Welcome to Goodeyedeers - the home of quality resources for primary teachers. Visit us and check out some great ideas.
I'm Mike Jackson, a former primary headteacher. I've teamed up with a fellow retiree David Horner who was a freelance children's poet delivering poetry workshops to children and teachers in schools across this country and abroad.
Between us, we bring an extensive wealth of knowledge and experience to the task of creating quality resources.
Welcome to Goodeyedeers - the home of quality resources for primary teachers. Visit us and check out some great ideas.
I'm Mike Jackson, a former primary headteacher. I've teamed up with a fellow retiree David Horner who was a freelance children's poet delivering poetry workshops to children and teachers in schools across this country and abroad.
Between us, we bring an extensive wealth of knowledge and experience to the task of creating quality resources.
The four resources in this bundle are all suitable for children in upper KS2 and KS3.
These presentations are an introduction to Shakespeare’s rich, Elizabethan language. They consist of:
1. William Shakespeare - His Rich Language and Rude Words and Insults. (PowerPoint lesson) Here the children look at ‘The Tempest’ and ‘Love’s Labour’s Lost’ and the focus is on the end rhymes of the songs. It’s a different activity for each song, but the invitation to young readers is to do the editing and in so doing, play with and engage with the language in an active, creative way.
2. Edit Shakespeare's Language and Become a Wide-Eyed Waffle-Cake. (PowerPoint lesson) Here the children look at ‘The Tempest’ and songs from ‘Cymbelene’ and ‘Hamlet’. The problem is that the songs’ lines and their verses have been hopelessly jumbled. The challenge is to edit these line and verses into their correct order.
3.William Shakespeare - Lost Treasures and a Shopping List. (PowerPoint lesson) Here the children look at songs in ‘The Winter’s Tale’ and ‘Twelfth Night’. In one case the t lines from two songs have somehow become mixed up and entangled and must be both re-ordered and separated into two separate pieces. Then we look at a song rich in items of the Elizabethan age. The draft gives these items in a separate list but unfortunately, they are missing from the text. The students are asked to insert them into the correct places to complete the song.
4. William Shakespeare - Man of Mystery. We know very little about Shakespeare’s life. We know he was born in 1564, but we don’t know the exact date. He is buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-Upon-Avon but we don’t know exactly when he died. This PDF explores further this ‘Man of Mystery’ and his work.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals.
This powerpoint presentation introduces the children to the idea of ‘Spelling Riddles’. They are shown a couple of examples and then Hetti shows them how to make their own using the spellings from the Year 3/4 Word List.
Children like a chance to ask the questions! Along with the exclusive concern with the Word List words, the focus is wholly on the child’s learning of the words - crucially learning by doing. Initially solving and then creating riddles keeps the child curious, in control and mentally active.
The presentation also introduces them to Hetti from Planet SPaG, who talks about her love of words. Did you know Hetti was able to digest and learn the whole list in just 7 seconds!
Included in the package is a copy of the Year 3/4 Word List and a photocopiable grid to help the children create their own Spelling Riddles.
If you and your children enjoy this resource then please let us and others know by leaving a review. Many thanks.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals
This William Shakespeare resource package we look at drafts of songs in ‘The Winter’s Tale’ and ‘Twelfth Night’, all buried until now in an old wooden chest.
In the Powerpoint presentation, Professor Bacon is your guide to first drafts of these Shakespearean songs lost till now in this old trunk.
In one case the problem is that lines from two songs have somehow become mixed up and entangled and must be both re-ordered and separated into two separate pieces. Though to quote A A Milne, “One advantage of being disorderly is that one is constantly making exciting discoveries”.
Then finally Professor Bacon looks at a song rich in items of the Elizabethan age. The draft gives these items in a separate list but unfortunately, they are missing from the text. The students are asked to insert them into the correct places to complete the song.
As Professor Bacon would say, calling upon his vast knowledge of Shakespearean insults and compliments -
'You’d rather have delicate, tender-hearted pigeon-eggs for company than spleeny, clay-brained varlets – wouldn’t you?'
As well as the presentation, this package includes all necessary texts for photocopying and editing.
Ideal for children in Upper KS2 and KS3.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals.
