I provide a wide range of resources for use in the classroom and around school. My resources build on children's learning and consider the smaller steps children need to take to achieve the learning. My resources have a focus on 'mastery' style questions where possible, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning skills. As a practicing primary teacher myself, I know how essential it is to have well organised lesson resources with engaging activities that focus on the learning.
I provide a wide range of resources for use in the classroom and around school. My resources build on children's learning and consider the smaller steps children need to take to achieve the learning. My resources have a focus on 'mastery' style questions where possible, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning skills. As a practicing primary teacher myself, I know how essential it is to have well organised lesson resources with engaging activities that focus on the learning.
We are learning to find fractions of amounts.
Investigation containing 6 separate investigations, ideal for KS2.
Each investigation could be solved mathematically or using resources.
Shop themed.
An interesting and challenging capacity investigation. Can be solved mathematically by more secure mathematicians or can be solved by using cups, buckets and water for younger or less able children.
There are a range of possible answers for example 700ml could be achieved by:
500ml + 500ml = 1000ml 1000ml - 300ml = 700ml
500ml - 300ml = 200ml (repeated 3 times) = 700ml
SPaG test focusing explicitly on fronted adverbials. Mark scheme included.
Assesses:
What a fronted adverbial is.
What a fronted adverbial describes
Punctuation
Linking fronted adverbials to sentences
Writing fronted adverbials.
39 speaking parts, approximtely 15 non-speaking parts plus dance troupe and choir - these can be edited to suit your school.
Lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Ideal for KS2.
Option for inserting your own song choices - I began with some well loved Chistmas carols and then used more traditions Christmas hymns/carols throughout the play script.
This really warmed the hearts of our audiences and even brought a tear to some eyes!
Quite a traditional play script as written for a C of E primary, but without being too dry.
Opportunity to personalise some parts to your school too.
Very easy to follow. Everyone can get involved and have a great time!
2 work sheets for finding the area of quadrilaterals by counting squares to find the area.
Also consolidates shape knowledge by requiring the shapes to be names.
Answer sheets for both work sheets included.
2 work sheets for finding the area of quadrilaterals through calculation.
Uses the measures millimetres, centimetres, metres and kilometers.
One sheet has grid lines, the other does not for progression.
Answer sheets for both work sheets included.
27 mark SPaG test for the end of year 4. Answer paper and mark paper included.
The test covers:
Writing and punctuating fronted adverbials
Correct use of being/been
Converting indirect/reported speech into direct speech
Some year 4 spellings
verbs
Choosing appropriate co-ordinating conjunctions
Correcting tense
Correct use of were/where/we're
Determiners
Using subordinating conjuncitons and writing a subordinate clause.
Lower, middle and higher, male and female versions of report comments for all subjects:
Used for y4/5 but could easily be edited for y3/6.
Very easy to use and edit, the key parts to edit are highlighted in red on the document (e.g. name, topic). The comments can then be made personal for your pupils with ease. Contents page for easy navigation. Below is a list of subjects and an example of a comment:
Mathematics (including target)
Writing (including target)
Reading (including target)
Science (including target)
Computing (including target)
P.E. (including target)
History
Geography
Art/ Design Technology
Modern Foreign Languages
Music
R.E.
Example:
[NAME] has demonstrated persistence throughout the year by learning a range of number facts and in particular, times tables. He now needs to learn all the times tables up to 12x12 and be able to recall these rapidly. [NAME] has been able to apply his knowledge of number facts to using formal written methods for calculations for all four operations. He is developing confidence with applying these to problem solving and becoming more fluent with this. [NAME] has enthusiastically explored all areas of mathematics. Pleasingly, [NAME] is developing in confidence in explaining and reasoning mathematical concepts within small groups and during classroom discussions.
Target: [NAME] should continue to practise times tables to become more rapid and fluent with these. He should also continue to practise using written methods for calculations.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity for grouping living things.
The first in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Sound,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to investigate how a sound is made.
An interesting mastery starter to engage and intrigue children.
Children consider how a sound is made and investigate vibrations.
Opportunity for children to work in mixed ability groups to investigate how a range of items make a sound and observe for vibrations (equipment list provided, although other items could also be used).
Develop's children's scientific explanations of how a sound results from a vibration.
'Mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Interesting Minions related hook to engage all children in the follow up task.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (all of which are provided as well as being explained on the PowerPoint)
Plenary leads into the next lesson and also links to the homework task (this is optional, but would boost children's learning).
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Multiplication word problems, ideas for Y4 and above.
Page 1 is 1 step problems, with lower numbers.
Page 2 is 2 step problems.
Page 3 is 2 step problems with more challenging numbers and the opportunity to check using the inverse operation.
All questions are Ancient Greece themed.
Pictures to support understanding.
