Literacy and castle studies are brought alive by these attractive sheets and their fascinating writing opportunities. There are two versions of this illustrated “CASTLE” acrostic frame, one with short lines for single words (describing words recommended), and one with longer lines for phrases, sentences or extended descriptions and similes. The Examples sheet provides suggestions to prompt for, for each version. Perhaps read some out to fire other ideas. The sheets allow room for a castle sketch below. Suitable for all juniors, with support as needed.

This is an exciting, fascinating picture-poem frame, in 3 variations of graded difficulty. It will inspire your 5-7 year-olds to get dreaming and writing, drawing on passive vocabulary to express their buzzing imagination. Their castle might be dark, damp and gloomy, or grand, golden and magical, or ancient, crumbling and haunted. It’s as old as …, and as [__] as __ . What will you find inside? Treasure? A sword? A secret message? Who lives there? A lonely ghost? A fiery dragon? A bossy king? And what does he/she like to do? There’s scope for drama, humour and mystery here. Recommended for Yrs 1-2. Supports Poetry, Literacy and History. See my other Castle-themed resources too.

These 6 little pictures will bring text alive for a child, triggering ideas and enthusiasm. All are home-produced, originally as book illustrations. They comprise: candle (coloured), plume & ink jar (coloured), cobwebs, ghost, turrets, castle window (black/white - potential for colouring fun). Suitable for all ages.

An imaginary castle can be any sort you like - fairy-tale pink or iron grey, for instance, so your children can have fun with this sheet, thinking what their castle could be like as well as thinking up effective similes for them. The two blank lines at the end are for totally free expression. Some children might like to add further similes, others might like to add a warning, or a comment about the castle’s inhabitants, or a rounding-off rhyme, or even a metaphor (the castle is a …). The example sheet can be read out to demonstrate the simile concept and trigger ideas. Recommended for lower juniors, and older writers as a starting point for individual poem-crafting.

These 3 punchy rhymes bring the past alive. Their titles are: Who Lived in the Castle?, Bowing and Curtseying, and My Castle is Old. Each contain rhyme and rhythm, while offering scope for alternative words to be slotted in (notes below provide ideas for these). There is also scope for acting-out, adding sound effects and enhancing with percussion. Suggestions for all of these are provided. They serve to prepare children for writing about castles, also enriching their vocabulary, developing their sense of rhyme and rhythm, and providing a window on the past. In addition, they promote physical development: the actions involved are fun and imagination-triggering, encouraging creative expression and physical exertion. The rhymes and illustrations are my own. 3 sheets in total -PDF.

This rhyme bank and examples page will provide all the back-up you need to concoct verses about castle characters with your class. There are rhyme lists for King, Queen, Knight, Prince, Princess and Ghost, with an example verse for each on the next page. Tips for presenting and guiding are also provided. Bring history alive by inventing funny, crazy, spooky or beautiful rhyming couplets (or more) about the people who lived in our ancient castles, or bring your literacy or poetry lesson alive this way. I introduce rhymes like these in my poetry workshops, adapting the presentation to suit the different literacy levels. It’s an activity that gets everyone hooked.

“Castle treasure can be -” is the lead-in phrase on this attractive picture-poem - or writing sheet, and the accompanying word bank supplies the teacher with easy and harder words to prompt for. Draw out the words from children’s passive vocabulary, rather than handing out this list. There are plenty of other words to contribute too - these are just suggestions. The sheet can serve as a creative writing sheet for younger children, or a launch pad for extended writing, for older or more independent writers. Supports literacy and history.

These four fascinating castle photographs will bring your history or castle project alive for your class. They were taken in Caerphilly Castle, south Wales, and show the Welsh flag, castle doors, windows and an arrow slit. They could be used in conjunction with my castle poetry-writing frames and rhymes.

Bring atmosphere and detail to your medieval history topic with this fascinating peep into a deserted (almost) castle. Ignite the imagination of your students, whatever age, with this eye-drawing picture in black and white (drawn with computer software). I originally drew it as an illustration to accompany a poem of mine for a children’s poetry book, now out of print. Now use it to fire ideas for poetry-writing in primary schools.