During my time as a teacher, I enjoyed doing a Big Write or Big Writing. I’ve gathered all my materials together. I liked it as it kept the children occupied all week, leading to a big write on Friday Mornings. There’s some great ideas and powerpoints in here. I’ve included a lot of Greek Myths stuff as I remember this as the best Big Write. sample : To understand the features of myths Introduce the topic of Myths and Legends. Mind map any ideas about ‘myths’ children already have. Explain that the class will be building up their own myth. With each group working on a different aspect of the myth. Show success criteria – list of features of a myth. Read Theseus and the Minotaur, pick out the different features of the myth, evident in this story. Each group will discuss and write ideas for each section. LA (Supported by Ta) Group 1: Describe the hero of the myth. Group 2: Describe the monster of the myth. Children will write ideas, words on post-it notes. If this was a full lesson: Put together all the different groups’ ideas to build a storyboard for the class myth. As a class, decide on a title for our class ‘myth’. Children can: identify all the features of myths Features of a ‘myth’ · When and where is it set? · A hero/heroine · What is the problem? · Does the hero have special powers? · Fantastical beast · The hero’s journey · The conflict · The solution · How does it end? · Is it interesting? MA (Supported by ta) Group 3: Describe the setting of the myth. Group 4: Describe the journey the hero will make. Children will write ideas, words on post-it notes. HA (Supported by Ta) Group 5: Describe the problem the hero will face. Group 6: Describe the resolution to the problem. Children will write ideas, words on post-it notes.

Nice lesson. Possible cross curricular links. Outside area planning. Learning Objectives. Ma 1 Organising and explaining Ma 3 Calculate perimeter/area of squares and rectangles. • To explain methods and reasoning • To solve mathematical problems, recognise and explain patterns and relationships. • Calculate perimeters and areas of rectangles. • Find the largest area that can be made with a rectangle that has a perimeter of 26 metres. Success criteria. • To be able to work out the area of a rectangle or square. • To make different rectangles that all have the same perimeter. • To recognise the largest area. • To compare the relationship between the length of the sides and the area of the rectangle. • To explain reasoning. Mental/Oral. 10 mins. LSA to support LA children. The answer is 16. What is the question? Using the yes/no cards hold up the correct side in response to the question. 15 + 1, 10 + 4, 18 – 2, double 2 ……. (12 questions.) Can we think of any more to add to the list? Discuss any misconceptions as they arise, also the quick ways to add numbers mentally. Emphasis on bonds and doubles or near doubles. With a partner, using InWB find as many questions as possible for the statement. The answer is 24. What could the question be? Vocabulary. add subtract multiply divide double near double half equals Resources :- Yes/No cards. InWBs and pens. Nice worksheets and powerpoint to do an investigation on the area and perimeter of squares and rectangles. Possible cross curricular links. Outside area planning. Learning Objectives. Ma 1 Organising and explaining Ma 3 Calculate perimeter/area of squares and rectangles. • To explain methods and reasoning • To solve mathematical problems, recognise and explain patterns and relationships. • Calculate perimeters and areas of rectangles. • Find the largest area that can be made with a rectangle that has a perimeter of 26 metres. Success criteria. • To be able to work out the area of a rectangle or square. • To make different rectangles that all have the same perimeter. • To recognise the largest area. • To compare the relationship between the length of the sides and the area of the rectangle. • To explain reasoning. Mental/Oral. 10 mins. LSA to support LA children. The answer is 16. What is the question? Using the yes/no cards hold up the correct side in response to the question. 15 + 1, 10 + 4, 18 – 2, double 2 ……. (12 questions.) Can we think of any more to add to the list? Discuss any misconceptions as they arise, also the quick ways to add numbers mentally. Emphasis on bonds and doubles or near doubles. With a partner, using InWB find as many questions as possible for the statement. The answer is 24. What could the question be? Vocabulary. add subtract multiply divide double near double half equals Resources :- Yes/No cards. InWBs and pens.

Literacy plans for year 4. Mainly word doucuments for recounts newspaper book week persuasive texts poetry antibullying week imaginary worlds stories with historical settings stories with imaginative settings stories with historical settings narrative writing and book week creative writing holy week Bits of Roald Dahl the Twits references. Sample planning : What newspapers and magazines can the pupils name? What are the articles usually about? Discuss the purpose of a newspaper. WALT – know the features of a newspaper text. WILF – good expression Read through the opening paragraph of a newspaper article. Children to discuss the features and the structure of the opening paragraph. Newspaper articles have all of the important information in the opening paragraph. The opening paragraph is not overly descriptive. This information includes who, what, when, where, why and how. (It is written this way because most people do not read an entire newspaper article all the way through. So newspaper writers put the most important information at the beginning). Children wrote learn the opening paragraph of a newspaper article. Firstly as a class, followed by group work. Recap the features of an opening paragraph of an article. SW – target group to discuss the features of the article.

