I have been teaching a long time. I enjoy creating theme based units of work that include activities relating to several subject areas. I like creating language arts and research units. I also have a passion for poetry, teaching and writing.
I have been teaching a long time. I enjoy creating theme based units of work that include activities relating to several subject areas. I like creating language arts and research units. I also have a passion for poetry, teaching and writing.
This is a Language and research unit of work written for students around medieval themes. The unit has numerous activities that will appeal to various age groups, as individual tasks, group activities, extension, as a book of work to be completed etc. I have tried to arrange the activities around a short story that I have written, A Knight’s Tale! I have tried to balance language and research activities in this unit.
This is a standalone unit on medieval times, it is also a part of a larger unit I have written called Dragon and Medieval Themed Unit.
Contents:
A Knight’s Tale!
Change the Ending
Idioms
Design the Castle
Damsel in Distress
Synonyms
Coat of Arms
Shields
Medieval Research – Weapons
Medieval Research – Siege Weaponry
Technology and Military Developments
A Day in the Life of a Medieval Knight
Medieval Clothing
Medieval – War Games
Castles
Inside the Castle
The Black Death
Medieval Food
Limericks
Medieval Wonderword
Tapestries
UPDATED 11/2016
These cards are designed as extension for those students who often complete their work at a faster rate.
The cards could also be fun for the whole class. The activities on the cards are creative and imaginative and require the students, in some cases, to use problem solving skills.
Students are required to draw, list, invent, design and adapt to a number of different situations.
This is a Valentine’s Day mini unit. I have designed this unit to highlight that Valentine’s Day does not exclusively mean the love between male and female. It is a “Love” celebration and there are numerous types of love.
I have tried to include a variety of activities that will engage the students. I have “gone over the top” using colour and decoration, could be classified as gaudy.
The students are asked to source information on the history of the holiday; St Valentine’s Day customs celebrated in various countries; great love stories from history; write Valentine’s Day Card poetry; construct a simple origami Valentine Holder and use the templates to make their own cards.
There are 9 pages of living things research topics, space to illustrate and answers. The research is based on the letters of the alphabet, so the sheets can be distributed to the students as a research project over time. Alternatively, the sheets can be cut into 26 individual smaller projects, I have found in the past that this is a good activity for students who finish work quickly or are motivated to do more work.
When the questions have been answered, the students illustrate the subject of their research on the sheet.
Answers included.
This is a unit of work designed to instruct primary students in the correct usage of conjunctions.
The unit consists of 31 pages of grammar activities, including 2 tests and 11 Conjunction Posters.
Included in the package are exercises to instruct in the correct usage of coordinating, subordinating and correlative conjunctions.
This is a 45 page unit of work using clowns and circus as the predominant learning theme. The unit has activities that can be used over a period of time and be adapted to suit different age groups.
The writing in the unit, The Lonely Clown and Clowns have been written by me.
Related terms;
Narrative poetry
Circus poetry writing
Circus facts
Circus Vocabulary
Clown Faces
Picture Comprehension – The Lonely Clown
The Lonely Clown
Clowns – Poetry
Dictionary Exercises and Sentence Writing
Circus Food
Circus Glossary
Facts and Opinions
Statements
Fact or Opinion
Emotive Language
Circus Animal Research
Circus Animal Research
Circus Idioms
Personification
Alliteration
Alliteration Poetry
The Circus (by C. J. Dennis)
Circus Attractions
Weary Willie
Circus Posters
Tautology
The Band (by C.J.Dennis)
Famous Circus Companies
Circus Wonderword
The Cirque du Soleil
Types of Clowns
An original set of 20 Task Cards designed to stimulate creativity and imagination.
The cards can be used as group or individual activities. As a group activity the cards foster communication and discussion in order to solve the problems.
In a mixed ability class, I found it necessary to have activities available for those students who complete work quickly. Not simply more work but tasks that the students would consider challenging and enjoyable.
This is a 26 paged Christmas themed unit of work with answers. There are various activities for the students to complete. This unit contains a wide variety of activities to stimulate their imaginations and prepare them for the holiday.
Christmas Quiz and answers
Christmas Alphabet Poetry
Creative Christmas Writing
My Christmas Gift List
Santa Letter
Santa’s Assistant Job Application
Christmas Cinquain Poetry Writing
Christmas words – Alphabetical Order
Short Story Planner
Short Story Writing
Christmas Sentence Writing
Christmas Cards
Christmas Drawing
Wish List
Poetry Writing
Intense Colouring
More Colouring
Christmas Poetry
This is 37 pages of eclectic activities based on the symbols of Christmas. Our students (all of us) are so excited and interested in the Christmas seasons for a variety of reasons, good times with family members, catching up with relatives, presents, food, holidays, snow etc.
