These are just some book discussion ideas used to challenge Upper KS2. The book talk looked for evidence that the book is a comedy, evidence that the book is about a tryanny and evidence of themes. We also discussed our likes and dislikes and words we felt described the book. We also looked at words used by reviewers to describe Wed Wabbit and decided if we did, or did not agree with their opinion . There are examples of the response to the topics by a child included as a model. There are also blank sheets for pupils to fill in their own discussion ideas. The words that have been used by critics to describe the book to promote discussion is also included.

Finding the main idea - 1- 2- 3- 1 reading comprehension organiser

Book Review Upper Key Stage 2 & Key Stage 3 and character traits sheets to assist with describing character.

Character - positive character traits vocab building list. I cut up the words and pupils sorted the list into words they knew, thought they might know and definitely didn't know. Words could also be used to sort, for example, words with linked meanings and made into Mind Maps. Suited to some pupils in Upper Key Stage 2, but also some pupils in Key Stage 3 and 4.

Character - negative character traits vocab building list. I cut up the words and pupils sorted the list into words they knew, thought they might know and definitely didn't know. Words could also be used to sort, for example, words with linked meanings and made into Mind Maps. Suited to some pupils in Upper Key Stage 2, but also some pupils in Key Stage 3 and 4.

KS2 convert simple sentences to complex (telling myth of Osiris) & PPTX on complex sentences. Ideal for topic on Ancient Egypt! Aimed at Upper Key Stage 2.

Finding the main idea - pupils find headings for paragraphs in a desert information text.

The Tutankhamun newspaper is written to demonstrate newspaper genre features such as, lead line telling the 5Ws, embedded clauses , synonyms, columns and quotations. There are detailed teaching notes and differentiated support planners to scaffold the writing to get good understanding of the newspaper genre and a good piece of writing.

4-3-2-1 strategy reading comprehension sheet for use with any non-fiction text.

321 Reading Strategy Worksheet for use with any non fiction text.

There is an example of a holiday brochure tour of Egypt to demonstrate persuasive techniques, including the use of Imperative verbs and adjectives. Children then use the text and the planning worksheet to write their own holiday tour of Egypt. Pupils can use their own knowledge of places from their work on Ancient Egypt, but they don't need to, because places are mentioned in the example holiday brochure for them to use. Extension task - there is an example of an Egyptian holiday brochure, again written to demonstrate genre features and persuasive techniques. There is a scaffold frame, so pupils can produce their own realistic hotel brochures. There are also images included for pupils to add images to make their persuasive holiday work look authentic.

This is a great lesson on character. The modelled writing task makes pupils focus on Dahl's style. There are two word documents for pupils to adapt to create modelled character descriptions. See the two pdfs which show the work produced by the task.

These worksheets improve creative writing by getting pupils to reveal clues that show how a character feels, rather than through simply telling, for example ' they are angry.' There are two aimed at different ability levels. They can then be used as a resource for their own creative writing.

These pictures help pupils to see the imagery used by Dahl to describe Miss Trunchbull. The worksheet requires pupils to find the connotations, for example, in what way is Miss Trunchbull like an 'enraged rhinocerous'?

A structured comprehension task grid, for Upper KS2, showing pupils how to find evidence of the character of Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey from Dahl's Matilda. Pupils find quotations from the text to make the character points and then fill in an explanation of how the quote proves the point. There is also an extension task with a different character text, a worksheet recapping how to find evidence of character and a bookmark reminding pupils how to write about characters. There are also images for discussing the similes.

This is a suspense story about being locked in the Egyptian Gallery of a museum over night. This is a word document, so can be used as an ICT text for pupils. The pupils are instructed to improve and finish the story, using techniques (such as, adding description of the character's feelings, describing sounds and setting). There is a self assessment worksheet ( that proves far more effective than success criteria) and also detailed teaching notes.

I find these so useful, because they make children self assess. The work because they make pupils notice the features that will improve their descriptive writing and story writing. I find these a much more effective tool than success criteria. Children don't always take ownership of targets or success criteria, but this encourages them to reflect critically on their writing and make progress. The self assessment worksheets are differentiated.