Some great planning you can use throughout the year for year 4 Maths. I’ve divided it into 9 blocks. sample planning : Partition, round and order four-digit whole numbers; use positive and negative numbers in context and position them on a number line; state inequalities using the symbols MA2 L3 How many _ in each number? Children recognise how many Th, H, T & U are there WALT – Order and partition 3 and 4 digit numbers WILF – knowledge of place value Well organised work Pupils to be reminded of place value. Which column to we go to first to see which the bigger number is? What does it mean to partition a number? Children work though a couple of t. led examples. MA – 4 digit number sheet (MT) A – 3 digit number sheet (Indep) LA – partitioning 2 digit numbers. Discuss what each number is made up of - which is the biggest number in a group. Q? What happens if we swap the t & u around? (JH) Prep for Tue – do any children remember the rule for rounding. Discuss in talk partners and report back Partition, round and order four-digit whole numbers; use positive and negative numbers in context and position them on a number line; state inequalities using the symbols How many _ in each number? Children recognise how many Th, H, T & U are there WALT – round numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000 WILF – rounding numbers accurately Mental addition of 2 digit nos Well organised pencil procedures Remind pupils of the findings from yesterday’s plenary. How do we round to the nearest 10? What about to the nearest hundred. Children put rule to the test using whiteboards to assess understanding. Children will be asked to add two numbers mentally and round the answer. Which mental strategies could we use? Ch discuss best way. MA to use pencil a paper proc with bigger numbers. Differentiated worksheets MA – ind A – MT less able JH Investigation. What is the highest and lowest numbers that will round to 4000. What is the difference? Multiply and divide numbers to 1000 by 10 and then 100 (whole-number answers), understanding the effect Children to use whiteboards – 10 x = Division Q? For MA WALT – multiply divide whole numbers by 10, 100 WILF - Understanding of the process Well organised work Moving onto decimals Mental maths methods What happens to a number when you multiply it by 10? Key points Children will know that add a 0 is not the correct answer. Decimal point stays in the same place. All children start by demonstrating their knowledge of mult by 10 and 100 then dividing by 10 100 MA – working with a mixture of whole and decimal numbers (JH) A – using whole numbers only LA – multiplying by 10 JH Who can explain the rule? Pupils are given 3 minutes to come up with the rule for multiplying by 10 or 100. Feedback to the rest of the class

Some great planning for year 4 Science. Plenty of material. Planning, powerpoints etc. Four vital areas. Nice experiments.

A series of short but interesting Maths investigations. Nice worksheets for year 5 pupils. Bits on tally charts and graphs. Nice powerpoint on reading scales.

Nice worksheet on Ramadam. Plus other nice bits and bobs on Islam and other religions.

Materials for teaching Easter and Jesus and his disciples. Planning powerpoints etc. Road to Emmaeus board game.

Nice powerpoint on the Ascension. Plus Teaching Strategies Lent Vigil Explained. Vigil four parts explained.

Some worksheets to aid spelling. 3 lists

Week’s planning. sample : L.O. To apply understanding of multiplication facts. Knowledge Harvest: What do chn know about multiplication and place value? I.e. when multiplying using the formal method, numbers need to be set out accurately, what methods do the children know? i.e. partitioning and formal written method. Have 5x2x6 on the board. What is the answer? How do I work this out? Once chn have got the answer, discuss whether it matters if the numbers are in any order. Resources: Dice: 1 between 2 Vocab: Multiplication, number facts, digit, numbers, single digit, LO: To revise calculation of multiples of 10. Have some numbers on the board. Can chn partition them? Discuss that in 4567, the “4” has a value of “4000”. Link this to the Place Value grid (ThHTU). Remind chn that the units column is now called the “ones” column. Have a 356 x 10 on the board. How can we work this out? Discuss different methods that the chn may come up with. Do chn (LA) realise that you can move the digits, or will they try to use the formal method? Clear up any misconceptions that we just add a zero or move the decimal point. Adult to remind chn of the clue. Look at the amount of zeroes to see how many places the numbers need to be moved.