We know very little about William Shakespeare’s life. This PDF explores the life of this ‘Man of Mystery’ and his work. It includes the following:
A series of facts about William Shakespeare that you may not know.
A quiz matching his plays to their settings.
He spelt his name a number of different ways. How many ways can you spell yours?
A Shakespearean insult and compliments generator.
Ideas as to how you can use these new insults and compliments.
What an Elizabethan lady might wear based on the song sung by Autolycus from The Winters Tale.
Three ideas to help you write your own Shakespeare songs.
Ideal for children in Upper KS2 and Lower KS3.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals.
This bundle of resources gives children a variety of exercises designed at helping them to learn the spellings from the Year 5/6 National Curriculum Word List.
This includes PowerPoint lessons to be used with the whole class or groups and workbooks for the children to work through at their own pace.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals
Here are some great ideas for an exciting lesson about writing some spine-chilling cinquain poems for Halloween.
Within the printable PDF you will find:
Facts about Halloween.
Details about what a cinquain poem is and who invented the format.
A detailed lesson plan to get the children learning about syllables and write their own cinquains.
Writing templates for the children to both draft their poems and display the finished ones.
If you enjoy this resource we would love you to tell your friends and leave us a review. Many thanks.
The money raised from the sale of this resource is donated to the charity MedEquip4Kids.
Welcome to our Goodeyedeers e-book all about using haiku in your classroom.
We want to share with you a number of fun ways that you can use haiku with your children to help them reinforce different literacy skills.
We will begin by explaining where haiku poetry originates and how it is set out. Then we are going to explore a number of different and fun ways you can use haiku. These will include:
Haiku and Word Definitions - from your chosen word list look up the definitions of the words in the dictionary and use these to write a haiku.
Haiku and Word Meanings - children write haiku to show they understand the meaning of words from their word list.
Haiku and Synonyms and Antonyms - use a thesaurus, then refine your word choices to fit the haiku form.
Haiku and Semi-Colons - a chance to practise using semi-colons.
Haiku and Dinosaurs - can you get a set of facts paraphrased into just 17 syllables?
Haiku and Lists - any list at all – football teams, dinosaurs, weather, car makes, foods – so long as you can fit them into the haiku form.
Haiku and Rhyming - this doesn’t usually happen with haiku - but it is fun to give it a try.
Haiku and Alliteration - we start with some simple alliteration and finish by creating haiku tongue twisters.
In this PowerPoint lesson the children discover how to create interesting haiku using the definitions of words from their word list or spelling list.
This fun and engaging lesson will have your class using a dictionary to find definitions of selected words; discover what a haiku is; explore how all the words we use contain syllables and then use this information to create their own haiku.
The resource includes:
A PowerPoint lesson that takes the children through the entire process.
Teachers’ Notes including a worksheet to help the children write their haiku
The resulting haiku poems the children create would make an excellent addition to a class word wall.
If you find this resource useful please tell your friends and a review would be amazing. Many thanks.
Mike and David from Goodeyedeers.
This bundle of resources gives children a variety of exercises designed to help them learn the spellings from the Year 3/4 National Curriculum Word List.
This includes PowerPoint lessons to be used with the whole class or groups and workbooks for the children to work through at their own pace.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals
Times Tables Twisters' is a great resource that gives you differentiated activities that can be used to combine the learning of times tables with the writing of tongue twisters. It can be delivered as a class lesson or used by individual children on their iPads.
The children meet Terry who, like many children, was finding the learning of his times tables difficult, until he came up with this unique way of remembering them. In these PowerPoint lessons Terry describes, in detail, how he uses his times tables to create some interesting tongue twisters.
All the money raised from the sale of this resource goes to MedEquip4Kids. This is a local charity for children that works with medical staff, community nurses and other registered charities to provide equipment and improve facilities in hospitals.
What do you call a jumbo jet before it’s painted?
The answer to this riddle (which you will find near the bottom of this page) is a pair of homophones. Children love solving riddles and also creating their own.
This material can be used across KS1 – KS3 to both introduce the concept of homophones to younger children and for re-visiting it in subsequent years to consolidate the children’s knowledge.
This resource is intended to foster youngster’s confidence and skill in navigating the quirks of English spelling by making it a game to engage with, rather than a problem to worry about.
