I found it difficult to find any simple comprehension practice activities for my struggling readers, so I designed 5 very simple activities which involve children reading CVC words like pig, mop, bat and then colouring in the matching picture. The children then read a sentence, for example, The cat is in the red box. Finally, they answer 2 simple multiple choice questions, for example, What is in the box?

Weekly planning based on The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. On Day 1 children listen to and retell the story through story maps. On Day 2 children use adjectives to change the opening sentence of the story. On Day 3 they explore woodland creatures and introduce a new character into the story. On Day 4 children use adjectives to describe the Gruffalo. On Day 5 children create their own terrible creature and describe him/her. This planning could easily be adapted/extended, so that children write their own version of The Gruffalo.

These lessons were planned for a series of 4 EYFS English lessons, but could easily be adapted for Year 1 children. The first lesson focuses on introducing the story and the children talking and writing about their own bedtime routines. The second lesson encourages children to retell the story using words and actions before sequencing the story using pictures and sentences. The third lesson takes the children outdoors as they change the setting of the story to Mr Bear trying to get to sleep in his tent in the woods. Children go on a sound walk to identify sounds which might keep Mr Bear awake. The final lesson encourages children to write their own simple story of Peace at Last with the new setting of the 'the woods'. If you do not have access to woodland, other outdoor areas could be used. All activities are differentiated and engaging. Hope your children enjoy them as much as mine. The sequencing pictures have been taken from the story Peace at Last by Jill Murphy.

A 2 day English plan to start off a new year. Written for Year 1, the plan introduces the idea of lists and captions through getting to know the children and the children getting to know their new classroom. Includes a template for 'Where did my shoes take me this summer?'.

This resource includes 7 days of detailed English Planning and resources which begins with the children listening to some Aboriginal Dreamtime stories before working in groups to act out one of the stories. The rest of the planning focuses on children using Talk 4 Writing to story map one of the stories before innovating it/inventing their own Dreamtime story. To give the planning purpose, the children choose how to present their stories. The majority of my class chose to make picture books/comic strips so they could read their stories to the children in Foundation Stage. The children in my class thoroughly enjoyed listening to and writing their own Dreamtime stories. This planning was written for a mixed Year 3/4 class, but was also adapted for an able Year 2 class. I hope you enjoy it!

This planning is based on the story Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman. It includes a detailed weekly plan aimed at Year 1 children, but could easily be adapted for EYFS as it was written for children just moving into year 1. The main objectives of the plan focus on sentence work and adjectives, but also includes independent activities based on the story. Also included are resources to support the plan - underpants template, images from the story, dinosaur sentences with adjectives, writing frame, and colourful underpants with the letters of the alphabet.

My children loved these activities. Ideally, you will need access to a woodland area. We began by visiting the 'Wise Tree' in the wood. The children sat around the tree and waited for it to whisper their names. They approached the tree and chose a name from each bag. This became their woodland name, for example Creeping Blackberry or Misty Willow. The children loved these names and we ended up using them in our daily register! The children then used their senses to describe the woods. On Day 2, the children wrote a description of the woods using their senses and exciting adjectives. On Day 3 we began to question whether or not the wood is enchanted! The children looked for clues in the woods before making their decision. For example, is it just a flower or is it a fairy's umbrella? On Day 4 the children wrote a description of what they found. For example, Walking in the enchanted wood I see an icy, frozen troll's tear. This can then be made into a shape poem on Day 5. This was a wonderful week of activities, loved by boys and girls alike. Enjoy!!

Detailed English planning for Year 1 based on the story of Stick Man by Julia Donaldson. Activities are differentiated as appropriate. There are plenty of opportunities for speaking and listening, along with peer work. Day 1 focuses on working together to make a list of different ways to use a stick. Day 2 encourages children to answer the question 'What is the most dangerous thing about being a stick man?' Children are invited to take on the point of view of Stick Man, arguing their view point and justifying their decision. Day 3 invites children to pretend they are Stick Man and recount the story to their family at dinner. Day 4 focuses on Stick Man's feelings and emotions throughout the story. Day 5 invites children to write postcards and letters from Stick Man’s point of view back to his family about one of his adventures.