We are learning to understand the dangers of communicating on online gaming.
Lesson plan, PowerPoint and link to video to hook children and make learning relevant and real to them.
Lots of deep thinking questions to encourage children to consider how they communicate in games; when it is and is not ok to communicate in games.
Touches on online bullying and teaches children to block or report abuse.
Focus on what personal information is and not sharing this in the online world.
Choice of follow up task.
Plenary provides opportunity for peer assessment.
My class were absolutely hooked on this lesson and had fantastic discussions. They went home being much more aware of how to keep themselves safe when gaming.
10 Round Quiz (80 questions) with certificates for each round and overall winner.
Round 1 - Weird and Wacky News (True or False)
Round 2 - Sports
Round 3 - Celebrities
Round 4 - Britain's Got Talent
Round 5 - In the News
Round 6 - Films
Round 7 - General Knowledge
Round 8 - Geography and the Environment
Round 9 - Making History
Round 10 - Photo Gallery.
Questions are engaging for children (KS2 or KS3). Questions cover a range of topics, from celebrities of interest to children, to events that are happening in the world at the moment that children should know about. A great opportunity for all the class to get involved and shine!
There is:
A quiz PowerPoint
PowerPoint with answers
Certificates (for each category and an overall winner)
Answer sheets for children to write on.
Explores what a conjunction is used for and the clauses created by using conjunctions, including coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. All lessons are themed for an Ancient Greece topic - not only do children progress in using conjunctions, they learn more about Ancient Greece (Gods, Heroes, Mythical Beasts, Places etc). This also support their writing development on the topic.
Learning focuses around choosing appropriate conjunctions - a challenge for many children.
Learning progresses throughout the lessons.
Opportunity for discussion and reasoning (good for mastery).
Opportunity for all children to be involved in lessons.
Differentiated worksheets are provided for each lesson.
Conjunction word mats included
Learning is as follows:
1. We are learning to identify conjunctions and clauses.
PowerPoint plus 3 differentiated work sheets.
2. Conjunction quiz (programmed with hyperlinks, so use in full screen mode and click on the helmets. Even the most challenging children in my class were very engaged with this.
3. We are learning to choose appropriate conjunctions.
3 levels of differentiated activities.
4. We are learning to use coordinating conjunctions
2 levels of differentiated activities.
5. We are learning to use subordinating conjunctions
3 levels of differentiated activities.
This is a lesson PowerPoint the explores some aspects of Jewish life in the Roman Empire and how the Jewish people came to be persecuted by the Romans. At the end of the PowerPoint are three different follow up tasks.
Links well with topics on the Romans/Judaism.
6 week medium term planning for a Brazil Topic (30 lessons), some focus on the Olympic Games.
Planning/resources provided for each lesson, including coverage links for 2014 curriculum.
Includes range of key critical thinking (mastery) questions.
There’s planning, PowerPoints, resources and exemplar text for 12 literacy lessons-writing a persuasive letter. Literacy is linked to Brazil topic.
Fully interactive PowerPoint about Brazil (61 slides). Use in full screen mode to navigate between sections. A range of mastery style questions included. Covers:
Rain forest
Rubber Trade
Tribes
Climate
Geography
Lifestyles
History
Art
Olympics (Rio/ Ancient Olympics).
We are learning to's:
Geography: use scale maps to locate places in Brazil; use critical thinking skills (to compare areas of Brazil); understand what deforestation is and where it occurs; create a persuasive text about deforestation; investigate the similarities and differences between village and city life in Brazil; investigate what it is like to live in a tribe; investigate and compare the lives of Indigenous Indians; describe the structure of the Amazon Rain forest; investigate Fair Trade in Brazil; understand the importance of Brazilian carnivals.
History: investigate how the rubber trade started; explore the ancient Olympic games; understand the chronology of the Olympics.
Art: use pencil sketching skills; use pencil sketching skills; observe details; create a collage; observe details and create urban art; design a symbolic Olympic mascot; design a symbolic Olympic medal.
ICT: search safely on the internet; create a PowerPoint document; program hyperlinks in a PowerPoint; create and present data in a bar graph (using PowerPoint); create and present data in a line graph (using PowerPoint); present and evaluate a PowerPoint.
Design Technology: research and design a carnival float; build and evaluate a carnival float.
Music: listen to and recall sounds; experiment with percussion instruments; perform, using percussion instruments.
R.E: explore religion in Brazil.
P.E. apply a range of athletics skills (to compete in a mini Olympics).
Lessons can be adapted
Lessons differentiated.
Fact sheets, images, planning sheet, evaluations sheets etc provided for many lessons.
List of other suggested resources for each lesson.
List of suggested books and websites.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activities for identifying invertebrate groups and developing children's understanding of invertebrates that live in their local environment. Lots of mastery thinking required.
