore, there is also space in which users can give details of CPD sessions and interventions, in order to a provide a foundation to evaluate their impact.
Individual pages are provided for observations, book monitoring, and pupil progress.
‘3 captures per year’ and ‘6 captures per year’ versions are provided, to allow for schools that measure quality at variable intervals.
Prime Numbers, Factors, and Products
This engaging and informative set of resources aids students in developing an understanding of prime and composite numbers. Throughout the lesson, students improve their skills at identifying multiples and factors, establishing whether numbers up to 100 are prime, and using the vocabulary of prime numbers and composite numbers appropriately.
The well-presented presentation and lesson plan guides learners and teachers through several different tasks, including:
- Defining and identifying the key terms: Prime Number, Composite Number, Factor, and Product;
- Applying their understanding of these key terms to individual numbers, and then numbers up to 100;
- Finding and describing patterns that they find when establishing prime and composite numbers;
- Researching and writing about the prime or composite state of numbers of their choice;
- Peer-assessing the learning of other students against the lesson objectives.
Included in this pack are:
- A colourful and information-loaded whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;
- Activity cards for the starter task;
- A comprehensive worksheet for the main task;
- A detailed lesson plan
All images are licensed for commercial use and are cited on the final slide.
Sale
Pointless - History Bundle Pack - The Tudors (3 full games included!)
Based on the popular game show 'Pointless', these resources are perfect for use as a starter activity, plenary, or revision tool. Editable, so that you can change to any other topic or change the questions/answers. Containing sound clips, engaging visuals, and suitably challenging questions, these resources are effective at both promoting engagement and enhancing learning.
There are three fully functional and challenging games, including:
- The Tudors (easier)
- Henry VIII (intermediate)
- Elizabeth I (more difficult)
Each game contains four full rounds, which are fun, interesting, and promote deeper thinking in students.
The nature of the game ensures that this resource can challenge students of all levels.
Sale
Writing Mats Big Bundle! (World Landscapes and Imagination Landscapes)
These original writing mats offer a varied and visually engaging way for students to independently increase the depth and breadth of their imaginative writing. Designed on A3, they simply need to printed and given to students before they begin creative writing tasks. They could also be used as colourful word posters to brighten up your classroom and familiarise children with new vocabulary.
The benefits of using these resources as writing mats is twofold: Firstly, the vibrant, wide-ranging, and student-friendly landscapes offer students a wealth of new writing stimuli. Secondly, the simple concrete noun labels save substantial learning time, as the effort that students may have previously exerted deliberating over the spellings of the common nouns is vastly reduced. Instead, students have the time to focus upon the teacher's intended key writing focus areas.
This bundle pack contains 12 'World Landscapes' writing mats, which draw on engaging images and key vocabulary from the following terrains:
-Rainforest
-Desert
-Under the Sea
-Safari
-Beach
-Farm
-Space
-Forest
-Town
-The Poles
-Park
-Mountain
In addition to this, there are 10 different imagination landscapes in this pack, many of which fit in with Primary/Early Secondary topics:
-Nightmare World
-Ancient Egypt
-Christmas
-Medieval Times
-The Future
-Pirates
-Olympics
-Romans
-The Circus
-Fairy Tales
Every image used in this resource pack is licensed for commercial use, and all are cited on separate documents within the pack.
Alternatively, the 'World Landscapes' and 'Imagination Landscapes' packs can be purchased separately for 2 pounds each.
Bundle Sale
Magazine Project Bundle!
This lesson and resource bundle provides all that is needed to aid students in composing their own short magazines, on a subject/genre of their choice. Everything that is needed to teach the project is provided, including engaging lesson powerpoints, worksheets, model examples, and activities, and also comprehensive lesson plans for each stage.
Each engaging and informative lesson aids students in learning about and then composing a different magazine page. Included are lessons on:
- Choosing the Genre and Audience and Composing a Front Cover
- Writing Agony Aunt/ Uncle Pages
- Writing Feature Articles
- Writing Reviews
Throughout each lesson, students learn through defining techniques, identifying ‘what a good one looks like’ and analysing model examples, before using writing help-sheets and success criteria to design their own.
All images are cited on the final slides of each PowerPoint.
Bundle
Recount, Diary, and Autobiographical Writing!
These engaging and detailed resources have been designed to make the learning of Recount, Diary, and Autobiography writing forms easily accessible, engaging and interesting for all children. Throughout each lesson, students learn to improve their skill at using appropriate, concise, and precise spelling, punctuation, and grammar, and practice employing them within their own writing compositions. Each lesson contains a comprehensive whole lesson PowerPoint, all the resources that you will need, and a lesson plan.
The pack also includes a literacy writing mat to help students build their extended writing skills.
All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint/ the bottom of worksheets.
Sale
Media Studies: Unit 2 Assignments Resource Bundle!
Here I have collated each of the resources and templates that I have used throughout the year to enable my students to complete the Media Studies Unit 2 assignments. There are around 20 resources here. Each of the resources are clear, concise and appropriate to the requirements of the assignments. Included are resources on:
- Introduction to Media Studies (a number of tasks and templates that I used prior to the first assignment)
- Assignment 1: Intro to Media (DVD Covers)
- Assignment 2: Cross-Media Study (Advertising and Marketing)
- Assignment 3: Practical Production and Evaluation (Film Trailers)
If you only need resources for one of the assignments, I am making the resources for the individual assignments available for £1.