A complete resource for a full reading session based around the excellent book by Philip Pullman: The Firework Maker's Daughter. Contains the full text of Chapter One, as well as a shortened version for SEN, and a range of questions differentiated on three different levels (2 based on the full text and 1 set relating to the shortened version). Could be used throughout KS2. I spend a lot of time and effort making these resources, so if you are pleased with it, please give it a 5-star review. Thank you!

This resource contains the full text of Chapter 2 of the Firework Makers Daughter by Philip Pullman as well as three sets of differentiated comprehension questions for HAPs, MAPs and LAPs (LAPs version based only on one page of the text. Suitable for children throughout KS2, can be used as an activity for guided reading groups or as a whole class comprehension lesson. Depending on time and thoroughness, it may well take children two sessions to fully answer all of the questions. If you find this resource useful, please take a moment to leave a review - thanks!

This is a short unit of work on performance poetry including two weeks' plans (this includes a cold and hot performance and Friday sessions have a reading focus linked to the unit, i.e. poetry comprehension). This massive bundle includes a large number of poems that are brilliant for children of different abilities to perform. Both modern and classic poets are included and are credited. Worth buying the bundle just for this collection alone! This unit represents a lot of time and effort on my part. If you think they are of high quality then please leave me a 5-star rating. Thank you!

This is intended for a lower KS2 reading session but could also be used with upper KS2. It includes a jpg starter activity about Prof Stephen Hawking as a stimulus, and three differentiated texts about Stephen Hawking to read, including differentiated questions and a lesson plan.

This short warning story by Pie Corbett called Elf Road is brilliant as a box-it-up activity for identifying the themes within the story. As well as including the short story text (which is freely available on the internet) I have included a worksheet I made for children to 'box up' the story. One side is for writing the underlying generic patterns within the story (e.g. Main Character finds a magic portal and enters) while on the other side children have to identify the actual examples of this specific to the Elf Road story (e.g. Billy finds a wooden door in Elf Road and goes through.) These are differentiated on three levels so that HAPs have to fill in the entire grid on both sides (I suggest after modelling a few examples first), the MAPs have to identify some of the underlying patterns and some of the specific details, and LAPs only have to find the specific examples with all of the underlying patterns being provided. Also included is a blank grid and (scroll this down) the 'answers' to the whole grid for teacher reference. It also provides a super clear framework from which to progress to adding a third column on the right for 'new ideas' - i.e. children collectively or individually vary the story details to include their own ideas following the underlying theme (e.g. my lovely class decided that main character Daisy would fall into a sewage pipe and end up in a new world...). I taught this with Y3/4 but I think could also be useful with upper KS2.

This resource contains the text of the first chapter of the fantastic Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl, along with a set of comprehension questions differentiated three ways. Suitable for KS2 children. Can be used as an activity for guided reading groups or for whole class reading sessions.

In the build-up to writing stories it's useful to give children practise in writing character descriptions. These handy planning sheets (one with more structured prompts on and one more basic for HAPs) can help children to create their own image of a character to describe. The Teacher example and cheat sheet help to demonstrate how notes can be made and turned into a fuller description of a character.

This is a bundle of four documents to provide a lesson with a reading focus. L.O. To predict what will happen next in a text. Children are given a text containing the story of The Half-Chick (deliberately a lesser known tale to enable prediction). Differentiated level of challenge; HAPs' version ends earlier and they are asked to predict and justify the ending. MAPs' version gives them a little more of the next section to enable prediction with more of a hint. LAPs' version contains a simplified version of the text to read as well well as more of the ending so that the pattern of the moral in the story is clearer to support prediction. The Teacher version of course contains the entire story which can be read in the plenary (groups' stopping places are marked on it). Although not well-known, this is a nice traditional tale/fairy tale with a clear moral message and lots of the familiar features (e.g. 3s, talking elements e.g. wind, river etc.) so could also be used to support other lessons.

This powerpoint goes through the various common features of fairy tales including good/bad characters, magical items, helpers, royalty, numbers 3/7 and shows familiar illustrations for each as examples to discuss. If you like this resource, please take a moment to give it a 5-star review. Thank you!

This contains an actual football match report (Man City v. Huddersfield 26/11/17) adapted from the BBC website and differentiated into 3 ability levels. Although the match report can be used for a variety of purposes, I had a reading focus and the activity is connected to direct speech (which we have been studying along with our recounts, hence the reports). So the children need to find and separate all of the direct quotes from the two managers Wagner and Guardiola to rewrite them in the form of a speech bubble for each.