In the PowerPoint presentation the children are introduced to an alien creature called Korb who lives on the far away planet of SPaG. Korb explains to the children what a homophone is and then shows them how they can create teasing riddles. The answer to each riddle is always a pair of homophone words.
Look out for another Goodeyedeers resource called ‘Homophone Riddle-Poems’ where you will meet Korb’s alien friend, Riya.
The answer to the riddle at the top of this page is – a plain plane!
All the money raised from the sale of this resources is donated to a local charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
Here is a riddle - ‘While I can catch these with a worm I wouldn’t put one in a Victoria sponge.’
The answer to this riddle (which you can find near the bottom of this page) is a noun phrase. Children both love solving riddles and also creating their own. In this activity they work in pairs to create their own riddle-poems.
This material can be used across KS1 – KS3 to both introduce the concept of noun phrases to younger children and for re-visiting it in subsequent years to consolidate the children’s knowledge.
In the PowerPoint presentation the children are introduced to the alien creatures Yce and Melo who both live on the far away planet of SPaG. Between them they talk the children through what a noun phrase is and then show them how they can work in pairs to create teasing riddle-poems. The answer to each riddle-poem is always a noun phrase.
The basis of the activity is an exciting word game which is played in pairs. To play the game you are provided with a photocopiable grid of 32 squares featuring 16 different noun phrases.
This resource is intended to foster youngster’s confidence and skill in navigating the quirks of English spelling, by making it a game to engage with, rather than a problem to worry about.
Look out for another Goodeyedeers resource called ‘Noun Phrase Riddles’ where you will again meet the friendly alien Yce.
The answer to the riddle at the top of this page is – ‘fish cake’
All the money raised from the sale of this resources is donated to a local charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
If you enjoy using this resource then please leave us a review. Thanks.
This 50 slide Powerpoint presentation invites pupils to:
explore words that are newly-coined and popular, and words that are worn-out and forgotten;
examine the way new words enter the language, looking at examples ranging from William Shakespeare to Dr. Seuss and Lewis Carroll to Roald Dahl;
look closely at how words in dictionaries are included, organised and presented;
use this knowledge to become lexicographers to create a mini-dictionary from the words of an anonymous nonsense poem.
The National Curriculum consistently asks that pupils remain curious and interested in language.
KS2 - *“During Years 5 and 6, teachers should continue to emphasise pupils’ enjoyment and understanding of language, especially vocabulary.” *
A central theme in KS3 is that pupils *“…be taught to consolidate and build on their knowledge of grammar and vocabulary.” *
As well as the PowerPoint presentation this resource includes the text of the nonsense poem ‘The Cruise of the ‘P.C.’
All the money raised from the sale of this resources is donated to a local charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
If you enjoy using this resource then please leave us a review. Thanks.
An ideal lesson for Years 5, 6 and 7.
Here is a riddle for you to solve - “This aquarium has a big gun on the top.” What is the homonym answer?
The answer to this riddle (which you can find near the bottom of this page) is a homonym. Children both love solving riddles and also creating their own. In this activity, they discover how to create riddles where the answer is a homonym.
This material can be used to both introduce the concept of homonyms to younger children and for re-visiting it in subsequent years to consolidate the older children’s knowledge.
In the PowerPoint presentation, the children are introduced to Freddy, the dictionary monster who eats homonyms and spits out riddles. He explains to the children what a homonym is and then shows them how they can create their own teasing homonym riddles.
This resource is intended to foster youngster’s confidence and skill in navigating the quirks of English spelling, by making it a game to engage with, rather than a problem to worry about.
Look out for another Goodeyedeers resource called ‘Homonym Riddle-Poems'.
The answer to the riddle at the top of this page is – ‘tank’
All the money raised from the sale of this resources is donated to a local charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
If you enjoy using this resource then please leave us a review. Many thanks.
Here is a riddle - ‘Is it possible to use these bones to open my front door?’
The answer to this riddle (which you can find near the bottom of this page) is a noun phrase. Children both love solving riddles and also creating their own. In this activity they will discover how to create their own noun phrase riddles.
