Blackout Poetry is a great creative pre-reading activity, and this activity focuses on the three different versions of the lullaby in Louis Sachar’s Holes. Different worksheets allow you to explore single stanzas, pairs of stanzas, or all three versions. You also have the option to use worksheets with fully redacted words, or redacted words with grammatical prompts (noun, adjective, verb, etc). Editable Google Apps version included, and all worksheets are provided in US letter size and UK A4 size.

Aimed at KS2 and KS3, use this figurative language worksheet as a starter, main, fast finisher or homework task in October! Use the Halloween theme to build your students’ understanding of alliteration, similes, personification, and onomatopoeia. This resource comes in US letter and UK A4 size, with a link to a Google Apps editable version. Black and white and colour versions provided. If you found this helpful, you might also like: Oracy Mats | Speaking and Listening | Prompts and Sentence Starters Oracy | Free Choice Talk | Individual Presentation | Planning Accuracy Passport | Improve Punctuation and Grammar | Literacy Secondary Grammar Mat | Supporting Writing | Literacy Secondary Punctuation Mat | Supporting Writing | Literacy Ambitious Sentence Structures Mat | Literacy Stretch | Challenge MAT Ambitious Punctuation Mat | Literacy Stretch | Challenge MAT Student Newsbites | Introduction Activity | Back to School Secondary Persuasive Writing Bingo | Any Topic | Differentiated Layouts Primary Persuasive Writing Bingo | Any Topic | Differentiated Layouts Primary Grammar Mat | Supporting Writing | Literacy Primary Punctuation Mat | Supporting Writing | Literacy Guided Practice | Literature Essay Frame

Kickstart or end your lessons with some creative thinking. Use as bellringers or brain breaks - reveal comparative images for the picture in the center of the slide, and ask your students to use the comparisons to write or share interesting similes. Google Slides version included!

Engage your students in some narrative or recount writing in the first week back at school by exploring a school day memory of their choice. This four-version differentiated graphic organiser is laid out like a lunch tray and you can either designate different prompt versions to different students, provide the blank one for class discussion and autonomy, or add your own prompts. Comes with editable Google Apps version and in both US and UK document sizes.

This abstract and concrete noun sorting activity is designed to prompt discussion as well as stretch learners and consolidate skills. Attractive flashcards come in three designs, and I have also included PNGs of image-only flashcards for you to add an extra layer of discussion, or to differentiate for your gifted and talented learners. The text on each flashcard is fully editable for you to adapt the font or change the language, making this set of cards a bilingual resource too!

A fun, thoughtful ‘would you rather’ slideshow and accompanying worksheets for KS3 and KS4 students with a back to school theme. For example, would your students rather do lessons one day a week without electricity, or one day a week outdoors in any weather, and why? Encourage discussion around fifteen prompt pairs, all focused on the school theme. Great for warm-ups, bell-ringers or brain breaks. Either use the PowerPoint alone for verbal responses, use the full worksheets as a longer activity, hand out individual pairs as slips for a quick task… or a use as a combination! US and UK document sizes included, and Google Apps versions with editable worksheets provided.

An all-year debate task for KS3 and KS4! Students represent or personify seasonal holidays and argue their place in top spot in the holiday rankings. This versatile, flexible activity can be assigned in a variety of ways (several suggestions included). Use the 21 pre-made seasonal celebration graphic organisers, or the generic version to assign totally different holidays. This 100-page resource includes both American and British celebrations, suggestions for additional celebrations, and both US and UK document sizes.

A self assessment form in high school not only lightens your workload, but it also allows students to reflect and evaluate their progress and open a dialogue with you as their teacher. Whether students are talking about an interest or hobby, or delivering their own Ted Talk, this task raises awareness of the communication skills required. This resource comes in both US and UK document sizes (with appropriate spellings), editable Google Apps, and prompts your students to consider the following: The topic of their presentation or talk How they planned for it Which speaking skills they used Which listening skills they used How they used them (giving examples) Confidence levels at the beginning, middle and end of the discussion Areas to improve based on the skills

A self assessment form in high school not only lightens your workload, but it also allows students to reflect and evaluate their progress and open a dialogue with you as their teacher. This resource comes in both US and UK document sizes (with appropriate spellings), editable Google Apps, and prompts your students to consider the following: The topic of discussion How they planned for it Which speaking skills they used Which listening skills they used How they used them (giving examples) Confidence levels at the beginning, middle and end of the discussion Areas to improve based on the skills

11 tasks on four worksheets. Each task focuses on an image within the novel Of Mice and Men. Use individually as bell-ringers, starters, plenaries, brain breaks, or give groups of students different pictures for a more developed discussion lesson. These worksheets are best printed as a booklet. I have also provided US letter and UK A4 size documents, and Google Apps versions of the resources for you to edit as needed, including a Google Slides set of the images for those of us that don’t have colour printing!

