‘What Makes a Camp Fire Glow?’ and ‘Banjo in the Sunset Glow’ - Two atmospheric, upbeat poems to inspire creative writing, stretch language and encourage friendship and community spirit. Easy to read and listen to, yet rich in language and concepts. The poems support poetry, literacy, outdoor learning, nature, and PSHE. Published in The School Magazine, Australia.

This rainbow poem of mine has been published by The School Magazine, Australia. It describes the varied, characterful colours of the rainbow, with a brief, rhyming word or phrase for each, summing up its character. Calming end, celebrating the beautiful merging and curving of the colours over the land. Picture and coloured border.

Space topic and literacy are both enhanced with this exciting, fun activity. The starry space photo has 8 gaps for inserting exciting, descriptive words and phrases about space. A gap-free version of the picture is included for inspiration. The supporting** Word + simile Bank** is for teacher use, offering handy examples and prompts. I have many other space/literacy resources at my shop.

This attractive resource will stretch literacy skills and enhance ocean studies, as children think up words, similes or phrases to fill the ten writing gaps in the under-sea picture. An unmarked version of the picture is provided for inspiration. The Guide Sheet offers teachers a list of suggestions for prompts and examples, including adjectives, similes and flora and fauna (also described). Great for: vocabulary-building, warm-up for poetry, description or story-writing, topic work (oceans, water, sea life, sea pollution, global warming, pirates, treasure, etc.); also for constructively filling any spare ten minutes. Recommended for Yrs 2-6.

**A Sea monster writing sheet in 3 differentiated versions. ** Attractively illustrated and presented. Will excite and amuse the whole class, The starter phrases about its appearance, behaviour and favourite food will get all pens rolling. Supports literacy, seaside, ocean, myths and other cross-curricular studies, and unlocks creativity. See my Sea Monster Food writing sheet too****: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/sea-monster-food-fun-writing-sheet-guide-12114876 ****, plus many other seaside and ocean literacy resources.

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 attractive dragon sheet has three describing words - red, hot, spiky, to be written over and copied below, as well as the title word - dragon to over-write. It’s fun to write words around a picture, especially dragon words! Yet the words are simple to sound out and clear to write over and copy, for children with a basic or partial grasp of phonics. The dragon - who’s flying over a castle - can then be coloured in. What other words could be used to describe a dragon? Able writers could add an idea or two of their own. Perhaps prompt for fiery, magic, mad, big, fast or kind.

Teachers on Toast or Catastrophe Curry? What delicious, disgusting, dangerous, dreadful dishes will your class place on this alliteration-focused menu? Don’t worry, though, it’s for dragons only: humans aren’t allowed in dragon cafes - except on plates, possibly. A great end-of-term slot-filler, combining fun with literacy development, creativity, humour and the promotion of class-harmony.

Are oceans or related themes on your teaching agenda? Or trying to enthuse your class in poetry? Or just trying to get them to put pen to paper or put their hand up to volunteer an idea? Then this is for you! Recipe poems are fun, quick and mind-stretching to concoct. They get everyone on board, instantly enhancing literacy skills and lateral thinking. Share ideas in a whole-class recipe, or hand out copies this relaxed-style, hand-illustrated sheet for individual, paired or group input. Then invite everyone to read out a line for one gigantic, beautiful, bonkers, thrilling, sparkling ocean concoction. First decide what sort of sea it’s for, e.g. stormy, summer’s day, night-time, mysterious or undiscovered. I’ve started you off with a spoon of, but that could be crossed out and changed to pinch, bowl, dish, ladle, teaspoon, handful, or other measurement. Below, add more, perhaps branching out into non-kitchen measurements to fit your ingredients, e.g. - a fountain of splashes, a rainbow of colours, a peacock’s tail of turquoise, a volcano of danger, a serpent’s nest of hisses, a cool drink of refreshment, etc. Have fun!

Fun learning for indoors or out! Do for 5 mins. or an hour, in writing or just out loud. Build funny sea-monster rhymes with your class, with this frame, partially done for you. List of extra rhyming words provided at bottom of page. As I was swimming in the sea, I saw a monster looking at me. A whole story unfolds - but what story, exactly? That’s for you and the children to decide. Just help them make sure that every line ends in a word that rhymes with ‘sea’. There are lots to choose from. Elicit a list, perhaps starting them off with bee, key and flee. Great for:- Literacy, Ocean,Myths, and other related topics, end-of-term fun, perhaps outside in the shade of a tree, with mini-whiteboards and pens for jotting ideas. Have fun!

Sea monster food? What’s that? Rock roast? Splash salad? Fish and ships? The starter words here open up ideas and get children dreaming and writing - even reluctant and struggling writers! The guide sheet offers teachers ideas for prompting with. Tip: think up sea features together -from fishes to mermaids and pirate ship wrecks - then combine with human dishes, like roasts, sandwiches and pies, perhaps bringing in alliteration (Killer Whale Crisps, Treasure on Toast). Best for KS2, or KS1 as a whole-class, teacher-led game. SEA ALSO: Treasure Map alliteration game: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/treasure-map-alliteration-game-yr1-6-guide-for-use-11887395 .

This guided **‘Stormy Sea’ writing sheet is an exciting! With video How-to. Children love writing their simile ideas for a stormy sea on these wavy lines, as confirmed time and again in my Stormy Sea poetry sessions. Suggestions for teacher introduction and prompts are given in the accompanying guide sheet. the repeated phrase - The sea went… is followed by a wavy line for action words and description (rolling, roaring, wildly charging like an angry beast on the loose?). The poem ends calmly, inviting a simile for a peaceful sea. Yrs 3-6. **SEE ALSO - ** TREASURE MAP alliteration game - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/treasure-map-alliteration-game-yr1-6-guide-for-use-11887395 (popular) PLUS - SEA SIMILES (summer sea) -** https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/sea-similes-poem-frame-illustrated-12100413** .

**Two of my published poems: ** ‘The Wind’ - fun, snappy, rhyming poem about being out in the wind. 9 lines. ‘Wind-Winding Wand’ - celebrating the wind turbine or windmill. Rhymes are woven through this poem. Rhythmic beat with gentle ukulele chords. 7 lines.

A poem (written by the author, a published poet), describing an autumn wood in metaphors. Blank frame in wood surround also included, for any style. It’s a carpeted castle for hopping rabbits, for instance, and a climbing frame de-luxe for squirrels. But the bright, warm, cheerful poem has a chilly ending. Presented on a golden-red autumn wood backdrop. Supports seasonal work, nature, poetry and literacy.