A fully resourced 3 week (15 lesson) writing unit. I created it for Y4, but it would work equally well in Y5 or Y6. All lesson plans, slides and tasks are included - it’s ready to go. Only the first week is shown in the preview. If you buy the unit, it is oraganised into sub-folders, lesson-by lesson. Narrative: Tam’s story (3 weeks) Stimulus: ‘Varjak Paw’ by SF Said Purpose and Audience: Write a new part of the story (Tam’s story) in the style of SF Said. Key knowledge and skills: • compose a new part for a known narrative • plan and write paragraphs around a theme • use imaginative and rich vocabulary drawn from reading During ‘Varjak Paw’ there are times when key characters leave the story before returning again. What they have been doing is never made explicit, but using a mixture of inference and imagination we can create what may have happened – we can write new narratives inspired by the novel. The bulk of this unit focuses on Tam. The comfortable brown cat goes looking for food and is missing for a large chunk of the story. It is presumed that she has fallen foul to ‘the Vanishings’. Eventually, she is discovered locked in a cage. What happened to her while she was missing? Let’s narrate her story in third person and find out.

Six poetry lessons for upper KS2 with a focus on performance and creative writing. All plans and resources included - everything you need is here. All work is produced using Word and Powerpoint, so edit as you wish. Most of all… enjoy. This is a fun unit! Overview of unit Session 1 Explore tricky vocabulary I can explore the meaning of words Session 2 Read, discuss, perform I can bring a poem to life using my voice **Session 3 Explore, map, recite ** I can visualise a poem and recite it from memory Session 4 Comprehension I can explain the meaning of words in context I can find information in poetry I can justify inferences with evidence Session 5 Create poetry I can write a free verse poem using a familiar theme and structure Session 6 Peer edit for impact + perform I can choose verbs and nouns phrases to create imagery I can perform my own composition fluently

Reading comprehension! Drawing! Drama! High quality writing! Newspaper reports! These five fully resourced sessions aimed at Year 5 or Year 6 give children an opportunity to produce excellent non-fiction using a fiction context - no research required! Available in Word and PowerPoint so that you can edit and adjust to suit your needs. Through these 5 sessions, children will explore 3 news reports about heroes; generate their own toolkits; strip a fiction text (Beowulf) back to its bare bones; create captions and draw scenes from the story; take part in drama activities and finally write news reports using a consistent style and appropriate register. I have recently added useful editing questions for children to ask each other - I would suggest a final session for editing and improving. It is helpful (though not essential) if the children have previously explored the story of Beowulf. If they have not heard the story before, allow a little extra time to get familiar with the text (included). These sessions could make up a one week unit or be run over one day, as a writing workshop. Enjoy!

Three week writing unit for Year 3/Year 4. A fully resourced and differentiated unit including all slides and activities. Drama! Talk! Reading skills! Grammar skills! Organising information in fun and inviting ways! It’s all ready to pick up and use. I have included the full unit in a zip folder (if you buy, just use the zip!), as you cannot see it all in the preview. The children begin with an assessment task (a cold task) and then spend a week exploring a model text about the Stone Age and learning some key grammar skills for year 3 and 4. They go on to learn about structure and organisation whilst also learning about mammoths! Finally they use all of their new skills to create their own information text about the Iron Age. The whole 15 lesson unit is full of games and activities focused on these skills: I can show what I already know about writing an information text I can ask questions to improve my understanding of the text I can quickly find information in non-fiction texts I can use conjunctions (when, before, after, while) to explain when things happen I can use prepositions (in, on, inside, at, by, during, before, after) to explain when and where I can spot the key features of information texts I can use paragraphs to group information I can use headings and sub-headings to organise an information text I can present (show) information in different ways I can use glossaries to check the meaning of words (repair ‘meaning breakdowns’)

