Originally created for the IPC topic Sand and Water, this presentation is designed to stimulate children’s interest in sand, answer basic questions and inspire further exploration. Aimed at young children it features large colourful pictures and simple text (generally one heading and a sentence on each slide, (with more detail and some links in the notes for presenters). Questions prompt children to say what they already know or think and there are a few questions for them to guess where the answer is revealed, keeping their attention. It covers how sand is made and why it is different colours, animals that live or hide in sand, sand in the desert, how we use sand and sand art. This presentation is great as an introduction to scientific or creative exploration of sand, for example whether dry or wet sand is best for sculpture, making patterns by sprinkling or creating texture with sand. It is also a good stimulus for researching sandy habitats and how plants and animals have adapted to living in them.

This resource pack features a board game and a set of cards with ten minibeasts and corresponding movements. The cards are great for brain breaks and circle times. With the board game children perform the action when they land on the minibeast, for example, spin when they land on a spider. There are variation prompts on the game such as saying a fact about the animal, saying how many legs it has or saying where it lives. The board also features pictures of where minibeasts are commonly found, for example, logs, flowers, a pond. There are minibeast habitats resources (as well as a range of other minibeast activities) in the Teachers Telling Tales shop.

Contents: Spots and Stripes worksheets and printable socks for games, templates for colouring. Cute patterned socks matching pairs card game. Teacher’s guide with instructions for games and ideas for activities. These resources are great for awareness days: #oddsocksday November 16th (part of Anti-bullying Week) #LotsOfSocksDay 21st March (World Down Syndrome Day) Read more ideas for sock topics here https://teacherstellingtales.com/socks-rock/ Related resources are available from Teachers Telling Tales, including sock-topus counting activities, repeat patterns and Fantastic Footwear which includes templates for socks and a variety of shoes and themed design challenge task cards. Get them all in a bundle at a discounted price.

An interactive story to learn about the sea turtle life cycle, natural and human threats. Children sit in a circle around a turtle nest (a hoop or mat) with 100 eggs. As they listen to a story they take turns (going round the circle) to remove eggs as a predator or problem arises. As the story continues, the remaining eggs are turned over to reveal hatchlings which in turn face more problems as they try to reach the sea. As juveniles in the sea there are yet more problems. How many will survive and return to the beach where they hatched to lay their own eggs? What will the beach be like when they have become an adult Printables included in the pack: Turtle eggs templates. Students can cut out the circles and draw their own hatchling on one side, (optional, if you prefer use the pre-made cards below). Turtle egg and hatchling cards. Print and cut out. (Place face down for eggs and turn over for hatchlings.) Story Scripts, 2 versions, ‘Take 5’ and ‘Against the Odds’. Turtle problem picture cards. Turtle problem word and picture cards. Story Script Excerpt: One moonlit night a green turtle heaved herself along the beach and dug a hole in the sand with her flippers. She laid 100 eggs and took care to cover them again with sand to disguise the nest. Slowly, she made her way back to the sea where, exhausted, she slipped with relief back into the water as the sun began to rise. Early the next morning, a dog roamed the beach and could smell where the turtle had been. She dug up part of the nest, ate five eggs and cracked five more which were eaten by ants. Also included: Ideas for activities using turtle problems cards. Maths (subtraction) story idea. Related Resources: For an active game on the threats to turtles, see the Teachers Telling Tales resource https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/turtles-in-danger-game-12237706

These fun activity sheets were created to celebrate #WorldSpaceWeek 2023 (October 4–10). They feature cute and colourful clip art and invite students to make as many words as they can from the letters in ‘astronaut’. The simpler sheet encourages students to complete the countdown by finding ten words. A sneaky way to squeeze in some spelling! There are colour and ink-saving versions of activity and answer sheets. Also check out the Teachers Telling Tales free Planet Anagrams / solar system spelling activity. You may also like this fun Alien poem reading and drawing activity: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/the-alien-read-and-draw-12166304

A great pirates topic activity to keep early finishers busy. Good for problem solving skills. This resource goes well with the Teachers Telling Tales Pirates in Position resources. It can also be purchased as part of a bundle along with other pirate themed puzzles such as sudoku and anagrams.

This engaging presentation features interesting facts about chameleons with colourful photographs and links to short videos as illustration. (All photos are free to use and share, links provided in the notes). It aims to answer common questions and stimulate new ones. A link at the end to a children’s website enables further research. Aimed at younger children, text is simple and minimal. Great as a follow-up to reading The Mixed-up Chameleon by Eric Carle or as part of topics on animals, patterns and colours. (This resource is included free with other chameleon resources from Teachers Telling Tales.)

Using all four operations, these multi step maths games are excellent for consolidating calculation skills. This pack contains three variations with different times tables, doubling and halving and multiples of 100. There are two games with 2 digit numbers and one with 4 digit numbers. The cute caterpillars and branch design also features on blank sheets to add your own numbers and questions, or for students to create their own as an extension activity. There is a colour and ink saving version, (that students can colour themselves). If working with a partner students can pick a caterpillar each, see who gets the highest answer and check each other’s answers. It also works well as an individual activity. Answers and guide included. The game can be printed, projected on a screen or completed digitally. as students record their answers on paper or a whiteboard, the game can be used over and over. There are similar packs available from Teachers Telling Tales with different designs and skills and the option to bundle and save.

