I am an experienced Primary school teacher with over twenty years experience in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. I have made and used all of the interactive topic based lesson plans, power-points and resources in this shop with my classes. I hope you enjoy using them with your classes too.
I am an experienced Primary school teacher with over twenty years experience in EYFS, KS1 and KS2. I have made and used all of the interactive topic based lesson plans, power-points and resources in this shop with my classes. I hope you enjoy using them with your classes too.
KS1 & 2 Biography planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own factual biographical writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing biographies and spaces for pupils to develop the structure of the biography about their chosen person or animal.
Great to use following History /famous people/animals lesson or drama. Can also be used with most topics: My family, heroes, current or historical characters, explorers, travel, Halloween, etc.
KS1 & 2 Science Fiction story planning template. A writing Science Fiction stories and spaces for pupils to develop descriptive words and phrases, space setting , problems, themed vocabulary and the structure of their story.
Can be used with topics : Space, Adventures, Explorers, Planets.
KS2 Eco-Warrior News. A newspaper style page focusing on the important eco issue of rewilding the environment through the reintroduction of beavers into the countryside and the benefits they can bring to humans and wildlife. I made this resource to enable pupils to read a newspaper style article about beaver rewilding, to identify features of a newspaper, genre style and language as well as learning about the topic of wildlife and eco systems. Can be used as a factsheet, comprehension, guided reading passage or the basis for developing a class newspaper.
Useful linked to topics about Wildlife, Ecosystems, Beavers, Rivers and Waterways, Animals that help us.
Summer holiday reading challenge.
This activity is aimed at KS1 and KS2 pupils as a reading challenge for 20 days over the summer holiday break to encourage them read a variety of texts and reading materials to keep up their reading skills while they are away from school. The 20 activities are fun and varied and children can share their experiences when they return to school in September. I gave a certificate and small rewards for number of challenges completed eg 1 challenge – sticker, 2-5 challenges – bookmark, 6-10 challenges – badge, 11-15 challenges – pencil and notepad, 16-20 challenges – frisbee or small game.
KS1 & 2 Fable planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own fable. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing fables and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting, the moral and the structure of their story.
Great to use following an assembly or moral writing lesson /drama. Can also be used with topics : Aesop’s fables, Morals and Dilemmas, Animals.
Knights and castles story template
KS1 Historical story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own ‘Knights and castles’ story writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing historical stories and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and ideas for the structure of their story.
Great to use following a History writing lesson, a visit to a castle or topic related drama lesson. Can also be adapted for most History topics eg: Norman Castles, Explorers, Travel, Romans, Egypt, Saxon Britain etc.
Sun and summer: Bundle of 6 resources.
Resource 1. Sun safety complete powerpoint lesson. Written mainly for KS1 but can be easily adapted. Powerpoint of 17 slides which promotes small group and paired discussion about sun safety. Can be used as a complete lesson or adapted for an assembly. The first slides look at fun in the sun and lead into some simple facts about the sun following a short paired talk session to assess pupil knowledge. Pupils are encouraged to look at different photographs of the sun (sunset, sun rise, in space) and describe features. There is a very simple slide on Vitamin D and UV rays linked to health. The children can discuss how to protect themselves in the sun and when to wear sunscreen. The final slide is an example of a sun safety poster which pupils can use as a basis to design their own for the rest of the school (and which can be used as an assessment of their learning).
Resource 2. The sun and our planet. EYFS/KS1 power-point of 36 slides. This power-point can be used as a complete stand-alone lesson or as an additional spin off to related topics which encourage the pupils to think about the sun and how it affects earth. I have kept the information simple with a mix of slides and activities including a simple riddle, a short youtube clip, paired talk activities, a practical ‘ordering planets’ activity and an assessment challenge to make a booklet about the information learned. Each slide includes pictures which illustrate the key learning points. Useful alongside lessons or topics on sun safety, summer, space and planets etc.
Learning objectives
• To know that the sun is the centre of the solar system.
• To know some interesting facts about the sun.
• To name the eight planets which orbit the sun.
• To organise the planets in order of closeness to the sun.
• To explain how the sun affects our planet.
Resource 3. EYFS Weekly plan ‘The sun and the wind’. This is a weekly cross curricular plan for an EYFS topic based on Aesop’s fable ‘The sun and the wind’. It has been planned to include the learning and ideas for one week of teaching and includes differentiated planning in Literacy and Numeracy for HA, MA and LA groups. Includes non-negotiable vocabulary and linked learning activities in each area of learning. Links well with topics on ‘Being kind’, ‘Circles’ and ‘Weather’.
Resource 4. ‘All about the sun’ factsheet template. KS1 factsheet template about the topic of the sun. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own ideas for a non-fiction factsheet or booklet. There are heading prompts to help pupils develop ideas.
Resource 5. EYFS/KS1 summer picnic activity sheet. Learning objective : I can choose and name at least 8 things to put in a picnic basket.
A simple observation and identification activity for pupils before undertaking an out of school visit (to the beach, woods, park). Pupils draw what they will need for a picnic. There is a simple picture/word key at the bottom of the worksheet to help pupils identify 8 common items found in a picnic basket. Can be used as a follow up activity for topic work on ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’, seaside, summer, ‘We’re going on a picnic!’ by Pat Hutchins etc.
Resource 6. EYFS/KS1 Beachcombing activity sheet.
Learning objective : I can find and name at least 8 things found on a beach.