This is a one week (5 lesson) poetry unit inspired by a Simon Armitage poem. The unit is based on my popular free resource ‘First day back poetry’. I have spent some time developing that activity into five fully resources lessons. I hope your class enjoy it as much as mine did! Everything you need is here. All resources are fully editable (PowerPoint and Word). If you buy this unit, please please open the zip folder, containing lesson-by-lesson sub folders within. The PNG files are just to preview the unit. Lesson 1 Reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension • I can read poem showing understanding through pace, tone and volume • I can discuss a poem and discover its meaning Activity 1 Model expressive reading of a line and then a verse. Activity 2 Partner reading. Activity 3 Discuss the poem and try some comprehension questions Lesson 2 Exploring vocabulary • I can explore the meaning of words (in context) Activity 1 Reusing and defining Activity 2 Sketchnoting Lesson 3 Capturing ideas for poems of our own • I can compose lines for a free verse poem using my own life experiences Activity 1 Connect Activity 2 Enjoy listening to poetry Activity 3 Partner talk Independent task Can you make the ordinary sound amazing? Lesson 4 Arrange and edit for poetic techniques • I can edit my poem for poetic techniques Activity 1 Warm up Activity 2 Listen Activity 3 Arrange Activity 4 Edit for poetic technique Activity 5 Peer assess Lesson 5 Present and perform! • I can prepare a poem to be presented to an audience Activity 1 Read your poem Activity 2 Think of title for your poem Activity 3 Prepare your poem to be read aloud Activity 4 In groups of four, read your poems to each other

How many times have you taught your class about the rules for setting out direct speech? Worksheets are not the answer! How about trying a playful approach? Working in pairs children roll dice, create sentences and score them. They have to look closely at punctuation and think carefully about reporting clauses to be successful at the game. This game can also move more able writers on because players often need to add further chunks (or phrases and clauses) onto the end of the direct speech sentence. If they apply this skill in their writing, it can add depth. I have also added a more advanced version of the game, teaching children to interrupt direct speech by dropping the reporting clause into the middle of the sentence. As with all of my resources, everything is included (teacher/child friendly explanation of key concepts, score cards, rules, dice guides) apart from the dice and the paper!

Lesson plan, presentation and two dice games (the main game is differentiated 3 ways) included. Ready to go! Apostrophes! Why do so many of us get them wrong? This is a carefully planned lesson about apostrophes for Years 4, 5 or 6. It would also be an ideal revision tool for the Year 6 Grammar Test. First, children are given the chance to revisit prior learning through the fun warm up game ‘The Memory Test’. Following that, they will learn about possessive apostrophes and common misconceptions during the presentation. When they are ready, the two player game ‘Apostrophe Abduction’ will provide them with plenty of challenge or support, depending on the version you give them. I have included three versions of the game : A ‘support’ version - this game uses a very short text, with only 10 highlighted apostrophe words to focus on. An ‘on track’ version - children have to hunt for plurals, possessive apostrophes and contractions. A challenge version - the same as the ‘on track’ version, but across a full story - quite a challenge to find every plural, contraction and possessive apostrophe.

This is a fully resourced, 3 week writing unit celebrating the work of black authors and exploring the themes of ‘A house like no other’ from the ‘Happy Here’ collection. By the final session, children will have written and edited their own ‘overcoming fear’ story. Absolutely everything you need is here. All slides and and resources have been created using PowerPoint and Word. Unit overview - 15 sessions including: Session 1: introduce the theme of the unit LO: I can listen to a poem and discuss it Session 2: pre-teach new vocabulary and make predictions LO: I can explore the meaning of words **Session 3: notice new vocabulary and make new predictions ** LO: I can ask questions and predict what might happen Session 4: What impact does the text have on the reader? Reading comprehension skills – summarising/impact of language choices LO: I can summarise the main ideas drawn from a short text Session 5: 'The argument’ Write dialogue about a child trying to avoid something that has been paid for LO: I can add adverbial phrases to speech sentences Session 6: ‘The Incident’ Look at the incident in first person. Create a diary recount and make use of modal verbs to convey self-doubt and uncertainty. LO: I can use modal verbs to show possibility and uncertainty Session 7: ‘The object’ Descriptive writing – imagine you could wear something that would magically take away all your worries and fears. LO: I can use ellipses to create drama and suspense Session 8: ‘Hot spot!’ What would it be like in for Izzy in this uncomfortable situation? Create multi-clause sentences. LO: I can use a range of conjunctions (if, but, while, when) Session 9: ‘The show’ Using dashes to add ‘chatty asides’ into sentences. LO: I can use dashes to interrupt a sentence or to extend a sentence Session 10: planning a narrative in which a character overcomes their fear Children use two resources: one provides prompts; the other is for recording ideas. LO: I can plan a short story for a Year 5 audience And five more amazing sessions!

