Hi,
We are Sally and Amanda from Guinea Pig Education. We present a range of complimentary teaching aids and workbooks to use in your classroom or as homework – in both print and digital format.
We aim to raise reading standards and to develop literacy skills, with our ‘fun for kids’ phonic reading resources.
We also offer support for pupils aged 4-16 years. We highly recommend our comprehension and creative writing resources - which build confidence and develop imagination.
Hi,
We are Sally and Amanda from Guinea Pig Education. We present a range of complimentary teaching aids and workbooks to use in your classroom or as homework – in both print and digital format.
We aim to raise reading standards and to develop literacy skills, with our ‘fun for kids’ phonic reading resources.
We also offer support for pupils aged 4-16 years. We highly recommend our comprehension and creative writing resources - which build confidence and develop imagination.
A series of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary progress tests for children aged 6-7 years. These tests can be used to assess a child’s individual attainment.
Although not strictly timed, the test should take about 20 mins.
Each test includes questions that may cover:
nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs
sentences, statements, questions, commands and exclamations
conjunctions (and, or, but, when, if, that, because)
past and present tense
prefixes and suffixes
full stops, question marks and exclamation marks
capital letters to start a sentence, for names of people, places, days of the week and for the personal pronoun.
commas to separate items in a list
apostrophes
These tests are based on the grammar, punctuation and vocabulary tests given to 7 year olds in the Year 2 SATs.
Our autumn themed special is filled with activities, crafts and stories, with fun questions to answer. It features our loveable characters, Zoggy and Sam, as they share their magical autumn moments with us. It includes some pages where you can record your own autumn adventures.
For ages 3-9
Contents
Chloe and the Hedgehogs
Sam’s Trip to Beech Wood
Autumn Scavenger Hunt
Autumn Crafts (Origami fox head, handprint autumn tree, feather owl, squirrel, butterfly and bird stained glass tissue paper shapes)
There’s A Lost Alien in the Wood
Games (maze, word search, puzzle)
Muddy Shoes
Complete the Autumn story
Uncle Paul and the Haunted House
Bonfire Night
Spooky Crossword
Word Wheel Challenge
Scary Crafts (cotton bud skeleton, cotton bud hand, hanging black spider on web, pumpkin and black cat Trick or Treat paper bags, firework pictures)
94 pages
Learn The Phonic Sounds ar, or, ir, ur and er
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
This is a 3 set pack including:
Plan And Write A Story Called ‘The White Fox’
Plan And Write A Story Called ‘The Creepy Tale’
Plan And Write A Story Called ‘Trapped: The Rescue’
Creative Story Writing work packs cut down preparation time when planning creative writing tasks. Easy to follow, each pack includes an example of how you can build on a title, to first plan a story for 9-12 year olds and then write it.
How To Use Your Work Pack:
Make sure the child/children know that stories must be planned
Read the model story in the pack
Ask the child/children to write down the names of the characters in the story
Ask the child/children to write down where the setting takes place
Ask the child/children to write down what the plot is
Identify the most exciting part of the story (the climax of the story or suspense)
Ask the child/children to plan a similar story - with a beginning, a middle and an end
Ask the child/children to rewrite their own version of the story
Ask the child/children to read their version of the story aloud
Creative Story Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. The work packs will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. Each pack is designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.
Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Each pack contains vital hints and tips on gaining those top grades.
71 pages
23 pages
These pages practice writing for different purposes, using animal themes.
In the first task, the child is asked to read an interview with a cat and a dog. They then write their own interview with a chosen animal, imagining what the animal would say if it could talk like a human.
In the second task, the child reads some letters written to Raj, the local vet. They should use their imagination to complete the replies. He or she then writes their own letter to Raj about a problem that a chosen pet has.
The third task highlights how instructions use imperatives like ‘use’ to start sentences. The child adds further sentences starting with ‘bossy’ verbs.
In the fourth and fifth task, the child must use his or her imagination to make a persuasive advert for a yummy dog treat, using persuasive words. Then, they should write a more detailed paragraph about a ‘wacky’ invention for a pet product they have invented, explaining how to use it. A series of questions helps the child structure his or her work.
This theme could be developed over several lessons. It would be excellent for homework handouts.
This resource is featured in the book ‘We Love Animals: Get Going With Creative Writing’ series.
This series provides prompts to encourage children to write. It provides starting points, to encourage even the most reluctant writers.
Written in a lively magazine style format, each pack provides a step by step guide to teach children how to plan and write an animal themed story.
The packs also provide starting points to write e-mails, letters, play scripts, diaries, reports and other non fiction texts.
The child will learn writing techniques; simple, compound and complex sentences, connectives and spelling, punctuation and grammar tips. There is an emphasis on improving vocabulary - looking at lots of better word choices: harder adjectives, more powerful verbs and adverbs.
This series is recommended for use with children between the ages of 7-11 and provides writing practice for those children preparing to take 11+ examinations or S.A.T.s. The packs will also benefit children with special needs, or where English is a second language.