This editable A-Z of persuasive devices and strategies for speeches, letters and persuasive essays. Aimed at high school students, you can set the full alphabet of techniques as a task, or set a minimum of 10 devices from the list (for example), or assign specific devices to individuals according to the differentiation needs of your class. US and UK document sizes provided. Editable Google Apps version included.

A challenging but differentiated grid-style frame to guide and support pupils in planning 5 paragraphs for a sophisticated close study of any literary character. Each row represents a paragraph, and each column represents a layer of understanding which boosts their understanding of a quotation or point. Simply use the pre-populated guide questions, or insert your own to tailor the essay focus to your needs. Fully editable Google App included. This resource is provided in both US letter and UK A4 size documents. Students use the stages of the planning grid to analyse: Precise quotations Character impressions Impactful words Tone Sentence structure Punctuation effects Both aspirational and differentiated - make achieving easy!

A single page writing organiser, frame or scaffold to guide KS2 and KS3 pupils through planning a five-section descriptive piece of writing. The page features five sections for planning five paragraphs with written and visual prompts for using the senses. Differentiated and designed in several different ways for visual learners, this resource comes in ten different styles, including with and without writing guidelines. This resource comes in both UK A4 and US letter document sizes. That’s 20 sheets in one!

A single page writing frame or scaffold to guide KS3 or KS4 pupils through writing a five-paragraph review or a product, place, or experience. The page features five sections for planning five paragraphs, and there are three columns for each paragraph: what to include, useful sentence starters, and space to plan or make notes for the written content. Matching writing paper included for those who like a theme! There are prompts for appropriate punctuation at the bottom of the page, and this can be used as a worksheet, handout or poster. This resource comes in both UK A4 and US letter document sizes.

A single page writing frame or scaffold to guide KS3 or KS4 pupils through writing a five-paragraph persuasive piece of writing. The page features five sections for planning five paragraphs, and there are three columns for each paragraph: what to include, useful sentence starters, and space to plan or make notes for the written content. Matching writing paper included for those who like a theme! There are prompts for appropriate punctuation at the bottom of the page, and this can be used as a worksheet, handout or poster. This resource comes in both UK A4 and US letter document sizes.

A single page writing frame or scaffold to guide KS3 or KS4 pupils through writing a five-paragraph narrative piece of writing. The page features five sections for planning five paragraphs, and there are three columns for each paragraph: what to include, useful sentence starters, and space to plan or make notes for the written content. Matching writing paper included for those who like a theme! There are prompts for appropriate punctuation at the bottom of the page, and this can be used as a worksheet, handout or poster. This resource comes in both UK A4 and US letter document sizes.

A single page writing frame or scaffold to guide KS3 or KS4 pupils through writing a five-paragraph exposition piece of writing. The page features five sections for planning five paragraphs, and there are three columns for each paragraph: what to include, useful sentence starters, and space to plan or make notes for the written content. Matching writing paper included for those who like a theme! There are prompts for appropriate punctuation at the bottom of the page, and this can be used as a worksheet, handout or poster. This resource comes in both UK A4 and US letter document sizes.

A single page writing frame or scaffold to guide KS3 or KS4 pupils through writing a five-paragraph descriptive piece of writing. The page features five sections for planning five paragraphs, and there are three columns for each paragraph: what to include, useful sentence starters, and space to plan or make notes for the written content. Matching writing paper included for those who like a theme! There are prompts for appropriate punctuation at the bottom of the page, and this can be used as a worksheet, handout or poster. This resource comes in both UK A4 and US letter document sizes.

Explore some sophisticated vocabulary with a back to school theme through these word search and definition matching tasks. Aimed at KS3, or MAT younger students, these sheets make a great starting task or brain break before moving on to an extended writing task linked to a return to school. These tasks come with full answer keys and in both US letter and UK A4 size for easy printing, as well as US and UK spellings.