This one week KS2 English unit has a focus on performance and art (instead of writing). Over five sessions, children learn about intonation and perform two poems expressively. Both poems retell famous Greek myths (‘The Minotaur’ and ‘Icarus’). Children also present lines from a poem through art and book making. A highly enjoyable unit! Here is a brief overview of each session. Detailed plans and all resources are included. Session 1 Watch and evaluate • I can say which poetry performance I enjoyed the most • I can evaluate a poetry performance Open questions You are the judge! Convince another Session 2 Performing poetry • I can show understanding through tone, volume and action Ping pong! What does Michael Rosen have to say about performance poetry? Explore the model Perform – small groups Peer assessment Perform – whole class Session 3 Applying our new skills and knowledge to a new poem • I can show understanding through tone, volume and action (revisit) • I can prepare a poem to read aloud and to perform “Rock… paper… anything!” Let’s perform Introducing a new poem Can we use our new knowledge and skills for a different poem? Perform – whole class Session 4 Presenting a poem through book making and art (part 1) • I can discuss words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination Performance poetry! Windows and words How will we show the meaning of each line through pictures? Session 5 Presenting a poem through book making and art (part 2) • I can discuss words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination Warm up: Ping-pong Activity 1: Capturing a poem in pictures

Orally rehearse the language of persuasive writing and balanced discussion before writing using these dice games, model texts, planning frames and toolkits. Throughout Key Stage 2, children are expected to take part in debates and compose one-sided arguments or balanced discussions. To be successful at this, children need plenty of opportunities to use the language of argument. Connecting phrases such as ‘it is obvious that’, ‘other people claim that’ and ‘opponents of’ need to be orally rehearsed as children do not encounter them regularly in their daily lives. This fully planned session, complete with a presentation and a fun dice game, will give children the experience of using the language of argument in a purposeful way. Use this session prior to any ‘argument’ style writing and it will give children the tools to be successful. *I have now added ‘Whose side are you on? Advanced’. This version is for 4 players and enables children to create full balanced discussions orally. The patterns they use exactly mirror the structure of a written balanced discussion. **I have also added a model text, a planning frame and a self assessment sheet for persuasive writing and a model text, a planning frame and a self assessment sheet for discussion writing. ***I have also added: a one sided model text in favour of Victorian style child punishment (for children to argue against!) a one sided model against mobile phones in school for children to argue ‘for’ a mobile phone fact or opinion sorting activity a one sided model for animals in circuses for children to argue against a one sided argument against computer games for children to argue ‘for’ a computer games counter argument activity a computer games fact or opinion sorting activity a for and against sorting activity linked with space a for and against sorting activity linked with aliens

This is a five session writing workshop designed to support Y6 writers achieve their age related expectation. It could easily be adapted by other KS2 classes for use as news report unit. During the project, children pick events from the story of Theseus and retell them in a journalistic style. They explore topic sentences, direct speech, reported speech, passive voice and many other skills. All resources are included. I ran this as a one-day writing workshop for writers who were a little off track. It could easily be adapted for use in any KS2 setting - everything is fully editable. I had some great outcomes - I’m sure you will too.

