This PowerPoint focuses on those words which are especially difficult to spell because they have silent or unexpected letters in them. Pupils are asked to supply the missing letters , to complete a passage using those tricky words and to invent sentences of their own. This resource should prove useful when revising tricky spellings of all kinds and is suitable for ages 7+ depending on ability.

This quiz is based on Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Two possible answers are provided to each question. If the wrong answer is selected a mysterious forfeit is revealed. If the correct answer is selected then that leaves more precious reading time . Included is an information text about ancient broom-stick games from around the world where pupils are required to compare and contrast the evolution of various hilarious games and will be inspired to invent their own gaming broomstick perhaps. This resource will complement the reading of J.K.Rowling's book but will also appeal to Potter fans in general. This is ideal to use as a post SATS brain teaser and will encourage further reading at the same time... Suitable for ages 8+

This resource accompanies a Power Point presentation which can be found in my shop but could also be used without it. It tests pupils' knowledge about the firefly squid and their understanding of bioluminescence including photophore cells. It gives pupils the opportunity to unscramble key words from the text and to go further with their own research about oceans with specific reference to Japan. This resource would be useful for World Oceans Day but could also be used for any investigation into sea-life and ocean phenomena. Suitable for ages 10+

This resource has three revision mixes of grammar and punctuation exercises as well as three worksheets on homophones. These could be used for general revision purposes or set as homework tasks. Pupils attempt to improve sentences and make them more interesting, substitute more powerful verbs, identify prepositions etc. They are required to write descriptive paragraphs such as describing a friend, an ideal bedroom or a favourite animal. Colour synonyms need to be sorted into groups. The intention here is to widen and improve vocabulary choices. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated power point is an informative profile about bats with related questions. It includes a short poem which highlights why some people find bats scary creatures. This resource would suit a younger audience and would be ideal to use around Halloween. Hopefully the audience will realise there is nothing to be scared of at all. Suitable for ages 5-7

This power point is a simple narrative about a hamster called Spock. Pupils are required to read the short story and then answer the related questions. They are required to use dictionary skills to define trickier words from the story. The pupils are then required to choose an option to write about: describe their ideal pet or design a des res for a hamster like Spock. I include an extra revision aid which could be used to strengthen writing skills and provides an opportunity for descriptive writing concerning animals and pets. This resource is suitable for ages 7+

This Power Point uses a story, poem and graphics to illustrate the similarities between humans and the properties of glass. Pupils are asked to compare the similarities between broken glass and fractured personalities and how we need to be more resilient in our everyday lives. This resource could be used throughout the year but would be particularly appropriate during anti-bullying week.Students discuss phrases such as “don’t bottle it up” and “glass half empty”. Pupils may like to do further research into the breaking of a glass as part of the Jewish wedding ceremony. This resource is intended to provoke discussion and could be used in tutor time, as an assembly or for times of reflection. Alternatively, It could be used to inspire creative writing. Suitable for ages 10+

This resource is displayed in landscape view and is a poem about a Dad whose smelly feet are legendary. Birds stop singing and drop cross-eyed from their perch and Alsatians cover their noses from the terrible stench of Dad's cheesy feet. Pupils can draw their favourite image from the poem and then create their own version specific to their own father. They are asked to think of six things they most admire about their father and also to recall a favourite memory, perhaps where their father inspired them with confidence to do something. This resource is ideal for National Poetry week activities and is suitable for all ages.

This animated Powerpoint presentation looks at the major influences and philosophies prevalent in Shakespeare's day, so that students come to a wider understanding of his work , his life and the society in which he lived. The Roman Catholic Church, Science and Astronomy, Voyages of Exploration,The Divine Right of Kings, Humanism and The Renaissance are covered here. The Great Chain of Being, the Zodiac, the Elements and Humours as well as the Wheel of Fortune all feature in this resource. This presentation could be used to provide information, putting Shakespeare into context before going on to examine his work in more detail. Similarly , it could be used to inspire students to go on and explore topics such as humanism in more depth. I include a worksheet which will provide a framework for pupils to do their own independent research about Elizabethan theatre. Suitable for ages 14+

This animated Power Point gives an overview of Shakespearean acting techniques and actors who would have performed in his day. The audience discover how a play like Romeo and Juliet would have been staged originally and also what an interactive experience it would have been to visit the theatre in Shakespeare's day. The audience go on to discover how this particular love story has inspired many different adaptations including musical and film representations. This resource is suitable for all ages and students of Shakespeare. It is particularly relevant to those studying Romeo and Juliet. I include a resource comparing an Elizabethan audience with a contemporary one and information about Theatre Companies and the Globe. A quiz relating to Romeo and Juliet can also be found in my shop.