This is a set of questions with a reading LO emphasis. It is based around the poem Warning by Jenny Joseph (When I am old, I shall wear purple, etc.), a Word copy of which is included. Three differentiated levels of questions, intended for Y3/4 but could be used with Y5/6.

This resource was designed for a reading session with the LO being To take part in discussions, taking turns and asking questions to improve understanding. (Band 4) The stimulus is a short video clip called Lighthouse (link on plan), after which the children are facilitated in focused discussion using prompts (including differentiated prompts for LAPs/SEN) with a RIC-style emphasis. Lesson plan included as well as an assessment checklist to record children's achievements in the session. Intended for Y3/4.

This was intended for a reading session with Y3/4 but could be used with Y5/6 too. The reading focus was on identifying how inverted commas contribute to meaning. Children were given a copy of a football match report (differentiated three ways). This was from a genuine Man City vs. Huddersfield game in early Dec 2017. Children had to use the inverted commas to identify direct speech, identify the speaker (Guardiola or Wagner) and write what they had each said into a giant speech bubble. Great for engaging interest, esp among the boys.

This is a complete unit of work for Books by the Same Author, focusing on Philip Pullman, including Clockwork, Scarecrow and his Servant and the Northern Lights Trilogy but an emphasis on Firework Maker's Daughter as our class text. Chapters 1 and 2 are included as transcripts for comprehension sessions. The unit lasted three weeks although this includes a cold write at the start and a hot write at the end and each Friday we have a reading focus, linked to the unit. The bundle includes three weekly plans with a good level of detail and links to online resources as well as a large number of activities and practical resources, worksheets etc that are clearly linked to each lesson throughout the unit. Having a copy of the FMD or other Pullman books is obviously desirable but not essential with these comprehensive resources, which are detailed and differentiated. Many of the resources are my own, extracts are obviously credited to the author Philip Pullman, other resources have been collected or adapted from others and refined to match the criteria in the plans. Pie Corbett's Talk for Writing input has also been incorporated. This unit represents an awful lot of time and effort on my part. If you think it is of a good standard compared to other resources on TES then please give me a 5-star review. Thank you!

Includes a Word copy of the poem From A Railway Carriage by Robert Louis Stevenson (i.e. Faster than fairies, faster than witches, etc.) and three sets of differentiated questions based on it. Intended for KS2. If you like this resource, please take a moment to leave a 5-star review. Thank you!

This is a set of 5 stimuli and questions to be used for whole class reading sessions. We use RIC - ie retrieve, interpret and choice, so the questions include a range of these different styles. Different stimuli include an information poster, the complete adventure story of Jumanji on PPT, two short animated stories on YouTube and a poem by Pie Corbett. Can be used throughout KS2; sessions would last approx 30 mins. If you like this resource, please take a moment to give it a 5-star rating. Thank you!

This is a PowerPoint presentation of the famous Highwayman poem by Alfred Noyes, complete with poignant illustrations to help tell the tale and really get kids engaged in the themes of the poem. Can be used with upper KS2 or KS3 students. Useful for poetry sessions or reading comprehension as well as general discussions, philosophy etc. If you like it, please take a moment to give it a 5-star review. Thank you!

A set of comprehension questions based on the famous poem The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes, for written comprehension session or verbal discussion prompts. Suitable for upper KS2 or KS3. Text of the poem is included.

The Door is an amazing poem by Miroslav Holub. It provides powerful imagery within a very simple form, also offering a first understanding of metaphor in a very accessible way (i.e. opening the door can be seen as taking opportunities). The bundle includes a Word copy of this poem, an attractively illustrated PowerPoint presentation of it that can be shown to the whole class to engage them with it (e.g. as lesson starter, RIC session, stimulus for discussion etc. Also, a set of comprehension questions about the poem using different RIC styles of questioning and differentiated to three levels. Could be used for guided reading, class reading sessions, independent activity or even philosophy PSHE session discussions. Can be an introduction to metaphor or to give a wider range of poetry or as a stimulus for children’s creative poetry writing - this poem really lends itself to emulation, allowing children of all abilities to produce effective results. Suitable for all of KS2 and possibly lower KS3. If you like this resource, I have other similar resources; please take a look if interested. Thank you.

An attractively illustrated PowerPoint presentation showing the fantastic poem The Magic Box by Kit Wright, easy to show to the class to read together for reading sessions, lesson starters, discussion etc. Also a Word doc of the poem and comprehension activities differentiated three ways for children to think more deeply about the text and consider the different RIC aspects. Good for a pre-writing poetry activity - the poem is great for inspiring children with their own ideas. Suitable for KS2 and KS3. Please see my other resources if interested. Thank you.