-KS2 whole class reading comprehension lessons
-reading templates, assemblies and inspiration -
As Year 6 teachers, we found ourselves in need of comprehension resources that bring texts to life.
YES, we want our comprehension lessons to be rigorous in preparation for the SATs, BUT we also want them to be engaging and fun!
Our aim is to get children excited about comprehension lessons, eager to talk about books and confident in interrogating a text.
-KS2 whole class reading comprehension lessons
-reading templates, assemblies and inspiration -
As Year 6 teachers, we found ourselves in need of comprehension resources that bring texts to life.
YES, we want our comprehension lessons to be rigorous in preparation for the SATs, BUT we also want them to be engaging and fun!
Our aim is to get children excited about comprehension lessons, eager to talk about books and confident in interrogating a text.
3 whole class reading comprehension lessons based on chapters 1, 2 and 6 of ‘Race to the Frozen North’ by Catherine Johnson.
About the book, whole class reading, paired reading
Reading Skills foci: predict, summarise, reading fluency, infer
34-page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint, 4 PDF activities.
Extract of Introduction and Chapter One included only.
Reading age 8+. Lessons recommended for age 10+
Lesson 1
To make predictions about what might happen in a text.
To summarise the main events in a text.
First, remind children of what ‘powerful predictors’ do.
Warm up by making predictions about the front and back cover of the story.
Also find out about the real Matthew Henson.
Shared reading/questioning as a class of the first 5 pages of chapter 1. Children continue the chapter with their reading partner.
Summarise the events of the chapter by cutting up and sorting the strips of paper.
Finally, make a prediction about the next chapter.
Lesson 2
To read with increasing fluency.
To make inferences about a character, supported by evidence from the text.
Teacher to model reading with accuracy, with expression and at an appropriate pace. Remind children what inference is.
Children to look for evidence to support a statement about a character’s personality in chapter 2. Then, make inferences about a character’s feelings.
Lesson 3
In pairs, read Chapter 6.
Then select 3 words from the cards on the sheet to describe life aboard the ship. Children to justify their answers with evidence from the text.
If time allows, children to choose their own creative activity, i.e. letter writing, role play or an artist’s sketch.
At the end of the lesson, point children in the direction of other real-life adventure stories.
Reading journal activities worksheet
Repeat tasks or encourage children to colour in each task as it is completed. Stick in the front of a child’s reading journal exercise book.
Upper KS2
Example tasks:
Design and draw your own front cover for a book you are reading.
Write 5 interview questions for the author of your book or for a character in the story.
Make a list of words from a text that you would like to learn and/or use in your own writing.
Write a diary entry for one of the characters in the story.
Write a blurb for your story. Don’t give too many details away!
based on Chapter 1, ‘Planet Omar’, by Zanib Mian
World Book Day whole class reading comprehension lesson
Years 4 & 5
Whole book recommended 8+
9 page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint delving deeper into the text, exploring the main characters and thinking about how their personality and relationship will affect their upcoming journey. Includes an inference activity and a fun task creating word illustration.
Extract not included but available on the World Book Day website.
Book is currently £1 as part of World Book Day 2021.
Offer your children the opportunity to read diverse, inspirational books as part of the Planet Omar series.
KS2 Refugee Week Assembly 2021 PowerPoint, age 7+
14th -20th June
Introduce year’s theme is ‘we cannot walk alone’.
PowerPoint supporting discussion on and teaching of:
What is a refugee? What is an asylum seeker?
If you had to leave home with 1 small bag, what would you take with you?
The Refugee Week 2021 theme, ‘we cannot walk alone’
an introduction to 3 award-winning KS2 appropriate texts:
‘The Island’ by Francesca Sanna
‘Oranges in No Man’s Land’ by Elizabeth Laird
‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’ by Onjali Rauf
Supporting whole class guided reading resources for ‘The Boy at the Back of the Class’ by Onjali Rauf looking at the main character Ahmed’s journey to the UK also available.
Book review template.
Free. KS2.
Space for star rating, an illustration, short synopsis and review.
More free resources on our website.
What should I include in a book review?
Provide a summary of the most important events and characters, but be careful not to give too much away! Let the reader know what genre the book would fall under. It could be more than one. Opportunities to hit National Curriculum objectives. Give your opinion on the story and remember to explain your viewpoint. Recommend the story to a particular audience. Is it for thrill-seekers? Lovers of history? Is it a page turning mystery for budding detectives? Mention similar books that might mean somebody would like this one too. Draw an illustration to show a character, setting, important object or even your own front cover design.
Would make a nice display for children to share their favourite books.
FREE Get to know your pupils and find out about their reading habits. How many sustained the habit of reading regularly this summer? How often did they read? What different genres and authors are they reading? How do they feel about reading? Did they get the chance to visit a library or a bookshop? Where is their favourite place to read? Use our free ‘Summer Reading Habits’ worksheet to find out! SPace is also provided for children to design three front covers for their favourite recent reads to help you gain a picture as to what their reading preferences are. Why not blow it up to A3 and keep them in a class folder for sharing?
100+ fun, hands-on KS2 comprehension lessons centred around books your kids will love.