We do not take the time to think about our traditions. We put up the tree and decorate it (but why?), we hang stockings (but why?), and wreaths go on front doors (but why?). Do we know the origins of Santa and that we are celebrating Jesus’ birthday?
This is a unit that will allow the students to research some of these questions…and partake in some fun activities as well. It will depend on you, as the teacher, whether you want the students to simply complete the unit as is or expand it to suit your class. This unit is suitable for many different age levels.
This unit could be used as the basis for decorating your classroom with Christmas craft ideas of the Christmas symbols.
Christmas Candles
Angels
Christmas Decorations
Shepherds
Fables
Wreaths
The Nativity
Christmas Carols
Xmas
Gifts
Holly
Christmas tree
Mistletoe
Yule log
St Nicholas
Christmas cake
Christmas stocking
Christmas crackers
Christmas cards
Christmas cookies
Tinsel
Poinsettia
Gingerbread
Christmas bells
Christmas wonderwords
Idioms
Three wise Men
Christmas Comprehension
Christmas Writing
This is a 30 page poetry unit based on the theme of Christmas. I am surprised at myself. I find that I have this urge, later in life, to write poetry. I do not mean “stuffy” (as the kids would say) but, hopefully, fun poetry. I am enjoying this new side of me, as I am also finding that story ideas are coming to me out of “nowhere”.
I digress, I have written all of the poems in this unit. All of the poems require the students to think about the words and answer questions or write poetry themselves. Each of the poetry activities are different and require different skills from your students.
I have written a poem titled “Prepare for the Day.” And the students need to think about what happens on Christmas Day, students will write a poetry storyboard, illustrate, answer questions about the poems, they will write their own poetry,
Bookmarks to be had and the opportunity to write poetry using a Christmas picture.
I do hope that you students enjoy completing this unit as much as I enjoyed writing it.
This unit has 27 pages of activities that can be used in a variety of ways:
1. Homework activities over several weeks.
2. Directed lessons in the classroom situation
3. Extension work
4. Individual contract work
• Common sayings and Colloquialisms
• Conjunctions and contractions
• Apostrophes
• Short Story Writing
• Vocabulary/Writing
• Puzzles
• Alphabetical Order
• Flags of the World
• Synonyms and Antonyms
• Rivers of the World
• Homonyms
• Dictionary Exercises
• Improve your word skills
• Choose the right word
• Nouns
• Gender of nouns
• Countries and their Capital Cities
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Answers
Thanksgiving Story to read and Illustrate.
I have written a short story about how and why Thanksgiving is celebrated every year. The story is revealed in dialogue between a grandfather and his grandson, Paul.
The story has been written as a picture book. With all picture books it is essential for the illustration to match the part of the story unfolding on each page.
This package consists of:
• Story picture Book
• Title page
• Dedication
• 12 pages of story
• End page
• Back cover
• Instruction page
• Photos of simple binding methods
• Comprehension question page
I envisage several ways of using this book.
• For the younger classes, each page can be treated
separately. A page is read and the students illustrate.
Each child will have their own copy and can
follow the story as it is read to them. The
comprehension questions on the attached
sheet can be modified per ability.
• Older students will be able to read the story for themselves
and illustrate accordingly.
• I have included some photos of easy binding processes,
however, there are many binding ideas. Eg stapling the
pages together and covering the staples with a strip of
patterned contact or coloured paper. (photo included)
• This book can be used as an incentive to encourage the
students to write their stories to create a picture book of their
own.
I hope the students enjoy illustrating the story and creating their own picture book, and in doing so, improve their knowledge of the holiday and their reading skills.
I have written the story of the birth of Jesus in the stable in Bethlehem. The story is written in picture book style but without the illustrations. I have tried, on each page, to ensure that the words are descriptive thus allowing the students to illustrate to the words, which is an essential criterion for Picture Books.
I envisage several ways of using this book but you will have ideas of your own.
• For the younger classes, each page can be treated separately. A page is read and the students illustrate.
• Each child will have their own copy and can
Follow along with the story as it is read to them.
• The older students will be able to read the story for themselves
and illustrate accordingly.
• I have included some photos of an easy binding process; however, there are many binding ideas.