About a week’s worth. Mixture of English and Maths with but on Remembrance Sunday. Maths deals with area, English with journalistic writing. Private Peaceful by Michael Murpurgo covered. sample Display the image from the front of the book. What does the title of the book tell you? What could the book be about? Why do you think that? Introduce the title. Children to identify what the book is about? What is the theme? Genre? What makes you think this? Children to make predictions about the book in groups using the cover – share and discuss ideas. Share extract from blurb ‘As young Thomas Peaceful looks back over his childhood from the battlefields of the First World War, his memories are full of family life in the countryside.’ 5ws and predictions modelled by CT. What has changed? Why has your opinion changed? What questions and predictions can you make now? Children to be reminded of the previous lesson. What did we learn? What do we think the text book is about? What happened in chapter one? Play BBC schools episode 1 - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01n4p31#play Children are to be given the first paragraph of the book. What is the theme? What is the genre of the book? Children to use talk partners and class discussion to list the characters involved in the first chapter and paragraph. Who are the characters we have met? What do we know about Tommo and his older brother Charlie? What is their relationship like? In this chapter, Tommo starts a new school – how would he be feeling about this? Look at the kindness of Molly – why does she act this way? Why doesn’t big Joe go to school? How would this be different today?

To plan and write a recount text, using appropriate form, features and language. To understand the value of the ‘home front’ during WWII. To discuss and write about the life of children during WWII. Understand the role of the ‘home front’ and the impact of rationing. Explain that this week’s literacy lessons are linked closely to our current history topic. We are moving on to a geography topic after half term. Recap what we have learned recently in history lessons. What were the main causes for WWII? Dates? Political leaders? Axis? Allies? How was the war fought? What was the Blitz? What sort of places did the Germans target? Why? Last lesson I asked you to discuss the posters issued by the British Government. What did you find out? Show the quote: “I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. You ask, What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory.” TTYP – who do you think said this? Come back together and establish that it was part of a speech by Winston Churchill when he became PM in May 1940. At this time, victory seemed a long way off. Show map of the world. Explain that, at the time of this speech, the German forces had already conquered Norway and Denmark. Now, they were sweeping through Belgium and the Netherlands. By 20 May, they reached the English Channel. More than 500 000 British and French troops were trapped on the French coast at Dunkirk. Hundreds of boats, big and small, repeatedly sailed from Britain and brought nearly 340 000 safely back to England. The German advance went on. On 17th June France surrendered. Most of North-West Europe was now in Hitler’s hands. The German leader began to plan the invasion of Britain, only 34 KM away. Britain now stood alone with scarcely anyone to help. The USA had not yet entered the war. The countries of the British Empire such as Australia and Canada were too far away. Churchill encouraged the people of Britain with defiant speeches. “We shall go on to the end,” he said, “we shall never surrender.” What was providing a natural barrier for the British against the Germans? The sea. However, it also caused problems. Britain’s farmers could not grow enough food to feed the population. Large amounts had to be brought in from home by ships. Merchant or goods ships were slow and lightly armed and so were easy targets for German U-boats and bomber aircraft. Between March and May 1941 over 320 merchant ships bound for Britain were sunk. Food such as flour, meat and sugar were in short supply.

4 main weeks’s work. Plus powerpoints and resorces. Great for year 6. Sample planning. Learning/Writing outcome: To plan, draft, write and improve an engaging short story in a particular genre using appropriate language and organisational features. Introduce the words ‘fiction’ and ‘genre’. TTYP and discuss the meaning of the word ‘genre’. At this point, introduce the new and improved writing journals where children can make notes during lessons, can jot down words they wish to magpie, jot words that they have generated but which aren’t suitable for the task in hand and can jot questions/things they are unsure about. Explain that I will prompt to use these for the first couple of days but then children need to become more independent. Prizes for most effective use! Ensure the children understand the difference between fiction ‘narrative’ and non fiction ‘non narrative’. Activity One Come back together and do class mind map for working wall. Ask children to think of any titles of books which could fit with any of these genres. Ask children to discuss their preferences and discuss our preferences with them. Activity Two Talk about how they sorted the books in activity two. What clues were you looking for? Talk about words which suggest different genres. Explain activity three. Activity One In lit books complete quick mind map of different types of fiction genre. Activity Two Children to work in table groups. Children to be given a wide range of fiction books from class/school library. Children to sort the books into fantasy, historical, science fiction and mystery by scanning the book, looking at the front cover and reading the blurb. Activity Three Children to have a selection of pictures from books (front covers and insides) and blurbs from a variety of fiction books. Ch to decide which genre they think they book comes from and justify their opinion by highlighting the key words or annotating the pictures. SEN: () to work as a group on this task. MA: In pairs. With teacher to work with ‘Quality Question Marks’ (both groups). HA: Independently. Plenary: What have we learned? What is narrative? Non narrative? What is a genre? Name some genres of narrative? What is your favourite? Why? Least favourite? Why? Does this link to visual literacy (i.e. do films and TV programs split into genres?)

