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 is a simple, illustrated frame for poetry-writing (or general descriptive writing), for beginner-writers, with jungle animals as the theme. There are three short sentences, referring to different jungle animals (tiger, money and snake), each with a gap for a one-word description. Below is a simile to finish: 'The jungle is as green as _ '. The activity calls for some preparation, such as learning about jungles and their inhabitants and sharing associated ideas and descriptive language. It supports literacy development, especially in creative writing, also providing a window on the wider world and natural environments - appropriate to the EYFS curricular learning area of Understanding the World. The opportunities for colouring support Expressive Arts & Design, and children will also develop other skills, such as pencil control and handwriting.

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.

**Dragon writing! ** This illustrated writing frame invites similes, description, and action words for dragons - plus suggestions for their favourite food. Not Teachers on Toast, surely?!? The Guide sheet provides teacher support for firing enthusiasm, ideas and language, and presenting the sheet. Supports literacy, poetry, vocabulary-building, speaking and listening skills, expressive movement (in the recommended warm-up enactments), and study of mythical beasts. Best for lower juniors (7-9 year-olds).

**Snappy dragon rhymes - with key colours. ** Great for all ages, especially early years, developing rhythm, rhyme, language, creativity and expressive confidence. Scope for drama, music and art developments. Once there was a dragon dressed in red. He liked to stay all day in… You can guess the last word, as can the children, though some may prefer to offer alternative rhymes. Red is just one example of the numerous colours featuring in these crazy dragon verses, which lend themselves to being enacted, and even sung to a made-up tune, as well as chanted and clapped. Follow on with dragon sketches or try my dragon’s menu for easy, crazy writing fun.

A class rhyme about space will bring your lesson to life. This list of relevant rhyming words, together with the example rhyming couplets on the next page, will provide all the back-up you need. There are plenty of other rhyming words (and near-rhyming ones) to think up too, and any number of ways to write your verses, but these suggestions will provide a solid starting point to branch out from. Recommended: read out some of the verses first, to give your class an idea of what rhyming couplets are like and how fun and varied they can be. Then read out and write up a selection of the rhyming words, inviting others too, to spur and guide ideas. Next, read out one of the first lines offered, and either invite word alternatives for variation, or ask for a different second line from the one given here. Try some more together, drawing on these resources as need be, then let your class have a go independently, or in pairs or groups, with help as needed.