Includes:
100+ lessons based on extracts from 34 inspirational children’s books.
Ready to go teaching Powerpoints, PDF activities and (most) extracts.
Reading skills information posters based on the National Curriculum and display materials.
Interactive reading record for children with lots of independent activity ideas
Easy to follow PowerPoint guide to introduce our whole class reading resources to your colleagues.
Independent comprehension activity
When you finish reading a chapter of your book, roll the die and try the activities you land on. Use what you have just read to help you.
Suitable for all of KS2.
Activities:
Use bullet points to make a list of all of the key facts in the story so far. How many can you record in 1 minute?
Come up with a newspaper headline that summarises an important event that has happened in the story so far.
Rewrite a sentence from the text, which contains adverbs. Change the adverbs. How does this change the meaning?
Draw and label something that is described in detail in the text, for example, a character, setting or even an object.
Think of an adjective that best describes the main character’s feelings. List 2 pieces of evidence that support your idea.
Predict Make 3 predictions about what could happen next. Put a star next to the idea you think is most likely to happen.
KS2 Book comprehension resources
Recommended for Year 3/4
Whole Class Reading Lessons
Based on extracts from:
Werewolf Club Rules, by Joseph Coelho- POETRY
A Dangerous Game, by Malorie Blackman - ADVENTURE
Hilda and the Troll, by Luke Pearson- GRAPHIC NOVEL
Escape from Pompeii, by Christina Balit- HISTORICAL FICTION/PICTURE BOOK
Knights & Bikes, by Gabrielle Kent - ADVENTURE
The Boy Who Grew Dragons, by Andy Shepherd - FANTASY
The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde - CLASSIC
Viking Voyagers, by Jack Tite - NON FICTION
Each pack contains a detailed teaching PowerPoint and PDF printable activities. Most extracts also included.
£35 yearly personal membership - ACCESS TO ALL YEARGROUPS
£240 yearly school membership.
Support us in growing our resource library and make comprehension lessons FUN!
3 whole class reading comprehension lessons based on two chapters of ‘Mbappé Ultimate Football Heroes’ by Matt and Tom Oldfield
Vocabulary, about the footballer, whole class reading, paired reading
Reading Skills foci: retrieve, infer, discuss
28-page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint, 1 x printable PDF activity (other activities featured on the PowerPoint slides) Extract included.
Suitable for age 7+
3 whole class reading comprehension lessons based on three chapters of ‘Neymar Ultimate Football Heroes’ by Matt and Tom Oldfield
About the footballer, whole class reading, paired reading
Reading Skills foci: retrieve, summarise, clarify
26-page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint, 3 x printable PDF activity (other activities featured on the PowerPoint slides) Extract included.
Suitable for age 7+
3 whole class reading comprehension lessons based on two chapters of ‘Kirby Ultimate Football Heroes’ by Charlotte Browne
Vocabulary, about the footballer, whole class reading, paired reading
Reading Skills foci: retrieve, infer, clarify, words’splore
24-page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint, 2 x printable PDF activity (other activities featured on the PowerPoint slides) Extract included.
Suitable for age 7+
3 whole class reading comprehension lessons based on two chapters of ‘Messi Ultimate Football Heroes’ by Matt and Tom Oldfield
About the footballer, whole class reading, paired reading
Reading Skills foci: predict, retrieve, summarise, infer, clarify
21-page dyslexia-friendly PowerPoint, 2 x printable PDF activity (other activities featured on the PowerPoint slides) Extract included.
Suitable for age 7+
KS2 Reading Comprehension Resources for The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow
Resources for the whole book
7 lessons
63-page PowerPoint
28 PDF document including:
Vocabulary for each of the 7 parts of the story
Mixed comprehension questions
Skill-focused activities
Recommended for age 10+
Extracts not included
Available for £5 on our website or as part of a £35 annual personal subscription at myteachinghive.
A powerful and lyrical story about finding your place in the world and the people that matter within it.
Other resources based on Matt Goodfellow books:
Bright Bursts of Colour - poetry
KS2 & KS3 - Book Review Proforma
What did you think of the ending and why?
What unanswered questions does the story leave you with?
What life lessons did this book teach you?
If you could change or improve one thing about the story what would it be?
What was the most exciting moment in the story?
More free resources when you sign up for free at myteachinghive.
Reading comprehension resources based on Chapters 20-35 of Varjak Paw by SF Said.
More at MY TEACHING HIVE
82-page PowerPoint presentation
Vocabulary cards
Comprehension Questions in line with the KS2 National Curriculum
Reading skill focused activities
For each chapter
A flexible set of resources which could be used for whole class reading, guided reading, individual and group work as well as for home learning.
Text not included.
Suitable for age 7+
Reading comprehension resources based on Chapters 8-19 of Varjak Paw by SF Said.
More at MY TEACHING HIVE
93-page PowerPoint presentation
Vocabulary cards
Comprehension Questions in line with the KS2 National Curriculum
Reading skill focused activities
For each chapter
A flexible set of resources which could be used for whole class reading, guided reading, individual and group work as well as for home learning.
Text not included.
Suitable for age 7+