Summer oak tree in full bloom, to colour in. The picture includes nesting birds, busy squirrels, a butterfly, two ladybirds and a tiny, dangling spider. This cheerful picture also includes sun, clouds, distant birds, flowers, grass, and falling oak leaves. An educational and enjoyable colouring activity for young children.

A royal crown, in black and white, to colour in. For young children to celebrate royal birthdays, such as that of the British Queen on June 13th, and also to support learning about kings and queens through history, and associated topics. Children will enjoy choosing bright, beautiful colours to shade in the various shapes presented on this crown. They will also develop skills, such as fine motor control, colour differentiation and designing.

**This dragon poetry-writing frame will fire the creative zest of independent writers. See video! The dramatic and humorous illustrations will spur ideas, as will the title - Watch out! - and open-scoped line starters: Watch out for the … dragon! He’s …, … and … . His spikes are …, his … (wings/eyes/scales?) are … and he’s as … as a … . He goes … (galloping and roaring through our town at night?) His favourite food is … (always a favourite line!). Tried and tested with great success, especially after plenty of warm-up chat and acting out. Dragons can be any type a young writer likes, from wild and scary to kind and brave, or just downright bonkers. See also my simpler versions, plus Dragon’s Menu, and dragon writing and colouring sheet.

Shells writing + colouring sheet, with link to supporting, inspiring video. Shells can be… describing words are invited around the shell pictures on this attractive sheet. Similes also called for: as … as …, and one for the sea on the wavy line - The sea is as sparkly as… SUPPORTING VIDEO: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 See my easier version here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/shells-can-be-illustrated-writing-frame-guide-sheet-12099487

A punchy, 4-verse rhyme about shells, with guidance notes for presentation and development, for use with young children. Can be chanted with hand gestures, with scope for more verses using children’s volunteered alternative describing words for shells. Supports speaking and listening skills, drama, presentation, self-confidence, seaside topics and more. The four rhyming verses describe sea shells in different ways, drawing attention to different types and their varying features, and the beauty and jewel-like quality of underwater shells, too. Video: Here’s me talking about shells, showing some, and reciting the poem, at a make-believe seaside: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 . Here’s a writing/colouring sheet to follow on with: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/shells-can-be-illustrated-writing-frame-guide-sheet-12099487

This lively action-rhyme consists of four couplets. Each tells of a spider’s movements, dangling, landing (on your head), running round your hair… running everywhere. The notes below it provide tips for acting out these different stages. The rhyme supports all-round literacy, including vocabulary, speaking and listening, expressive and creative presentation, and rhythm and rhyme development. It also teaches children about spiders and helps them to appreciate these delicate mini creatures, reducing any fears they may have of them. Tapping or shaking the beat will add to the punch and fun of this rhyme, while acting out provides an alternative approach. Perhaps do both by turn.

This two-verse ladybird rhyme has rhythm, rhyme and word fun. There’s ample scope for acting out, too, and the notes below the text provide a few tips for this. The rhyme supports all-round literacy, including vocabulary, rhyme and imagery (red as a poppy). It also develops awareness of insects and appreciation of their tiny, delicate features. Enacting the verses will encourage creative, expressive movement, and the cheerful tone will support mental wellbeing, too. You may also like my spider rhyme: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/rhyme-spider-12304548

This funny, lively space rhyme supports all-round literacy. It’s simple, four-line verse can be varied to allow for different ideas, and each can be enacted or expressed with gestures, sounds or mime. Children will enjoy its catchy rhythm and be interested in the rhyme (space/face), also finding the tone cheerful and humorous. The resource offers embellishment for space topics, too, and encourages physical movement and expression. The tips below the rhyme include handy prompts for enacting, line by line, and also for eliciting alternative alien features. Using a simple, familiar tune, this verse could also be set to music.

This simple, two verse rhyme invites ideas, with accompanying describing words, for what you might find under the sea. A list of suggestions to prompt for is provided below it, in the Notes section. This resource offers multiple learning and development benefits. It supports all-round literacy, including vocabulary, rhythm and rhyme; it supports seaside topic work and awareness of the wider world; its cheerful, punchy style and personal touch (‘what could there be… for me?’) supports mental wellbeing, and , as the notes point out, it also offers opportunities for physical movement and dramatic effects. The intriguing, open question that runs through the rhyme - what could there be for me under the sea? - also opens up thrilling possibilities for young children, and with adult support, this could be extended to include all sorts from sea flora and fauna to ship wrecks, pirate treasure and messages in bottles.

This simple, two-verse rhyme about traffic and pedestrians in a busy street provides wide scope for variation and action, stretching vocabulary, dramatic expression, sound awareness, and creativity. The tips below the verses offer handy prompts and ideas for embellishment and development. Children will develop language skills, including vocabulary-building and dramatic expression. The rhyme also teaches rhythm and rhyme, introducing the concept of poetry. It has a cheerful, upbeat tone, and also encourages physical movement, supporting mental and physical wellbeing. Its theme supports awareness of the outside world, social behaviour and even touches on carbon footprint issues - so there’s plenty to discuss here! If you have a percussion or musical instrument to hand, you could take the rhyme even further by setting it to music.

Two simple, punchy little rhymes about clouds, sun and sky, with upbeat, cheerful messages. Tips below for making full use of the rhymes with your young child or children. If you have a musical instrument to hand or are happy to sing unaccompanied, the rhymes can also be set to simple tunes. This resource supports language development, dramatic expression, introductions to poetry, awareness of rhythm and rhyme, and understanding of weather, as well as positive thinking and potential for physical exercise and creative, communicative movement.

This is a reading, writing and word-picture linking activity for young children, with example sheet. The three animal words, dog, cat, hen, are presented next to jumbled pictures of them. The challenge is to sound out the words and link them, with a pencil, to the correct picture. The pale letters can also be over-written, for hand-writing practice, and to consolidate the sounding out findings. This resource adds extra meaning and fun to early literacy lessons. Fun cat music! Do listen (free) to this delightful, jazzy cat movement music, by a favourite composer of mine - for all ages! https://soundcloud.com/rhodri-williams-wandoch/watching-the-cat

Traffic light pictures with “stop” and “go” to copy below on red and green lines. Traffic light pictures to colour in. A fun and meaningful activity to bring phonics alive and encourage reading and writing. Colour differentiation also promoted, besides handwriting, fine motor skills, road safety awareness and transport-related topic studies.

A fresh, beautiful spring picture display comprising 7 pictures, showing spring flowers, blossom, robin, nest eggs, butterfly, and a home-produced scene of toy spring animals. Purpose: to inspire seasonal teaching and learning. Use as spurs for creative writing, artwork, nature study, colours teaching and discussion. They also offer cheer, comfort and hope.