A simple observation and identification activity for pupils while on a visit to the beach. Pupils draw what they find in the empty bucket. There is a simple picture/word key at the bottom of the worksheet to help pupils identify 8 common items found on a beach.
‘Nouns’ games. 36 quick starter activities to introduce or revise the use of nouns. Pupils can use the grid to choose a coloured shape which takes them to a linked starter. Activities include: memory games, alphabet lists, labelling, alliteration, cascades etc to help pupils understand common, proper, singular, plural, compound nouns.
Can be used with or without an adult depending on whether you want to complete a class or filler task. The activities are varies and include talk partners and written exercises which require paper, pencils, post its, a beanbag (for pupils to throw and catch). The grids/tables on the slides can be printed for pupil use. I prepared all of the slide grids that I wanted to use in advance and put them in a numbered folder so they would be ready when the pupils chose the slide.
Martin Luther King Famous person fact sheet.
Includes key events and important stages in their life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos.
I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous person in a range of genres (newspaper report, biography, letter or diary writing, fiction, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.
Rosa Parks Famous person fact sheet.
Includes key events and important stages in their life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos.
I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous person in a range of genres (newspaper report, biography, letter or diary writing, fiction, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.
Elizabeth Fry Famous person fact sheet.
Includes key events and important stages in their life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos.
I have used this with pupils in Years 1-4 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about a famous person in a range of genres (newspaper report, biography, letter or diary writing, fiction, non-fiction etc). I have also used it with a guided reading group and a set of questions linked to the topic followed up with a written comprehension exercise.
Greek Gods and Goddesses comprehension cards. Set of 18. KS2. Each card includes information about a God/Goddess and up to eight questions for pupils to retrieve answers from the text. Simple layout for pupils to find information easily and an engaging picture of each subject on the card. Can also be used without the comprehension questions as a reference resource for pupils to research a God/Goddess independently.
Picture cards to stimulate speaking and listening. Set of 30 individual cards with unusual subjects to encourage pupils to talk about the context, descriptions, similar situations, feelings and parallels. The pictures are unusual, amusing and surprising to encourage children to use their imaginations and explore ideas that may be stimulated. Eg Picture 1: A sausage in a banana skin – my class found this picture really interesting and surprising. They asked a lot of questions about how a sausage banana could be grown and what it may taste like. One response was: Are we the same on the inside as we seem on the outside? It stimulated a discussion about inner/outer selves and judging others.
Pictures include: Reflections in water, lockers, a giant straw tractor, spaceships, hot air balloons, telephone boxes, animals, viaducts, a tree with a face, a dog reading a newspaper, fairy homes, camouflage etc I have included 11 question prompts to stimulate discussion about initial thoughts, feelings, description, mood photographer intention, likes/dislikes, prediction, message, what can we learn from each picture.
Useful to help children of most ages and abilities develop language use and articulation, prediction and inference using a fun visual prompt.
Stories that raise issues template
KS1 & 2 Raising issues story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own story with issues writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing issue stories and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and plan the structure of their story.
Great to use following an class writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with topics which relate to familiar issues: Anti-bullying, friendship problems, school problems, family dynamics, crime, money.
Conversation in a story template
KS1 & 2 Conversation story writing template. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing a conversation and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and plan the structure of their story.
Great to use following an writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with topics eg: Famous people, Explorers, Samuel Pepys, Me and my family…
Comedy story template
KS1 & 2 Comedy story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own humorous writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing stories with humour and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and plan the structure of their story.
Great to use following an writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with topics : Celebrations (eg April Fool’s Day) Famous People, Feelings and emotions.
Mystery story template
KS1 & 2 Mystery story planning template. A resource for pupils to use to plan their own mystery writing. Includes a bullet point reminder of the rules for writing mystery stories and spaces for pupils to develop character description, setting and plan the structure of their story.
Great to use following an writing lesson or drama. Can also be used with a range of topics : Seasonal mysteries, Explorers, Different countries, Travel, Halloween.
Fiction Writing Genres. Pack of 14 KS2 pupil templates.
Template genres include: Horror, Dilemmas, Adventure, Comedy, Fables, Greek Myths, Flashbacks, Fantasy, Playscripts, Sci-Fi, Historical (Knights), Raising issues, Mystery, Conversations.
Each template includes a bullet point reminder list of the rules for writing in a specific genre and spaces for pupils to develop ideas, character description, setting, the problem and the structure of their stories. Depending upon the genre there are prompts for descriptive vocabulary and phrases, character emotion and responses.
The templates can be used to develop story writing linked to most cross curricular topics and drama particularly Celebrations, Famous People, Explorers, Fairytales and stories, Animals, Greece etc.
I have used these templates with Years 3 to 6 and with HA Year 2 pupils.
A KS1/lower KS2 power-point of 16 slides which can be used as one lesson or extended over a longer period.
Learning Objectives
To know
*what an invitation looks like.
*what information needs to be included in an invitation.
*how to set out an invitation
There is a warm up – different types of invitations and celebrations, partner activities and a final writing task. Included are examples of 2 invitations (Christmas and Halloween party) for pupils to use in the lesson to spot the key features and help Jojo correct her invitation (because no one has replied!). There are key questions to promote discussion and paired work. Also included is a simple invitation template for pupil use. Final task: write an invitation for a school Halloween fancy dress party. Pupils can also use the important information/checklist to give paired feedback after writing their own invitation. Slides 15(black and white version) and 16(colour version) are a Halloween invitation template for pupils to complete.