5 pages
Imagine You Can Travel Through Space: Write A Story (SATS And 11+ Essential Writing Practice) (9-13 years)
Enter the genre of fantasy and imagine your space age bag is able to transport you through space. Use the notes to consider what it would be like in space. Write a story or diary entry.
An essential series of themed prompts to help children aged 9-12 years to practise their creative writing skills for 11 plus entry exams or S.A.T.S. The packs include an outline to help the child plan his or her own story, article, letter or play script and examples to build on, using harder more challenging vocabulary to stretch more able pupils.
25 pages in length
Creative Story Writing work packs cut down preparation time when planning creative writing tasks. Easy to follow, each pack includes an example of how you can build on a title, to first plan a story for 9-12 year olds and then write it.
How To Use Your Work Pack:
Make sure the child/children know that stories must be planned
Read the model story in the pack
Ask the child/children to write down the names of the characters in the story
Ask the child/children to write down where the setting takes place
Ask the child/children to write down what the plot is
Identify the most exciting part of the story (the climax of the story or suspense)
Ask the child/children to plan a similar story - with a beginning, a middle and an end
Ask the child/children to rewrite their own version of the story
Ask the child/children to read their version of the story aloud
Creative Story Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. The work packs will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. Each pack is designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.
Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Each pack contains vital hints and tips on gaining those top grades.
A true and touching story about some children, who befriend a family of swans, on the River Thames. They watch an adorable cygnet hatch and grow, calling him Skedadally, because he waddles over and eats crumbs from their hand. As the months pass, they come to realise that life on the river is no picnic. There are many dangers facing young birds. It is not long before they have to save their feathered friend from terrible danger. They are more than thankful for the work of the nearby Swan Sanctuary.
Includes questions to answer to see how much you have remembered.
A topical chapter reading book that will encourage kids to consider and discuss important environmental issues.
107 pages
Read our beautifully illustrated retelling of the much-loved Charles Dickens novella, A Christmas Carol, to discover how a stingy, old miser comes to help a poor, sick child. Then, answer the comprehension questions.
A thought-provoking activity that will introduce kids, age 6-9, to this classic Christmas story and encourage them to think about the true meaning of Christmas.
How to get a good grade in paper 1 of the GCSE English exam (grades 1-9).
These pages contain helpful hints on how to answer the questions to gain top grades in the new English exam (which changed in 2017).
Many students may fall into the trap of writing good answers for the first three questions and then losing focus or running out of time on the last two questions. If students read these pages, they will see it is very important to know how the paper is organised, to time themselves and to write a well structured answer for questions, such as question 4, that are worth 20 marks.
In other words, these pages teach exam technique.
A fun writing and drawing activity, to keep children busy. To be completed at the level your child is at.
More in this series:
Meet Pom Pom
Pom Pom On A Walk
guineapigeducationshop.com
This DIGITAL resource contains a link, to access and make a copy of it into your google drive. It is fully editable and can be shared with your students via Google Classroom. Pdf version included.
A digital creative writing resource with a spooky Halloween theme. ‘Fright Night: Write An Article’ will certainly get your heart-racing. It is a lively themed resource, that will stimulate a child’s imagination and inspire him or her to write in a more interesting way and to achieve better results.
This resource is packed full of fun features and stories to read, follow up activities to complete, harder vocabulary to prepare children for more advanced writing and many helpful tips and techniques to improve writing style. For example, read the prompt poem on ‘Fright Night’ and write your own spine chilling version, to persuade your reader to join the spooky festivities. Next, write an article reporting on the frightful night, adding some fearsome facts and odious opinions. This is not a resource for the squeamish! It is excellent for stretching fast workers and able writers or preparing for writing tasks in examinations.
The resource consists of 12 editable slides.
This DIGITAL resource contains a link to access and make copy of it into your google drive. It is fully editable and can be shared with your students via Google Classroom. Pdf version included.
A digital creative writing resource with a spooky Halloween theme. ‘House Of Horrors: Make A Poster’ will certainly get your heart-racing. It is a lively themed resource, that will stimulate a child’s imagination and inspire him or her to write in a more interesting way and to achieve better results.
This resource is packed full of fun features and stories to read, follow up activities to complete, harder vocabulary to prepare children for more advanced writing and many helpful tips and techniques to improve writing style. For example, be terrified as you make a poster for ‘Little House Of Horrors’. Use words that are fearfully persuasive, containing chilling vocabulary, to give your reader goose bumps. Next, write a creepy story called ‘The Strange Dream’, to really get your heart-racing. This is not a resource for the squeamish! It is excellent for stretching fast workers and able writers or preparing for writing tasks in examinations.
The resource consists of 9 editable slides.
This DIGITAL resource contains a link to access and make a copy of it into your google drive. It is fully editable and can be shared with your students via Google Classroom. Pdf version included.
