Nine Skim and Scan activities based on a range of historical sources such as Tutankhamen’s Tomb, Zeus, Titanic and the Blitz. Students are required to read a short extract and then locate a range of words within a time limit - just like a wordsearch! These have proven very popular with my class and helps with speedy retrieval skills in preparation for the SATs.

Introduce your class to Roald Dahl with these skim and scan activities. Designed to improve quick recall and retrieval skills, children must locate words - like a literary word search! Included here are extracts from The Witches, The BFG, Matilda & more. My class really enjoy using a timer to try and improve their speed

A Skim and Scan activity for UKS2 - children have a designated amount of time to read the text and locate specific words. Bonus activity included. Designed to support speed reading and suitable for SAT practice. Also sized for easy cropping if needed to be stuck into books as evidence. This activity uses a famous scene from Peter Pan that could be accompanied by use of the film for a guided reading session.

A selection of texts for students to engage with Shakespeare and focus on quick retrieval skills. Monologues from plays, sonnets and abridged extracts from popular adaptions are all included to immerse and inspire the young Shakespeare student. No previous Shakespeare knowledge required.

Six differentiated Skim & Scan activities to aid speedy retrieval skills in preparation for KS2 reading SAT. My class enjoyed having an IWB timer and trying to beat the clock.

UKS2 Reading Comprehension using Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Questions linked to vocabulary, inference, prediction, etc. Answers provided.

Four writing activities with a Christmas Theme linked to Harry Potter and the Wizarding World. Text types include: Diary, Setting Description, Instructions, and Letter-writing. Ideal for inspiration, homework, home-schooling, extension activity or whole class writing. Word banks included.

15 Speaking and Listening activities to engage learners and spark debate. Each activity is linked to fairy tales and requires thought and explanation. Activities could be used as English starters or as a whole class Speaking and Listening lesson. Children are required to consider word choices, persuasive skills, explanation, summary and debate all through the spoken word.

A range of writing opportunities linked to fairy tales. Each prompt includes: Key Questions, Vocabulary, Grammar advice and other support. Writing texts include: Fiction, Report, Persuasion & Discussion. This resource could be used in whole class writing, extension for greater depth, homework, homeschooling and/or group writing.

A PowerPoint presentation: each slide poses a discussion linked to fictional worlds. A variety of texts have been referred to but this could easily be edited to make it more applicable to a particular class. ‘Would you rather?’ questions are mixed with more detailed challenges involving vocabulary for effect and explaining preferences. It also allows students to consider what their own personally created fictional world might be like.

Fourteen spelling, grammar & punctuation activities linked to fictional lands. Each activity is supplied on a PowerPoint and on a word document so that they can be used as part of whole class teaching or as independent tasks. One way I used this resource was to supply students with all of the tasks and asked them to order them from easiest to hardest prior to working on them. We then were able to discuss how we would approach each challenge. GAP objectives covered include: sentence structure and function, colons and semi-colons, word classes, tense and synonyms. Activities inspired by Harry Potter, Tolkien, Eragon, Peter Pan, Wizard of Oz, amongst others.

This activity booklet supports writing a setting description in just SEVEN steps. Images are included as well as a word bank to support children who may need it. All steps are modelled and students follow the format to produce their own description. Could be used in class, as homework, or for home schooling. Suitable for KS2+.

PowerPoint and accompanying word document that uses Fantastic Beasts as a basis for a variety of Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation activities. It includes: Sentence Structure and Function Word Classes A variety of higher level punctuation: ; () , Tense and Passive Voice Synonyms/Antonyms Spelling

PowerPoint with different Sp&L activities based around Fantastic Beasts. Encourages children to explain their opinions and range from simple ‘Would you rather…?’ questions to more detailed challenges. Ideal for use as starters or as part of Guided Reading.