This material can be used across KS1 – KS3 to both introduce the concept of noun phrases to younger children and for re-visiting it in subsequent years to consolidate the children’s knowledge.
In the PowerPoint presentation the children are introduced to the friendly alien creature Yce who lives on the far away planet of SPaG. He talks the children through what a noun phrase is and then shows them how they can create some teasing riddles. The answer to each riddle is always a noun phrase.
This resource is intended to foster youngster’s confidence and skill in navigating the quirks of English spelling, by making it a game to engage with, rather than a problem to worry about.
Look out for another Goodeyedeers resource called ‘Noun Phrase Riddle-Poems’ where you will again meet Yce and his equally charming alien friend called Melo.
The answer to the riddle at the top of this page is – ‘skeleton key’
All the money raised from the sale of this resources is donated to a local charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
If you enjoy using this resource then please leave us a review. Thanks.
A riddle for you to solve - “Join this and it can hit you hard.” What is the homonym answer?
The answer to this riddle (which you can find near the bottom of this page) is a homonym. Children both love solving riddles and also creating their own. In this activity they work in pairs to create their own riddle-poems.
In the PowerPoint presentation the children are introduced to the alien creatures Yos and Jayla who both live on the far away planet of SPaG. Between them they talk the children through what a homonym is and then show them how they can work in pairs to create teasing riddle-poems. The answer to each riddle-poem is always a homonym.
The basis of the activity is an exciting word game which is played in pairs. To play the game you are provided with a photocopiable grid of 32 squares featuring 16 different noun phrases.
This resource is intended to foster youngster’s confidence and skill in navigating the quirks of English spelling, by making it a game to engage with, rather than a problem to worry about.
Look out for another Goodeyedeers resource called ‘Homonym Riddles' where you will again meet Yos.
The answer to the riddle at the top of this page is – ‘club’
All the money raised from the sale of this resources is donated to a local charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
If you enjoy using this resource then please leave us a review. Many thanks
In this PowerPoint presentation, our very own children’s poet in residence here at Goodeyedeers, David Horner, will talk your children through a clever way to write a poem for their mum for Mother’s Day. It is a ‘Recipe Poem’.
The presentation takes the children through the entire process step by step.
At the end they children will have written a recipe poem describing what goes in to making a great mum - it is bound to melt the hearts of the mums who receive them.
If you and your children enjoy this lesson then watch out for our other Mother’s Day poetry lessons - there will be four in total.
We would love to know what you think of our resources, so why not leave us a review.
All the money raised from the sale of our resources is donated to a local northwest charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
All the images used are from Pixabay.
This Father’s Day poetry idea is developed from playing a simple word association game.
In this PowerPoint presentation, the well known children’s poet, David Horner, will talk the children through a clever way to write a poem for their dad for Father’s Day.
The new words they come up with in the word association game will be used to create four line verses, each ending with the same refrain.
The presentation takes the children through the process step by step.
At the end all the children will have written a four verse poem that will warm the hearts of the dads who receive them.
If you and your children enjoy this lesson then watch out for our other Father’s Day poetry lessons - there will be four in total.
Father’s Day Poetry - Make A Recipe for Your Dad
Father’s Day Poetry - The Magic Box
Father’s Day Poetry - Using Metaphors
We would love to know what you think of our resources, so please leave us a review.
All the money raised from the sale of our resources is donated to a local northwest charity for children called MedEquip4Kids.
A poetry workshop for lower KS2. Here is a chance for you to have a real poet in your classroom.
In this resource package David Horner, children’s poet in residence here at Goodeyedeers, shares with you a typical session he did when he was working in schools across the country and abroad.
A comprehensive set of notes set out in detail how David would have organised a typical visit to school. The package also includes all the resources you will need to duplicate the sessions:
Three animated videos where David reads out three of his poems using a number of unusual characters to help him!
Text of each of these poems for the children to have as they follow the readings.
Suggestions, in the Teachers’ Notes, as to how you might follow this first session up.
A PowerPoint containing a complete workshop lesson for you to do with the children to get them writing their own poetry.
A set of notes to accompany each of the slides that talk you through the lesson.
We hope that you and your class enjoy this resource.
If you have any comments we would love to hear from you.
You can leave a review or contact us through Twitter @goodeyedeers
