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…

Barack Obama Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in his life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 3-6 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. Also links with topics: USA, Leaders, Democracy, Black History

St. Nicholas. Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important legends in his life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 2-6 to help them retrieve information / develop their knowledge to write about Saint Nicholas 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. Useful to link to topics on Christmas, Christianity, World celebrations, Giving and sharing, Being Kind.

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.

Close up picture quiz. Set of 20. Have fun identifying close up and cropped pictures of everyday objects, food and creatures which will challenge visual perception and creativity. Suitable for KS1 and KS2 as an individual, paired or group activity or competition. Do your pupils have an eagle eye?

Mae Carol Jemison Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in her life as a US scientist and astronaut, broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 2-6 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. Links well to topics: Space, Astronauts, The Solar System, Planets, Women in History.

Roald Dahl Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in his life broken into short easy to read sections with pictures and photos. I have used this with pupils in Years 1-6 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. Useful for topics: Roald Dahl, Roald Dahl Day (13th September), Fiction books, Famous people, Biographies, Topics based around a Roald Dahl book eg ‘The Witches’, ‘The BFG’.

End of year certificates. Set of 34 individual awards with fun and interesting award titles: Person most likely to: Win an Oscar Become Prime Minister Set a world record Be on a TV show Save the planet Become a millionaire Be a blogger Be in a boy band Become a famous chef Find a cure for a disease Start a charity Become Dr Who’s Assistant Create a famous piece of artwork Become a footballer Be a dancer Be a comedian Fight for a cause Protect other people Be a stunt person Be a fashion designer Be on a TV soap Work on or in water Work in transport Be an accountant Write a Number 1 song Be a famous gamer Invent a gadget Write a best seller Work with children Work with animals Travel the world Be in a girl band Spy for MI6 Go to space

Queen Victoria 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.

Pirate knowledge board game. For 2 players. KS1. Learning Objective To practise and remember important words (vocabulary) about Pirates. To work with my partner to remember facts and information about pirate life. To test my own knowledge. Learning objective and rules included. Pupils need a dice or a spinner and a counter each. This is a traditional style board game where the children work their way around a trail from start to finish answering the pirate general knowledge questions as they go. Correct answer wins 1 square forward, incorrect answer wins 1 square backwards. The first person to reach the finish square is the Pirate Champion! I laminated this game for durability and its increased size when I wanted to include up to 4 pupils in the game with an adult to support younger pupils. Useful as an assessment activity or a fun way of developing knowledge in a Pirates topic.

Creativity Bubbles. Set of 3, one for each Key Stage, modified with statements which enable pupils to recognise when they are being creative in lessons. The statements are categorised under three headings: imagination, originality and evaluation. Can be used by the teacher to measure pupil progress, peer to peer observation and self-assessment in creative learning. I have used these in all Key Stages, initially asking children as a class which tasks could be identified as creative eg ‘I think of unusual ways of doing things’ in a PE lesson – pupils were able to give examples of travelling sequences using mats and small apparatus saying specifically how their moves were different or unusual to that of their peers. Can be useful to use to prompt self and peer assessment in subjects which are not perceived as ‘creative’ by pupils eg Maths, Science, Geography.

Neil Armstrong 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.

George Stephenson 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.

Mary Anning 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.

Guy Fawkes 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.

Tim Peake: Famous person fact sheet. Includes key events and important stages in the life of the British astronaut, 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.

Florence Nightingale 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.

Samuel Pepys 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.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read – Female pirates. 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. Linked topics: Pirates, Famous people, Ships and the Sea.