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.
Information Writing work packs are essential for all students wanting to develop their literacy skills and improve their grades in English assignments and examinations.
Information Writing work packs concentrate specifically on information writing, providing everything needed to stimulate a child to write. The child is taught to recognise the difference between facts and opinions. Each pack in this series concentrates on a different aspect of information writing including: writing to advise, writing to inform, writing to explain, writing to analyse, review and comment, giving examples. The child is taught how a newspaper article is structured, how to write formal and informal letters, diaries, police reports, e-mails, biographies, autobiographies, interviews, book reviews and many more.
The work packs contain starting point for writing, helping the child to form ideas, enabling him or her to structure their work and organise it into paragraphs. Attention is given to making writing more interesting by varying sentence types, using punctuation and good grammar.
Each work pack includes an exciting range of model answers and sample texts written by students and provides practice questions to test them. Common errors made by students are highlighted and corrected. They are packed with vital hints and tips to enable the student to be successful and gain good grades.
The packs are a very useful resource for teachers and save hours of time when preparing lessons or homework tasks. The specimen lesson plans and examples contained within each work pack will give the student ideas to build on and provide practice to develop their writing skills. Each work pack provides children with ideas for writing, especially reluctant writers who require starting points to write. Each work pack provides a safe topic that children will be comfortable with.
13 pages
This book is a companion book for Mission Spelling Book: I Spy A Cat. This resource should only be purchased if your child/children have access to I Spy A Cat, in purple level of the Mission Spelling Zero scheme. Download here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/initial-sounds-and-three-letter-words-i-spy-a-cat-12073563
This work book provides follow up activities, that build on the phonic sound work taught in this book e.g. reinforcement of letter sounds, tracing and writing letters and words and a simple comprehension, based on the story.
…
Introducing you to our brand new ‘Mission Spelling Zero’ scheme. Help your child/ren to take their first steps in reading and spelling, with this exciting structured course.
Mission Spelling Zero is a series of books in 7 levels, one for each colour of the rainbow, aimed to help young learners gain first reading and spelling skills.
First, let me introduce you to a new character that your child/ren will love learning with. He is an innovation – an alien from a distant planet – but a wizard when it comes to his computer skills. There is no problem he cannot solve.
Zoggy will introduce your child/ren to the initial sounds - in his own stories and then build on that base, teaching double consonant blends and vowel digraphs.
When your child moves up the levels of the rainbow his phonic skills will be a tool that will accelerate future learning.
‘Mission Spelling Zero’ also offers a new, exciting series of writing booklets – so your little learners can practice their hand writing skills, write first sentences and play the games which will consolidate their learning.
Let’s start reading and spelling with Mission Spelling Zero.
9 pages
This book is a companion book for Mission Spelling Book: Zoggy In The Sun. This resource should only be purchased if your child/children have access to Zoggy In The Sun, in purple level of the Mission Spelling Zero scheme.
Download here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/4-phonics-and-spelling-practice-zoggy-in-the-sun-12073573
This work book provides follow up activities, that build on the phonic sound work taught in this book e.g. reinforcement of letter sounds, tracing and writing letters and words and a simple comprehension, based on the story.
…
Introducing you to our brand new ‘Mission Spelling Zero’ scheme. Help your child/ren to take their first steps in reading and spelling, with this exciting structured course.
Mission Spelling Zero is a series of books in 7 levels, one for each colour of the rainbow, aimed to help young learners gain first reading and spelling skills.
First, let me introduce you to a new character that your child/ren will love learning with. He is an innovation – an alien from a distant planet – but a wizard when it comes to his computer skills. There is no problem he cannot solve.
Zoggy will introduce your child/ren to the initial sounds - in his own stories and then build on that base, teaching double consonant blends and vowel digraphs.
When your child moves up the levels of the rainbow his phonic skills will be a tool that will accelerate future learning.
‘Mission Spelling Zero’ also offers a new, exciting series of writing booklets – so your little learners can practice their hand writing skills, write first sentences and play the games which will consolidate their learning.
Let’s start reading and spelling with Mission Spelling Zero.
9 pages
This book is a companion book for Mission Spelling Book: Zoggy Has A Picnic. This resource should only be purchased if your child/children have access to Zoggy Has A Picnic, in purple level of the Mission Spelling Zero scheme.