Develop phonics and reading skills with this Bingo game. Featuring 28 ‘ar’ words, there is a clue for each, for example, “The opposite of blunt”. There are 6 colour coded game boards, each with 16 words. Players must try to get 4 in a row. Good for listening skills and consolidating vocabulary with English learners. For more fun with the ‘ar’ sound, check out the board game: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ar-talk-like-a-pirate-phonics-board-game-12403169 Teachers Telling Tales also have Pirate phonics packs with the long ‘o’ sound. Pirate fans, check out the pack with position activities, mazes, anagrams and sudoku.

A compilation of thirty dice games, presented in an easy to follow document with suggestions for adaptations to meet learners’ needs. The document can be trimmed to produce cards featuring simple instructions, perfect for support staff working with small groups. Mathematics skills covered include: calculation using all four operations, comparing numbers, place value, doubling, odd and even numbers, times tables, square numbers, number bonds, probability, rounding, power of 10, negative numbers, fractions, sequences, area and perimeter.

Robot, Monster and Ogre get confused with tens and ones, can you help them? Great starter activities for online and classroom sessions. Count and create 2 digit numbers. Say which is most / least, double numbers, add one more and correct common mistakes. A presentation with six problems to solve using tens and ones blocks and candles on cakes… Use the templates to create many more based on your students’ needs. For more early counting activities check out https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/count-the-coins-treasure-chest-challenges-12563480

An animated presentation, perfect for starter activities. Students pick which treasure chest they think will have the most money, then, as each is revealed they count the coins to see if they were correct. As it’s a game of luck, everyone has an equal chance of winning. All get to practise the calculation, which could be addition or counting in multiples of 2, 5 or 10. The more challenging quests have mixed coins. This is a good way to demonstrate how different values of coins can make the same amount, e.g. 10 ones and 1 ten. There are 5 sections, each with 3 games; however, variations can easily be created by duplicating slides and rearranging the coins. Sections: Count in 5s Count in 10s 10s and 1s 1s and 2s 10, 5, 2 and 1 The coins are inspired by UK money, however, as they are a simple design with a large number, no familiarity with UK money is required for the games so they are suitable for use in any location. Answers and extension ideas are included in the notes. The pack includes 2 versions: use ppsx to avoid changes in layout/formatting or pptx if you want to change or adapt the presentations. My students loved this and I ended up creating many variations by simply changing the coins. You may also like the pirate-themed resources in the Teachers Telling Tales shop, including positional language, sudoku and phonics, for example, https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/pirates-pack-12183976. More maths packs will be added shortly.

Complete Literacy Lesson PowerPoint / PDF with 14 pages. Guidance, answers and ideas in notes. Spot the Difference (three activities) Descriptive language: draw out vocabulary for body parts, colours etc. Monster Names (Three levels of difficulty.) Phonics: Roll a die to select beginning, middle and end sounds, combine to make a monster name. Can be completed as class / individual activity. Record sheets are provided with 8 monsters. The ink-saving version can be coloured by students. Make a Monster Roll a die to select colour, pattern/texture, body parts, home and food for a monster. Annotate on screen or print, place in plastic envelope and use a dry wipe pen. Say sentences about the monster created – the second version has sentence starters to support. My Monster Writing Frame Write sentences about the monster created using the ‘make a monster’ activity or your imagination. Draw the monster. Follow up ideas: Create a class book of all the monsters. Create large paintings, collages or models of monsters for a class display. You may also like the Teachers Telling Tales Little Monster Balloon Party numeracy games. Buy both together as a bundle with a discount.

These badge and photo ID card templates will help students get in role as a police officer of the Fairy Tale Police Department (FTPD), or a special agent of Fairytale Investigation Bureau (FBI)! Great for role play and drama activities. The ID cards have frames for drawing a self portrait (photo) and writing names / job titles. Colour and greyscale versions included. This resource is part of the ‘Once upon a Crime’ series by Teachers Telling Tales. It is designed for Collecting Evidence and Special Agent Investigation Board activities, two of twelve lessons featured in a Fairy Tale Forensics unit of study. You can bundle and save on these resources.

A simple sheet for students to complete to introduce themselves. Pictures and words guide and prompt through the sections and there is an open-ended space at the end for learners to choose something about themselves to share. No-prep PDF and editable PowerPoint versions. Perfect for first day / sessions with new students.

Celebrate #WorldBeeDay with some bee-themed handwriting patterns and cutting skills! For more minibeast-themed resources including card and board games, mazes, sudoku and book making check out https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/minibeasts-big-bug-bundle-12340248 Teachers Telling Tales also have a free bee-themed maths activity here which can be adapted for different ages and abilities: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/buzz-off-square-numbers-multistep-game-12521661