The fifth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'Living Things and Their Habitats,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning.
We are learning to identify invertebrate groups in their own habitat.
An interesting starter to intrigue children and develop their scientific skills in estimating and discussing.
Recaps, revisits and builds on prior learning on living things, vertebrates and invertebrates.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge about grouping animals in different ways and looks at the specific scientific characteristics of invertebrate groups that are likely to be found in the local environment, as well as exploring examples of each group and their habitats.
Opportunity for outdoor work to identify invertebrate groups in the school grounds/ locality, with a focus on the type of habitat they were found in (recording sheet provided, although you will need bug hunting equipment from school and to set safety rules).
Lots of 'mastery' thinking required through the questions posed, for deepening and mastering learning.
Choice of 3 differentiated, engaging follow up activities to design a bug hotel, focusing on the type of habitat each invertebrate group would prefer (2 tasks are provided, all 3 are explained on the PowerPoint). Further resources e.g. prompt cards and pictures are provided too.
Opportunity for giving written peer feedback about the learning that has taken place.
An optional homework task is provided for children to develop their learning about classifying plants and consolidate their use of classification keys and scientific explanations.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
4 lesson PowerPoint. Lessons 1-3 have 3 differentiated work sheets each.
Lessons are generally 'sports' themed to engage and motivate boys, as well as girls.
The lessons develop and build upon children knowledge of using direct speech in their writing.
Each lesson initially recaps children's learning from the day before, prior to building upon it.
Lesson 1 - We are learning to identify and correct punctuation in direct speech. 3 differentiated follow up tasks included.
Lesson 2- We are learning to turn speech bubbles into direct speech. 3 differentiated follow up tasks included.
Lesson 3 - We are learning to choose verbs to describe how something is said. 3 differentiated follow up tasks included.
Lesson 4 - We are learning to use direct speech. Mixed ability, group task included, with 8 scenarios for children to turn into speech/ conversations after being read aloud by members of their group.
Peer assessment included as part of lesson 4.
If you only have a short period of time for SPaG, there is enough material to cover 8 sessions as each lesson PowerPoint has practise activities on it too. The tasks could be used on the following day.
Cross-curricular link - lessons also encourage children to be good team players/good sports.
5 Lesson PowerPoints and resources for activities for teaching or re-covering fronted adverbials.
Ancient Greece theme to all lessons/ resources so really good for supporting writing if you are doing a topic on Ancient Greece. The lessons could also add to children's exploration of Ancient Greek, including of: Gods, heroes, mythical beasts, temples and battles.
Lessons explore what a fronted adverbial is and encourage children to consider where in the sentence it goes; what the verb is that it describes; whether it describes when, where or how; and what punctuation is required.
Each lesson has a relevant task with it (task for lesson 4 is included within the lesson PowerPoint)
Some critical thinking is required from children as they have to reason why their fronted adverbial was appropriate.
There are opportunities for peer assessment.
Lessons continue to re-cap children's knowledge, whilst also building on it. Very visual with use of images.
Learning objectives include:
We are learning to...
identify a fronted adverbial;
re-order sentences to create a fronted adverbial;
create fronted adverbials;
write fronted adverbials.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and Activity
The sixth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to identify evaporation and condensation in the water cycle.
An interesting zoomed in image for the starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Recaps, revisits and builds on children's prior knowledge from previous lessons.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge of evaporation and condensation and is relevant to children by giving examples from every day life.
Step by step explanation of evaporation, condensation and precipitation in the water cycle.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
Choice of 3 differentiated follow up activities (2 are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint)
Opportunity for verbal peer assessment as a plenary (on PowerPoint)
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.
Lesson PowerPoint, planning and activity resources.
The fourth in a series of lessons to develop children's knowledge about 'States of Matter,' for the 2014 primary curriculum. Links to coverage of the curriculum are explicit in the planning (for both States of Matter and Working Scientifically)
We are learning to observe when different materials change state when heated or cooled.
An interesting mastery question for a starter, to develop children's critical thinking and reasoning.
Recaps, revisits and builds on children's prior knowledge from previous lessons.
Develop's children's scientific knowledge freezing and melting for materials other than water.
Fun investigation to complete as a class. Safety warnings on planning and PowerPoint for children to avoid the hot items.
Step by step modelling of the experiment modeled on the PowerPoint.
Further 'mastery' thinking required for deepening and mastering learning, through thought provoking questions etc.
3 differentiated activities (two are provided, one is an independent task and is on the PowerPoint- tasks can link with writing in literacy)
The tasks are linked to an Ancient Greek topic (writing to a Greek Goddess), although this can be very easily adapted to suit any topic.
All images have been taken from: http://search.creativecommons.org/ where no attribution is required.