Download here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/initial-sounds-and-three-letter-words-zoggy-has-a-picnic-12073569
This work book provides follow up activities, that build on the phonic sound work taught in this book e.g. reinforcement of letter sounds, tracing and writing letters and words and a simple comprehension, based on the story.
…
Introducing you to our brand new ‘Mission Spelling Zero’ scheme. Help your child/ren to take their first steps in reading and spelling, with this exciting structured course.
Mission Spelling Zero is a series of books in 7 levels, one for each colour of the rainbow, aimed to help young learners gain first reading and spelling skills.
First, let me introduce you to a new character that your child/ren will love learning with. He is an innovation – an alien from a distant planet – but a wizard when it comes to his computer skills. There is no problem he cannot solve.
Zoggy will introduce your child/ren to the initial sounds - in his own stories and then build on that base, teaching double consonant blends and vowel digraphs.
When your child moves up the levels of the rainbow his phonic skills will be a tool that will accelerate future learning
‘Mission Spelling Zero’ also offers a new, exciting series of writing booklets – so your little learners can practice their hand writing skills, write first sentences and play the games which will consolidate their learning.
Let’s start reading and spelling with Mission Spelling Zero.
9 pages
‘Zoggy Has A Good View’ Learn To Spell Words With ‘ue’ and ‘ew’
Read and write the ridiculous ‘ue’ and ‘ew’ rhymes. Complete the spelling test.
A series of work packs to teach and reinforce phonic sounds. If the child knows phonics - the initial blends, ending blends and the 44 middle sounds, he or she will be able to use them as a tool to break down words to spell them. In this series, there are 22 challenges or work packs to collect, each one featuring a different phonic sound.
Our cute, quirky character, Zoggy, a spelling genius from Zen, helps present the challenges. The pages are a fun way to learn to spell, including: cute cartoons, ridiculous phonic rhymes and practise phonic spelling tests. The child can work through the packs with a teacher or parent. The packs comply with the National Curriculum.
5 pages
Learn Spelling Rules Challenge:
Drop the final ‘e’ if a word ends in ‘le’ and add ‘y’. But if a word ends in two or more consonants, add ‘ily’.
A challenge to teach that you drop the final ‘e’ sound if a word ends in a vowel and you add ‘y’. For example, possible - possibly. However, if a word ends in a consonant, as in ‘happy’, you drop the ‘y’ and add ‘i’. For example happy - happily.
Learn Spelling Rules Challenge:
If a word ends in ‘ll’, just add ‘y’.
A one page challenge to show words ending in ‘ll’ just add ‘y’. For example, full - fully
Learn Spelling Rules Challenge:
If a singular word ends in ss, sh, ch, x, or zz add ‘es’, to change it to plural.
In this challenge, our friend Zoggy helps the children to change singular words into plural. For example, words ending in ss, sh, ch, x, zz. For example, fox - foxes. Examples are included.
Learn Spelling Rules Challenge:
For words ending in a consonant and ‘y’, add ‘ies’. For example, pony - ponies (plural). If a word ends in a vowel and ‘y’ add ‘s’ (donkey, donkeys).
This challenge provides examples of how to change singular endings into plurals. For words ending in ‘y’, drop the ‘y’ and add ‘ies’. For example, pony - ponies. For words ending in a vowel, just add an ‘s’. For example, donkey - donkeys.
With ‘Learn Spelling Rules Packs’ spelling need not be dull. These work packs can be used at school or at home, to reinforce spelling rules in a fun way.
Our character, Zoggy, the friendly alien, is a genius when it comes to spelling. He encourages the children to join him in his spelling workout. In other words, they must train and learn the spelling rules.
These packs consist of challenges in spelling, focusing on words formed using spelling rules. For example, dropping ‘e’ in words like ‘take’ to make ‘taking’. Each pack focuses on a different rule and the packs may be used in any order.
These packs are essential to help correct common errors in spelling. They also help avoid bad habits forming in spelling.
Each pack contains lots of practice to help the children remember the rules.
6 pages
Learn Spelling Rules:
Ge, gi and gy have a soft sound like ‘j’ in gymnastics.
