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.

Robins, squirrels, hedgehogs and other woodland animals feature on this cheerfully-illustrated poem - or creative writing sheet, spurring young writers to think up describing words, action words and a simile to fill the gaps in the given verses. Recommended for Yrs 2-4 (UK), ages 6-8 approx. See my other two versions, mid-level and easier, for younger or less confident writers. This resource supports nature, animal and environmental studies, while developing writing skills and firing imagination and creativity.

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.

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!

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.

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.

**What jungle creature am I? ** this poem asks, with prompts for all sorts of clues and poetic techniques. Children forget they’re writing poems when there’s an exciting, exotic riddle to present and a whole class of others to guess. Jungle offers a wealth of possibilities, not just for creatures, but for creativity too. There’s also an anagram riddle suggestion below, to write on the sheet. Best for Yrs 3-6.

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.

Two dragon display pictures feature here - a blue one clasping a diamond and a lazy red one, snoozing on a cloud; also a little clip art design of a fire-breathing dragon whizzing, swooping, blasting down through the sky (also red). These will inspire end-of-term drawing, colouring, writing and acting fun for your class, whatever their age and maturity. For more, see my earlier upload: 3 Crazy Dragons, or try the Dragon’s Menu.

This illustrated wild weather poetry frame inspires expressive action words and similes to depict a windy, stormy scene. The example poem offers prompts and guidelines for teachers and/or students. Best for KS2, Yrs 3-6.

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…).

Phonics reading + writing sheet, illustrated, featuring ‘e’ in ‘egg’ and ‘eggs’, with extra ‘e’ letters below. Pastel shades to write over, with clearly presented letters. One of the 2 pictures can be coloured or decorated; the 2nd pic. shows pretty blue eggs in natural nest setting. Space for child to draw their own egg too. Also included, a photo of a fallen bird egg, with ‘egg’ label. If you like the writing sheet, see my others in this series at my shop. (Click ‘recent’ option.)

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.

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.