A digital creative writing resource - Imagine you see a monster in a loch. Learn to plan and write a story in a chatty, informal style, that creates an atmospheric setting. Read the example, then use the prompts to write your own version. Full of tips to help your students succeed in writing compelling stories. Will save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
This series of resources (available in digital and pdf format) are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. Each resource will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. They are designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.
Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each resource includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Vital hints and tips are provided on gaining those top grades.
The resource consists of 25 editable slides.
This DIGITAL resource contains a link to access and make a copy of it into your google drive. It is fully editable and can be shared with your students via Google Classroom. Pdf version included.
A digital creative writing resource on the topic of bullying. Learn to plan and write a story and go straight into the action, without setting the scene first. Includes a detailed plan and an example story. Then, write your own version using the prompts. Full of tips to help your students succeed in writing interesting stories. Will save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
This series of resources (available in digital and pdf format) are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. Each resource will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. They are designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.
Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each resource includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Vital hints and tips are provided on gaining those top grades.
The resource consists of 21 editable slides.
This DIGITAL resource contains a link to access and make a copy of it into your google drive. It is fully editable and can be shared with your students via Google Classroom. Pdf version included.
A digital creative writing resource about a creepy old house. Learn to plan and write a ghost story. Read the example, then use the prompts to write your own version. Full of tips to help your students succeed in writing compelling stories. Will save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks.
This series of resources (available in digital and pdf format) are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations. Each resource will guide students through the story writing process, as if they had a tutor by their side. They are designed to help the child with thinking up ideas, providing starting points for writing, structuring and organizing their writing into paragraphs. It features writing a good introduction with characters, setting and plot, building up suspense and winding up the plot with a suitable resolution.
Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar. The student will investigate different narrative structures for writing stories, exploring various viewpoints so they can decide if they write in first or third person. They will learn to evoke mood and atmosphere by using good vocabulary. Each resource includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by children and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. Vital hints and tips are provided on gaining those top grades.
The resource consists of 21 editable slides.
Learn about the gunpowder plot of 1605 and answer the comprehension questions.
This is a very comprehensive and informative resource. Students will learn about James 1st and look at why England was so divided at this time.
They will look at the main characters involved in the plot, what these men planned, how they attempted to carry it out and at how their attempts to blow up the Houses Of Parliament were thwarted.
They will consider what would have happened if the plot had succeeded and the legacy of the plot.
They will read extracts and summaries from Father John Gerard’s account of the plot and answer the comprehension questions.
Answers provided.
Also available as Google classroom resource.
35 pages
Pack 2. Learn Final Consonant Blends (as in lk, ft, st, nd) (Learn To Read With Phonics Pack)
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
15 pages
The Funfair: Reinforces the phonic sounds ea and ear (as in seat and dear). Introduces igh (as in high). Plus, revise words with short vowel sounds and double consonants.
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour in sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Get the child/children to colour in the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.
15 pages
Where Is France? Reinforces The Phonic Sounds c, ce, ci, cy and g, ge, gi and gy
Learn To Read With Phonics Reading Packs are a quick and easy way to teach children to read in just six months.
They are ideal for all ages (from 4 years plus), especially reluctant older readers of 7, 8, 9+, children with learning difficulties and children where English is a foreign language.
The packs are designed to be used one to one or in small groups with a teacher and child or parent/guardian and child learning together.
The packs consist of a structured course that build 44 phonic sounds into the text. As the children read the adventures of a loveable boy called Sam, they can have fun searching for hidden sounds. They will build up 44 sounds in total. This will enable them to read 80% of words in the English language, by breaking them down into sounds or syllables - pl ay ing. Children using phonics in this way progress fast.
A series of stories, The Bouncing Castle and The Famous Cousin From The Country reinforce the complex middle sounds being learnt. By the end of the scheme, the child will be ready to progress to ‘solo’ reading books, such as Roald Dahl’s ‘Georges Marvellous Medicine’ and ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’.
Many of the packs have cut out practice pages for matching words to pictures and phrases to pictures, to fix the sound words in the child’s memory. The simple text and fun colour in sketches, appeal to young readers and have helped the authors to teach many, many children to read.
The reading packs may be used in any order, just pick the pack for the sound you require. However, when using the packs for a complete non reader we suggest you start with packs teaching initial sounds (word building with three or four letter words).
Then move on to learning phonic sounds in this order: ch, sh, wh, th, oo, ee, ar, or, ur, ir, er, magic e, ea, oa, ai, ay, oi, oy, oa, short y (as in happy), long y (as in sky), soft c (as in mice), soft g (as in engine), ou, ow, au and aw.
Next, move onto more complex sounds as in, tion, le, el, ough, gue, que, ine, ue, ie, ei, prefixes and suffixes.
How To Use
Each pack introduces a sound.
Learn the sound with the child/children
Read the sentences or stories several times, encouraging the child/children to talk about the pictures.
At the end of the sentences or story, there is a list of words and phrases, which the child can match to the pictures.
Get the child/children to colour in the pictures.
Practise each sound several times, until the child is familiar with it.