4 planning sheets. Plenty of ideas. Year 6. Literacy. Sample : Set up plenary clip at beginning of lesson to be played in plenary Imagination starter: display front cover of the Iron man on IWB – Tell pupils that we have a new topic surrounding the novel The Iron Man, and tell them we will find out more about the author and the story as the unit continues. Round Robin: Can you write down describing words about the character you see? Place pupils into A/B and give 2 minutes to write down ideas on wipeboards in pairs. Feedback with lollypop sticks to follow. Draw out discussion as to what genre the book might be/ if the character is good/evil. Read the first two pages to the class: Hands up: Does the opening make them want to read on? Why? Collect ideas on IWB- What is the effect of opening the story with questions? Explain that the author Ted Hughes was primarily a poet rather than author-so he plays with his words/sentence length a lot more. Note any important features of the text, which build up atmosphere and note on IWB. Choose an OPENERS card and set the class a challenge. As core, but once they have completed highlighting, pupils are to label similes, metaphors, alliteration, repetition, rhetorical questions, short sentences… Can I analyse the features of a good story opening and find poetic devices? Children are given a copy of the first 2 pages of The Iron Man to annotate. They highlight what parts of the text build up the atmosphere to make a good opening –and how this contributes to he overall style. Can I analyse the features of a good story opening? Support lower going over each section of the text together. Read through again if necessary. Can I analyse the features of a good story opening, with support?

Great planning for year 6. Two weeks worth. Nice powerpoints. Sample : Introduce the new unit and writing outcome. Read the poem ‘Fog’ by Carl Sandberg together. Write ‘personification’ on the board and discuss what this means. TTYP – what might it mean? Agree on a definition for the working wall: Giving human traits to non-human or abstract things. Or making a non-human thing do things that only a human can do. Explain the phrase ‘inanimate object’. Give out copies of ‘Two Sunflowers Move in a Yellow Room’ by William Blake. Discuss how the sunflowers are given human characteristics – they talk, they feel tired, they want a room with a view! Return to the poem Fog. In this, it is almost as if Fog is alive – either human or possibly feline (cat-like). Look again at ‘Two Sunflowers Move in a Yellow Room. ’Underline the words ‘topaz tortoises’. Ask children what these last lines mean? Discuss whether it matters if we are not sure of the exact meaning of all the words in a poem. Why might it not matter? Because it is the sound and the rhythm of the words which is as important as their meaning in a poem. Look up topaz to find its meaning. Does this help us understand what the last two lines mean?

Planning for year one I’ve gathered from my log career. Mainly Maths and English but other stuff too. Zip has loads. I’ve put a sample in general download. Read the story ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’ Talk about the main events and make a list of the characters on the IWB. Introduce the term setting and discuss what a setting is. Identify all the different settings in the story and make a list on the IWB. Make links with the children’s own experiences eg who has walked through long grass? Diamond/ Ruby H/A (Ind) Children to complete worksheet identifying main characters, setting and event (HA sheet) Children to complete worksheet drawing favourite setting, identifying main characters, and explaining what happened. (SD to support) Children to complete worksheet drawing favourite setting, identifying main characters, and explaining what happened. (BM to support)

Gathered together a lot of my teaching material. Packed full of stuff that you can use for Spag, Grammar, homework =, reading session etc. Everthing is in the zip. I have put a few examples in the general upload. Sample ideas : • Pick a descriptive word from the text, write it down and, using a thesaurus, write down five synonyms and antonyms for that word. • Re-read a chapter – pick out X number of words that you feel are powerful words and that you could use in your own writing • How does the story hook you in at the beginning? Make a list of words and phrases that you feel are effective in making you want to read on. • Draw and label a character or a setting from a description in the book. • Choose a descriptive passage and make a list of examples of vivid imagery – similes, metaphors, alliteration, noun phrases etc. • Choose a key moment in the book and change the event. Re-write the following chapter… • Rewrite a chapter as a playscript. • Think of 5 questions you would like to ask one of the characters. Swap these with someone else in your group and write the answers as if you were that character. • List the words and phrases used to create an atmosphere, such as ‘scary’ or ‘spookiness’ ‘tension’ ‘relaxed’ • Write about what a character might be thinking or feeling at different stages of the story. You could write it in the first person, or in a speech bubble. • Predict what might happen when you are about halfway through a book. Write your prediction in the form of a story plan in boxes

25 slide flp chart.