Ce, ci and cy have a soft ‘c’ sound like ‘s’ in ice skating.
But the ‘c’ in cat is a hard sound. Some words, like accept, have a hard and a soft sound.
With ‘Learn Spelling Rules Packs’ spelling need not be dull. These work packs can be used at school or at home, to reinforce spelling rules in a fun way.
Our character, Zoggy, the friendly alien, is a genius when it comes to spelling. He encourages the children to join him in his spelling workout. In other words, they must train and learn the spelling rules.
These packs consist of challenges in spelling, focusing on words formed using spelling rules. For example, dropping ‘e’ in words like ‘take’ to make ‘taking’. Each pack focuses on a different rule and the packs may be used in any order.
These packs are essential to help correct common errors in spelling. They also help avoid bad habits forming in spelling.
Each pack contains lots of practice to help the children remember the rules.
7 pages
In this pack the child should read the sentences and use the multiple choice options to select the best answer to complete the sentence or make up one of their own. There is an emphasis on using good vocabulary.
This series provides prompts to encourage children to write. It provides starting points, to encourage even the most reluctant writers. Presented in a lively ‘magazine style’ format, these packs feature stories and non fiction texts to read. They include follow up activities that will inspire even the most reluctant writer, to write stories, letters, play scripts, diaries, poems, persuasive leaflets and more. More than this, the child will learn writing techniques including: simple, compound and complex sentences - connectives, grammar tips - harder vocabulary and punctuation.
Aimed at 7-11 year olds, these work packs provide excellent writing practice for those children preparing to take 11+ exams or S.A.T.s. They will also benefit children with special needs, or where English is a second language.
13 pages
6 pages
Challenge 11
‘Lost In The Woods’. Zoggy returns from his journey round earth, but he gets lost. Do aliens cry? Yes, he cries. He is crying space tears. He cried. Then, he meets his friends who are having a picnic and all that nourishing food encourages him to be in a good mood. Practise harder words using soft g, soft c and silent o.
Spelling need not be dull. Learn to spell tricky words with Zoggy, is a fun spelling aid to encourage children aged 7-11 years to enjoy learning to spell.
This series of work packs include 12 graded spelling challenges to work through, with spelling tests. They concentrate on those words or sound patterns that consistently cause problems.
To help cement these ‘tricky words’ into young minds, we meet again our quirky alien character, Zoggy - with his cartoons, his zany messages back to planet Zen and his ridiculous rhymes and mnemonics.
These packs use a multi sensory approach.
Say the word
Repeat the rhymes
Sound it out
Read it
Write it
Cover and spell again
Use the method that work for you.
‘Go To The Store’ Learn To Spell Words With ‘or’
Read and write the ridiculous ‘or’ rhyme. Read the list of ‘or’ words. Complete the spelling test.
A series of work packs to teach and reinforce phonic sounds. If the child knows phonics - the initial blends, ending blends and the 44 middle sounds, he or she will be able to use them as a tool to break down words to spell them. In this series, there are 22 challenges or work packs to collect, each one featuring a different phonic sound.
Our cute, quirky character, Zoggy, a spelling genius from Zen, helps present the challenges. The pages are a fun way to learn to spell, including: cute cartoons, ridiculous phonic rhymes and practise phonic spelling tests. The child can work through the packs with a teacher or parent. The packs comply with the National Curriculum.
6 pages
‘Sleep By The Stream’ Learn To Spell The Phonic Middle Sounds 'ee ’ (in seed) and ‘ea’ (in heat).
Read and re-write the ridiculous rhyme. Sort ‘ee’ and ‘ea’ sounds. Complete the spelling test.
A series of work packs to teach and reinforce phonic sounds. If the child knows phonics - the initial blends, ending blends and the 44 middle sounds, he or she will be able to use them as a tool to break down words to spell them. In this series, there are 22 challenges or work packs to collect, each one featuring a different phonic sound.
Our cute, quirky character, Zoggy, a spelling genius from Zen, helps present the challenges. The pages are a fun way to learn to spell, including: cute cartoons, ridiculous phonic rhymes and practise phonic spelling tests. The child can work through the packs with a teacher or parent. The packs comply with the National Curriculum.