This is 2 days Literacy planning based on the beautiful story 'Guess How Much I Love You' by Sam McBratney, and would be particularly suitable for days running up to, and including, Valentines Day. Planning could be adapted for Year 1 children. Activities include differentiated guided reading and writing activities, along with a Valentines card idea, and a TA intervention/booster activity based on reading and spelling words from the story. Enjoy!

This planning is based on the story Dinosaurs Love Underpants by Claire Freedman. It includes a detailed weekly plan aimed at Year 1 children, but could easily be adapted for EYFS as it was written for children just moving into year 1. The main objectives of the plan focus on sentence work and adjectives, but also includes independent activities based on the story. Also included are resources to support the plan - underpants template, dinosaur sentences with adjectives, writing frame, and colourful underpants with the letters of the alphabet.

This resource includes a detailed weekly plan with 4 daily differentiated activities to teach vowel digraphs ar and or; and also tricky words. The activities are fun and multisensory. Many of the activity resources are included in the resource. The only ones which are not are the ones I have ready made or will need to be made specifically for your classroom. Examples of activities include:- word detective, read and write the classroom, twister phonics, treasure map and pirate hat spelling, and popcorn games. Hope you and class enjoy!

A 3 day unit with a follow up idea for a 4th day. Resources include 3 days of planning written for Year 1, but adaptable for EYFS and Year 2. Also included are 3 differentiated recipe resource sheets for children to sequence the Witches Brew made on day 1 (4 ingredient simple recipe included); a powerpoint of ideas to help children think of their own ingredient ideas - with a focus on adjectives; and cute differentiated mini cauldron pages for children to write their own recipes for Witches Brew and make into a book.

Simple activity for introducing plurals. Cut out the 10 cards and laminate. Children spend time adding the correct ending to make the noun plural to match the pictures using e or es (5 of each). Children can then record the singular word and plural word on the recording sheet next to the corresponding picture.

I have struggled to find simple comprehension activities which allow children to read a sentence independently and respond by answering simple questions. I feel this is important as many Year 1 children are now required to complete comprehension tests, so it is important they have experience of this as early as possible. Here are 6 simple comprehension activities which are suitable for children who are working within phase 3 phonics. Each activity involves reading a sentence, drawing a picture, and answering 2 simple questions related to the question. An example of a sentence is 'It is fun to go to the zoo'. An example of a question is 'Where is it fun to go?'

3 days of planning and resources based on the beautiful, inspirational John Lewis' The Bear and the Hare Christmas advert. Activities include exploring why Christmas is special to us, writing a letter to Bear describing why he should wake up for Christmas, and adding speech bubbles to scenes from the animation. Written for Year 1, this planning could easily be adapted for older children.

Creative English Plan aimed at Year 1. It uses the story of It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G Shaw to encourage children to explore pictures in clouds. A favourite childhood pastime of my own! Can be used without the story. Encourages speaking, listening, sentence writing and the use of conjunctions.

Fun, colourful phonic activities with shark in the park theme. Five activities for children to apply their phonic knowledge for 'ar'. Activities include a read/write the classroom; I have, who has?; roll the die, move and read the word; roll the die, read and colour the word; roll the die and read the sentences. All fully editable if you want to change font or words.

This was written for a Year 1 class, but could easily be adapted for Year 2. It is 3 days worth of English planning and resources. Children write facts about the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood and then compare it to the Chinese story of Lon Po Po (stories from different cultures) written by Ed Young. Resources include 3 days of differentiated planning; differentiated fairy tale facts sheets for Little Red Riding Hood and Lon Po Po (pictures are also included for BA group); and a Venn Diagram collaborative activity which should ideally be enlarged to A3, along with statements to sort. Children could go on to write their own version of Little Red Riding Hood by changing the character, setting and so on.

Colourful, fun activities for children to apply their knowledge of digraphs wh and ph. Activities include search, read, write the classroom and roll the die games.