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 .

**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.

Two of my poems feature on this one-page resource: ‘Can you hear the treetops?’ and ‘Our River’, both published in The School Magazine, Australia. The first questions the voices of the treetops and what they might be saying to each other; the second is a metaphor poem, depicting a river in its different moods. Both are easy to understand, yet mind-stretching. The poems support nature study, poetry appreciation, creative writing and language development. Both are calm and cheerful, yet intriguing.

This simple, illustrated writing sheet is fun to write and colour in. The text invites a describing word for a robin, and another woodland animal of the writer’s choice, with a describing word. The various creatures illustrated, and the forest background, will provide young children with an incite into life inside a wood. The resource promotes writing, reading, colouring skills, and understanding and appreciation of the natural environment. Try my harder version too.

This 4-sheet resource for Yr 3 poetry will enthuse your class. The fascinating wild woods theme will trigger ideas and the focus on woodland animals and how they move will bring action and narrative to the activity. The clear, supportive writing-frames and their lively illustrations will motivate even reluctant writers to have a go. The recourse comprises: a warm-up, brainstorming sheet inviting words to describe woods (Wild woods can be…); the poetry frame itself (In the ___ Forest), and a 2-page GUIDE sheet, with examples and suggestions for preparation and approach. Recommended for Yr 3 (ages 7-8) and less confident older students.

Jungles and rain forests are thrilling to write about, and this words-in-a-picture approach adds in fun and meaning for primary aged pupils. A gap-free version of the jungle photo is included for inspiration and information, plus a Word Bank, including similes, for teacher reference - handy for examples and prompts. The resource supports poetry, vocabulary-building, writing fluency and confidence-building, as well as enhancing work on jungles, rain forests and related topics. Others in this series (Word Gaps in a Picture): Butterfly, Meadow (free), Dragons, Sea, Under the Sea and Fireworks, plus more to come. See my many other Jungle and Rain forest resources - rhymes, poetry frames and more.

SPRING LITERACY! Inspiring, illustrated poetry writing sheet, differentiated with harder/easier versions, for creative writing about the wonders of spring. Line starters invite ideas for lambs and other baby animals, the sky, meadows and more, with open-ended prompts and plenty of space for free expression and extra input. Supports topics related to spring, seasons, animals, colour, where we live, outdoors, birth and rebirth, and more, while developing literacy skills. A handy discussion-starter, too. Recommended for Yrs 2-4.

Transport studies and Literacy development are combined in this attractive writing activity, with line starters: Through the windscreen of my car, I can see - Through the porthole of my boat, Through the window of my submarine, … the windscreen of my helicopter … the porthole of my rocket…, with a generous, wide-spaced line under each for description. Encourage rich, imaginative and relevant description for each one, e.g. for the view from the submarine, perhaps a list of sea creatures and features, with accompanying adjectives. Encourage further entries with views from other vehicles and transport means - crazy ones included - writing on the reverse or extra paper if necessary, firing imagination and creativity as well as interest in the subject. Round off with illustrations on separate paper. Best for Juniors (ages 7-11 approx.).

This tea table has some tasty dishes - and some inedible ones too! The challenge is to clear away the unsuitable ones, such as the old boot, clock and paper, by reading the words to identify them and crossing them out. This humorous activity takes the fear out of reading and will motivate able and hesitant readers alike to read or sound out all the 15 words. Designed for Year 1, but will also serve older children for reading practice. Can they create a tea table conundrum of their own? Early Years children will also enjoy picking out words and colouring in the picture.

This cheerfully illustrated poetry frame prompts simile ideas for the colour red and encourages description with gaps for two adjectives per item. The first idea is given (tomato) - perhaps juicy, ripe, squashed, bright, squishy, garden, fresh or round. The other lines leave the object open to thought and choice. This would tie in with my other colour-themed poetry frames and rhymes - see catalog.

This autumnal poetry frame inspires creative descriptions of falling, flowing, colourful leaves. The illustrations spur the imagination, and the wavy lines encourage words to reflect the leaves’ whirling movements. The 2-verse format invites moving words - gliding, floating, spinning, dancing, etc., with space for similes - like graceful dancers, bright flames, birthday candles, colourful butterflies, etc. Descriptions of the sky are also called for, and the poem ends with a colour simile opportunity. Tips - let your class watch leaves falling first. Catch, study and imitate them together. Build a bank of action-words for the leaves, and discuss simile ideas, then briefly share ideas for the sky. Encourage free-flow writing, with rich vocabulary. This is not a rhyming poem, though rhymes within lines could be effective (riding and gliding, whirling and twirling…).

My star is… This opening phrase below the star picture offers an infinite scope of possibilities. Prompt for describing words such as shiny, pointy, gold, silver, tiny, pretty, sparkly, glittery, twinkly, friendly, kind, far away, high up, twitchy, spiky, mysterious, magical, shooting, smiling, hot and cold. Colour words may also be popular - red, blue, yellow, etc. Colouring in could be presented as a reward for the writing effort. Children will learn about space as they work.

These four funny, punchy rhymes are about animals (elephants, monkeys and slugs) + a witch. Easy and fun to read, building confidence and nurturing the invaluable habit of reading for pleasure. Great for reading alone or out loud, for listening to, sharing and discussing. Develops rhyme and rhythm sense and encourages writing of rhymes too. For more, see my others with similar covers.

Four more daft, comical rhymes for school children, each 4 lines long, with punchy rhymes and familiar, popular topics. They offer reading incentives to able and struggling readers alike, promoting all-round literacy. They also raise spirits and encourage communication and sharing. For more, see my others with similar cover design, including 3-for-2 bundle: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/12-funny-rhymes-12289724

Four funny, punchy, 4-line rhymes by the author. These four are all about supernatural creatures: aliens, giants and fairies. Easy, fun and cheerful reading material, encouraging children to read, and to write their own rhymes too. For more rhymes in this style, see: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/4-funny-rhymes-12289613 and https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/funny-rhymes-2-12289686

Four humorous 4-line rhymes that children can easily relate to. They’re all about food, spills, mouldy food remains and similar. Through the fun, children will naturally exercise their reading or listening skills. They can also develop their sense of rhythm and rhyme. The lightly humorous tone also promotes relaxation, cheer and joy of reading. Dragon Rhyme Ideas video: https://youtu.be/iQhtFko3Y4U

This 61-word, springtime story is easy to read. Newly independent readers will enjoy the little tale unaided, while those on the brink may need a little support as they sound out the words or make semi-informed guesses from the context. See my other stories for more confidence-building reading practice.

A woodland poem example, featuring description, presented over a colourful autumn wood photo. Writing frame also included. Repetition of the opening line also features in this simple format. **Offers a framework and idea spurs **for KS2 writers, and for KS1 verbal contributions. Warm-up: go outside to experience trees (and woods?) with all the senses. Then discuss - what did the children notice? What creatures might live there, and what are they like? How would the trees be in different seasons? What might they be like on Halloween night? Enact trees together, then pretend you’re walking through a wood, finding “treasures”. You’ll find more poem guides and poetry themes here at my TES shop.