A one week unit for Y5 or Y6 exploring the weird and wonderful poem ‘Civil War on The Moon’, by the amazing Ted Hughes. Once the children have unpicked the tricky vocabulary (using the presentation attached), they will love this poem about two armies fighting for domination of the moon. My classes are always very keen to create new armies for a poem of their own. I use it during our space topic. I have included teacher notes about the parts children find a little tricky and a breakdown of each verse. I hope you have fun with this!

Fully differentaited dice game! Identify and correct apostrophe catastrophes. This game is differentiated into three versions to include all learners. Apostrophes are first introduced to children in Year 2 (UK National Curriculum). By the end of Year 4, children are expected to use apostrophes accurately to show possession, omission and to mark plural possession. This game provides an opportunity to practise all three types of apostrophe use mentioned above and would also be very useful to revise the use of apostrophes in Years 5 and 6. The 'support' version of the game could be used with younger children as it just focuses on apostrophes of possession and omission. The game includes instructions on how to play (with ideas about how to finish the game), differentiated versions, and resources to support and challenge pupils. There are also 'time-saver' versions of the game cards that don't need to be cut out! ***I prefer to use the game 'landscape', and I blow the pupil recording sheets up to A3 so that they have lots of space to write. I have added a landscape version of the game.***

I can use a hyphen to combine words and create compound adjectives. Explanation Children need to understand how hyphens can be used to avoid ambiguity (e.g. man eating shark versus man-eating shark, or recover versus re-cover). Also, an understanding of hyphens can add descriptive depth to noun phrases (e.g. the creature) when they are used to form compound adjectives (the ferocious-looking creature). In the compound adjective ‘ferocious-looking’, the hyphen shows that the two component words have a combined meaning. Aim: using the ‘dice guide’, roll to create six compound adjectives with hyphens that you could use before a noun (e.g. muddle-headed monster). Write definitions for your compound adjectives on your ‘game card’. Keep unusual or ridiculous combinations too! Have fun playing with words!

KS2 poetry with patterns - 4 lessons - fully resourced. I love using ‘Amulet’ by the amazing Ted Hughes as a model for children’s poetry writing. Here are four sessions that explore this rich and powerful poem in creative ways. By the end of session 4, children will have created powerful poems of their own. Objectives covered: Part 1 Understanding a poem I can discuss a poem in a group, listen carefully to others and build on my own ideas. I can explore the meaning of tricky words and phrases. I can infer what the poet may have been thinking. Part 2 Reciting a poem I can read using intonation to add meaning I can visualise a poem I can recite a poem from memory Part 3 Exploring nouns and noun phrases and gathering ideas I understand the terms noun and noun phrase I can use precise nouns and rich descriptive language Part 4 Creating poems of our own I can create a magical poem with patterns Your class will love creating poems in the style of Ted Hughes!

27 ways to for KS2 writers to edit and improve their own writing. This project was written by Fiona Keeling and Maurice Leahy and has been loosely inspired by Brighton Train Station (bear with us). We put it together to help children develop writing further at the editing stage. The PowerPoint explains how it works, but we are sure you’ll find your own ways to use this. Fiona brings it to life in her classroom with a cap, whistle and realistic train tickets! It was a lot of work, so if you spot the odd error, please let us know and we will put it right. We hope it saves you some precious time. Please leave a review. Happy editing!

Hi teachers of the world! I love using Roger Mcgough’s fantastic ‘What I love about school’ to motivate pupils to write poetry with patterns. I’ve used it several times, and the children often come up with brilliant poems of their own, once they have had time explore the patterns. A shortened version of the poem, some comprehension activities and planning sheet are included. Have fun! If you like this activity, you may like my grammar games and units of work.

I have edited the National Curriculum into a word document that just shows the grammar content to be introduced in each year group (and the glossary). I find this useful for staff training purposes - hope you find it useful too.