• This book can be used as an incentive to encourage the students to write their stories to create a picture book of their own.
I hope the students enjoy illustrating the story and creating their own picture book, and in doing so, learn about the holiday season.
I have included several different methods that the students could use to illustrate this book. Many students protest that they cannot “draw”, however I have tried to include other methods of illustrating the pages.
This unit contains 24 pages of Language exercises.
The unit provides the students exercises in developing various literacy skills. The work unit could be used as an introduction to skills or practice for students. I have used similar units in the past as homework activities to be completed in their own time over a period, usually a week.
Within the unit, there are examples of:
Sentence Writing
Creatures and their homes
Sentence writing
Seasons Story Writing
Story writing
Statements to questions
Adjectives
Gender
Proverbs
Antonyms & Synonyms
Categorizing
Adverbs
Odd word out!
Colouring
This unit contains 10 pages of mainly geography based general knowledge questions. There are various types of activities, most of them require the students to conduct research and find answers to the questions.
We all have the lessons that finish 5 or 10 minutes before breaks, there is not enough time to begin another topic and too long for the students to sit not doing work. I would create different activities and the student could choose what they wanted to do, it kept them interested, filled in the excess time and they learned as well.
These worksheets can be used in a variety of ways, they were suitable as homework activities, used as group work to encourage discussion, for those students who always finished their work quickly or kept in a booklet that the students could complete during the term.
Countries and Capitals.
National Flags.
Landmarks.
Islands and Oceans.
American States and Capitals.
Traditional Foods.
Famous People.
Rivers and Cities.
Answers are included in the unit.
This unit contains 10 pages of mainly geography based general knowledge questions. There are various types of activities, most of them require the students to conduct research and find answers to the questions.
We all have the lessons that finish 5 or 10 minutes before breaks, there is not enough time to begin another topic and too long for the students to sit not doing work. I would create different activities and the student could choose what they wanted to do, it kept them interested, filled in the excess time and they learned as well.
These worksheets can be used in a variety of ways, they were suitable as homework activities, used as group work to encourage discussion, for those students who always finished their work quickly or kept in a booklet that the students could complete during the term.
Ports & Bays
Bridges & Buildings
Deserts, Jungles and Waterfalls.
Lakes and Mountains.
Who Wrote these Children’s Classics?
Countries and Capitals.
Flags.
American States and Capitals.
Populations.
Answers are included in the unit.
My Fill-er-in-er-ers contain 10 pages of mainly geography based general knowledge questions. There are various types of activities, most of them require the students to conduct research and find answers to the questions.
We all have the lessons that finish 5 or 10 minutes before breaks, there is not enough time to begin another topic and too long for the students to sit not doing work. I would create different activities and the student could choose what they wanted to do, it kept them interested, filled in the excess time and they learned as well.
I used the Fill-er-in-er-ers in other ways as well. They were suitable as homework activities, used as group work to encourage discussion, for those students who always finished their work quickly or kept in a booklet that the students could complete during the term.
Answers are included in the unit.
This is a collection of 50 task cards written using well known quotes from the plays written by William Shakespeare. These cards can be used in a variety of ways; as individual or group tasks, homework, extension or whole class activity. I am sure that you will know of the best ways to use them with your class.
I have also included pages that contain only the 50 quotes. I have found, in the past that it is an interesting and valuable experience to give the students a quote, 5 quotes a lesson, or as you wish and have them write what they perceive the quote means. Very interesting activities
There is a total of 37 pages, including the task cards, a list of all of the quotes used and answers.
Endangered Species of The World. Research & Language Arts
Unit
Environmental Worksheets and Activities. There are 51 pages of activities based around the theme of species that are in danger of extinction. There are too many species to be covered in these pages, so I have kept the emphasis on animals. The students will investigate the different world habitats, for example, rainforests, polar regions, to discover the natives of these regions and why these habitats are changing and nature is being threatened.
As well as the research aspects of this unit, the students partake in geography, mapping design, art, poetry appreciation and writing, creative and structured writing and word studies.
This unit could be used as a base for several grades, from Year 6 to 8. The activities could be changed to accommodate the differing age groups.
Christmas writing activities to stimulate the imagine. All of the cards are based around the Christmas theme, a topic that is familiar to students and a prospect that excites them.
The natural progression, hopefully, is that the students will want to write.
Christmas Symbols
Christmas Themed Task Cards
Christmas Unit
Christmas Story Starters
A Christmas Unit