Great for St David’s Day dragon writing! Watch out for the ________ dragon! This exciting writing sheet starts. It’s as ___ as a ___ (perhaps hot as a volcano or red as a ripe tomato). Two more open similes follow, then two lines for features details, an action line - 'He goes__ ing __ ’ (perhaps gliding through the sunset to his secret cave, or cartwheeling over the mountaintops, or flame-blasting through your classrooms). The last line is always a favourite in this tried and tested sheet: His favourite food is __ ’ . Recommended for lower juniors. Supports Literacy, particularly poetry, creativity and vocabulary-stretching; also enriching Myths & Legends studies.

The ocean bed is a mysterious place, and this light-touch poetry frame invites children to dream about the possibilities, and describe their imaginings as they wish. The given structure, meanwhile, helps to focus minds and get pens rolling. The two-page resource includes a page of guidance notes for the teacher’s reference, with an example poem to share with the class. The poetry frame promotes creative writing, and literacy generally, while also drawing attention to the wonders of the sea.

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 5-sheet resource comprises a castle picture-poem, easier/harder, and a castle-characters picture-poem in 3 graded versions. These are attractive sheets with lively, hand-drawn illustrations of old, cobwebby, crumbling castles, the graded ones featuring characters such as a ghost, king and queen. Children have the fun of writing directly onto the castles - a particularly vivid experience in the ‘My castle is’ activity. Describing words are invited on each sheet. These writing frames are self-explanatory, having starter phrases followed by thick lines for writing, with increasing opportunities for imaginative, expressive input on the graded character sheets. For ‘My castle is’, prompt for describing words such as: old, crumbly, tall, spooky, dark, haunted, spidery, cold, windy, grand, royal, huge, hard, rat-infested, ghostly, scary, massive, golden, fine, splendid, stone, rich, ancient, mysterious, creepy, abandoned, damp, shadowy, candle-lit, and ruined. On the Castle Characters graded sheets, encourage a range of personality attributions for the ghost, king and queen, such as kind, mean, cruel, crazy, gentle, friendly, and various colours. The ghost might be see-through, floaty, spooky or dancing. This is principally a Literacy resource, though it also offers scope for expressive art through colouring, and an intriguing window onto the past.

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…).

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.

‘Juicy Fruit Queen’ is the fun title of this lively, rhythmic poem. Clap and swing along to it with your class, to liven up your healthy eating guidance and encourage fruit-eating. As a published children’s poet, I’ve written this multi-verse poem specially for TES users. It’s versatile for a range of applications and age groups, also serving as an introduction to poetry-writing, rhyme fun or discussion, or as an action rhyme to get your class up and moving.

Motivate your class to get up and moving with this punchy, inspiring rhyme. Why miss out on all the fun? It asks, encouraging standing rather than sitting, and running rather than walking, to keep fresh, smart, trim and slim. The rhyme is in two verses, with different styles. You could use them separately as two different rhymes. Act them out and develop with stretches, runs, jumps, spins and anything else the children suggest.

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.)

This ghost, in its spooky castle poetry frame, will get your young writers hooked, and the 2 graded versions cater for different ability levels. The clear and spacious gaps for description, and the atmospheric illustrations, will inspire expressive language, as they describe the ghost’s movements through a castle’s passages, dungeon and stairs - and further perhaps. The accompanying Guide Sheet provides an example version of the poem to read out or refer to for prompts. Preparation suggestions for the activity are also given. Tried and tested with success in many schools. NB: 2 differentiated frames; guidance notes.

Sunshine and clouds are the focus of this 4-sheet pack. The illustrated writing sheets - or picture poems - provide attractive and accessible means for children to develop their writing and phonics skills, also spurring creativity and stretching active vocabulary. There are colouring opportunities too. The accompanying rhymes can be chanted, clapped, swayed to or enacted, and are recommended (on the Guidance Sheet) as warm-up activities. The Guidance Sheet offers lists of prompt ideas for each writing sheet, with development suggestions for the cloud one. Suggested preparatory activities are also included. The sheets are hand-illustrated and home-produced, rather than machine-perfect. All sheets are black-and-white, PDF. YouTube recording of my poem: ‘What is a Cloud?’ - https://youtu.be/EOKVIktMh10

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.

Orange, yellow, purple and black/white/grey are the focus of these catchy, meaningful rhymes. I have written them to help young children identify colours and associate them with familiar items, also triggering ideas and inviting discussion. The rhythms and rhymes serve as introductions to poetry, too. Some of these are best for reading and listening, others for chanting, clapping and acting out.