Zoggy Goes On Holiday’ Learn To Spell Words With ‘ay’
Read and write the ridiculous rhymes. Read the lists of ‘ai’ and ‘ay’ words. Complete the spelling test.
A series of work packs to teach and reinforce phonic sounds. If the child knows phonics - the initial blends, ending blends and the 44 middle sounds, he or she will be able to use them as a tool to break down words to spell them. In this series, there are 22 challenges or work packs to collect, each one featuring a different phonic sound.
Our cute, quirky character, Zoggy, a spelling genius from Zen, helps present the challenges. The pages are a fun way to learn to spell, including: cute cartoons, ridiculous phonic rhymes and practise phonic spelling tests. The child can work through the packs with a teacher or parent. The packs comply with the National Curriculum.
6 pages
Fright Night: Write An Article (And More) (Essential Writing Practice With A Spooky Halloween Theme) (9-13 years)
This resource includes five activities:
Read the article ‘Fright Night’ and then write your own spine chilling version to persuade people to visit. Next, write a recount of your visit, using the writing skeleton to help you.
Read the poem ‘Is White Rat Not Convinced?’ Look for rhyming couplets. Have a go at writing your own poem.
Plan your own fancy dress party, using the writing prompts to help you
Write some judges comments for rock band ‘The Graveyard Diggers’ performance on the Z Factor.
Read the newspaper article and then use the template to write your own report, adding some fearsome facts and odious opinions.
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.
Use the prompts and illustrations to produce an information leaflet about the Amazon Rainforest. The child should arrange their leaflet under the headings:
Where is the Amazon rainforest?
What is the climate like?
What is life in the canopy like?
What is the shrub layer like?
What is it like on the forest floor?
Next, the child can fill in the rainforest chart
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.
9 pages
Prompts For Writing A Persuasive Argument In A Letter (GCSE English Writing Work Pack)
In this pack, the student is required to write in the form of an email, blog or letter, arguing on the subjects of - river pollution in a country park, protesting about a new proposed housing development and arguing against demolishing the local swimming pool. The student’s purpose is to write a persuasive argument. Their audience is the editor of a formal broadsheet newspaper or the council. In this resource, they will learn how to structure an argument into paragraphs and how to use language techniques. After working their way through this pack, the student can practise writing their own arguments on environmental issues.
These work packs provide essential creative writing practice for the new 2017/2018 GCSE English exam. They will help GCSE students prepare for their exam, whether they are students in years 9, 10 or 11. The packs provide practise in different forms of writing, for example, articles, blogs and letters.
These resources help students to write in a tone appropriate to purpose and audience. They instruct the student how to write from different perspectives or viewpoints and present a balanced argument. As well as, using appropriate tone and language. For example, learning to use: formal or informal register, language devices like rhetoric and groups of three and punctuation, such as variation of sentences for effect.
The Little Match Girl Comprehension
Read our illustrated version of the classic fairy tale The Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen, and answer the comprehension questions.
A thought-provoking activity that will encourage kids, age 7-10, to think about those less fortunate than them during the holiday season and the importance of being charitable and kind.
Read the biography about Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) and answer the comprehension questions.
In this pack, your kids will learn about a truly inspirational British woman, who challenged the thinking of her day that a woman’s only role was to marry and have children, and subsequently, turned nursing into a respectable profession.
The comprehension questions will help children practise: how to identify key details from the text; how to work out answers by inferring, or predicting, using evidence from the text; and how to explain vocabulary. Answers are included.
Ideal for kids age 9-12 and a great resource to use for International Women’s Day.
16 pages
Use the information on dinosaurs to write a newspaper report. Learn about facts and opinions, reported and direct speech.
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.
6 pages
This resource shows the student how to plan and write a story effectively. Learn how to structure and organise your ideas into three paragraphs; and think about character, setting and plot. It also contains some words skill practice, showing you how to make your writing more interesting, by using well-chosen adjectives and adverbs. Complete the exercises and read the word lists to help you create believable characters and settings.
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.
25 pages
Make up some questions you would ask if you interviewed someone. Now, interview someone you know well and record what they say. Write a shirt biography of your chosen person.
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.
7 pages