Improving memory skills. Power-point of 54 slides. There are 36 one-a-day memory activities to practise with pupils to improve visual and auditory memory skills. The activities are structured week by week to gradually challenge whilst providing practise. For individual pupils or a small group working with an adult. I have used these activities with children of all ages who struggle to remember/recognise alphabet, phonics, HFW and basic numbers. The activities need to be carried out daily to enable the children to practise and improve. Useful for a TA or SEN TA supporting a group in the classroom. Week 1 & 2: There are six individual picture games (for each week) to help pupils practise retelling a story with picture prompts or from memory. Pupil record grid (for adult use) is included to enable the adult to see the visual memory progress of each child and identify any issues or areas for further practise. Week 3: There are six picture sequence/list activities for pupils to retell a short story with or without picture clues. Week 4: Number sequence recall. Six activities for the adult to use with a child or small group to improve auditory memory skills. Recording sheet for pupil use is provided. Week 5: Colour sequence recall. Six activities for the adult to use with a child or small group to improve auditory memory skills. Recording sheet for pupil use is provided. Week 6: Listen and draw sequence activities. Full instructions for the adult are provided plus a pupil record sheet for adult assessment of pupil progress.

KS1/Y3 Powerpoint lesson (s) of 65 slides on the topic ‘Norman castles.’ Learning Objectives: • To recognise and name the features of castles. • To explain who William of Normandy was, where he came from and what he was famous for doing. • To compare the similarities and differences between motte and bailey and stone built castles. • To explain how the first castles were made. • To give reasons why castles were built in specific places and in specific ways. • To recap the features of a castle using the correct historical words. • To know that castles were gifts or rewards in Norman times. • To make a non-fiction booklet about castles. The slides are easy to follow and devised to encourage partner/trio discussion and collaboration through key questioning and small group activities. The slides can be divided easily into four separate lessons (following the learning objectives) or interchanged depending on how quickly or in depth you want to take over each aspect of this topic. Slides 1-5 use pupil knowledge as a starting point assessment through a ‘what am I?’ activity. Slides 6-13 focus on features of castles. Slides 14-22 focus on William the Conqueror and include a paired map activity using atlases. Slides 23-36 look at early motte and bailey castles and include a short clip from Youtube. Included is a simple DT planning sheet for pupils to design then build a motte and bailey castle and a separate comparison worksheet. Slides 37-45 focus on castle defences and include a labelling worksheet and an ‘attack and defence’ activity. Slides 46-48 encourage pupils to consider the purposes of castles in war and peace time. Slides 49-59 can be used as a castle features class quiz or a paired assessment. Slides 59- 63 look at famous castles belonging to Normans. Slide 64 is a non-fiction template for pupils to use to make notes about their knowledge of Norman castles. The final slide offers a suggestion for making a ‘castle’ booklet.

Dinosaur comprehension cards. Set of 12. KS1/lower KS2. Each card includes a simple information about a dinosaur and eight questions for pupils to retrieve from the text. Simple layout for pupils to find information easily and an engaging picture of each subject on the card. Can also be used without the comprehension questions as a reference resource for pupils to research a dinosaur independently.

Dinosaur fact cards. Set of 12 KS1/KS2. Can be used as a game to help pupils learn the names and characteristics of the individual dinosaurs. Use also as a reference resource for research work on Dinosaur topic, Science /non-fiction writing. Each card has a brief fact about location, date, appearance, teeth, fun fact and a general information section. Simple layout for pupils to find information easily and an engaging picture of each dinosaur. Dinosaurs included: Triceratops, Stegosaurus, T-Rex, Diplodocus, Velociraptor, Brontosaurus, Pterosaur, Parasaurolophus, Nodosaur, Iguanodon, Spinosaurus, Scutellosaurus.

Tudor History full Y6 6-8 weeks unit of work ‘Off with their heads!’ covering the following learning objectives: • To know the names and order of the Tudor monarchs. • To know who was important in Tudor government and which people were the most powerful. • To understand why it was important for Henry V111 to marry Catherine of Aragon. • To explain why Henry V111 needed a healthy male heir and consider solutions. • To order the names of Henry V111’s wives and children and explain whether Henry’s marriages solved his problems. • To explain how and why the religion of England changed during Henry V111’s reign. • To explain how England was ruled after Henry V111’s death. • To consider the reign of Mary Tudor and judge the impact of her rule on England. The power-point contains 98 slides which include the 6/8 week planning grid. There are interactive pupil tasks, prepared factsheets to guide pupil research, a range of worksheets and tasks to scaffold the Tudor family tree, ruling hierarchy etc. Also sentence starter exercises and drama activities, sorting activities (Catholic and Protestant), letter and portrait discussion stimulus and link to You tube clip. There are also opportunities for pupils to complete written tasks and summaries. My class of Y6 enjoyed these lessons and particularly engaged with the drama tasks of Conscience Alley and Hot Seating.

I made this resource for Y5 to research simple facts about their sporting favourites in a practical and fun way. the children loved to activity and really enjoyed reading each-other’s work which we made into a colourful display. Useful fun activity for any event in the annual sporting calendar (World Cup, Olympics, Rugby etc).

I made this template for KS2 to make simple topic research and information gathering more practical and fun but I have also used it with groups in KS1. The children cut out the ‘head and shoulders’ template and decorate it as their chosen historical character (it could be anyone from the past eg. Kings & Queens, explorers, inventors, designers etc). Then the children cut out the paper strips and complete the spaces beneath the headings. They make a colourful and informative class display and the children love reading each other’s contributions.

A fun resource for pupils to make as a start of term or new class activity to share with friends/teacher and create a colourful display where every child can be represented. I used this template with KS2 pupils but it can also be used with KS1.

KS1/KS2 Matching pairs character cards. Set of 48 cards (24 pairs) for pupils. Useful for matching and pairing games, stimulating language and for book quizzes. Cut each picture, laminate or cover and pupils can use the cards more than once. Alternatively, the images can be used for pupils to use as part of a glue/stick activity. Images include the names of paired characters from books and movies for example: Pumba and Timon, Romeo and Juliet, Peter Pan and Wendy, Dr Who and the Daleks.

KS1 & 2 Biography planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own factual biographical writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing biographies and spaces for pupils to develop the structure of the biography about their chosen person or animal. Great to use following History /famous people/animals lesson or drama. Can also be used with most topics: My family, heroes, current or historical characters, explorers, travel, Halloween, etc.