This animated Powerpoint gives advice on how to make a persuasive speech by following five simple steps. The AFOREST acronym is used to remind students of the features of persuasive writing.Pupils are required to write speeches of their own , putting themselves forward for election as head boy or head girl in the form of Ronald Dump who wants to build a wall in the school gym or , alternatively, as Angela Smirkle who advocates an open door policy. This resource is ideal for revising persuasive writing techniques in light of the current political shananigans and is suitable for students aged 11 to 16.

This Powerpoint presentation details the life of Martin Luther King and focuses particularly on extracts from his I have a dream speech. This resource will be particularly useful during Black History month when focusing on persuasive writing and speeches that had the power to change the world. The resource includes a brief biography, a timeline of major events in MLK's life as well as a transcript of Obama's Yes We Can speech. The resource is intended to inspire pupils and make them think about how they can become better citizens by learning about Martin Luther King as a positive role model. Included is an extract from Barack Obama's Yes We Can speech so that pupils can see how King became a role model for future Presidents who utilised their powers of speech in a public arena. Echoes of Martin Luther King can be heard in Obama's words. Suitable for all ages.

This animated Power point examines four different sentence types: simple, complex, compound and minor. Pupils are given examples of how sentence structure might differ according to the intended audience. Later they are given examples of how sentence structure might differ according to the effect an author is trying to achieve. Finally students are asked to discuss the sentence structures found in an extract taken from a crime novel: M.J. Arlidge's Eeny Meeny. I include a resource which requires students to demonstrate their knowledge of punctuation by inserting a range of punctuation in lengthier paragraphs as well as allowing them to show off their own descriptive writing skills by describing someone they admire. This resource is suitable for audiences aged 10+

This animated powerpoint celebrates Halloween with a collection of spooky activities surrounding adjectives, adverbs and rhyming words. The children are asked to provide suitable adverbs to create a spooky atmosphere and to think of a revolting recipe for a witch's spell. A black cat has an encounter with a hat in a poem inspired by Dr Seuss. This resource is intended to be used with younger children on the run up to Halloween and could be used to inspire creative writing and poetry on a spooky theme.

This power point presentation gives an overview of what a Victorian Christmas was like including customs of the day such as The Christmas Tree, Parlour Games and Festive Food. Particular emphasis is given on how Dickens' novels A Christmas Carol and The Pickwick Papers helped to make Christmas more popular with the general public than other festivals. This resource will prove useful when studying Dickens' novels and thinking about historical context. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Power Point advises students how to write for specific audiences. They are asked to consider the tone, style and register of what they are writing in order that these match the audience. Audiences might be determined by age, gender, expertise and the relationship to the author. Pupils are advised to TAP before writing: in other words consider the topic, audience and purpose of their writing. Finally they are given three options to write about: a speech aimed at Y6 explaining what to do about cyber-bullying; a letter to a newspaper editor arguing for or against expensive international travel or a leaflet advising young adults how to establish healthy sleep patterns. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Powerpoint presents pupils with information about the endangered leatherback sea turtle and highlights the problems faced by this creature as its numbers decline. One of the problems it faces is plastic pollution which is all too prevalent in our seas and oceans. Plastic bags are mistaken for the jelly-fish that the turtles love to eat. Worrying statistics are given about the growing problem of plastic in the ocean environment and a quote from Sir David Attenborough is displayed to highlight the need to act with some urgency before it is too late. The resource will prove useful alongside clips from the Blue Planet series and should inspire further research, provocative posters and persuasive writing. I include information in a word document which could be easily used as a homework task or for further research on sea turtles. The planet patrol wordsearch contains over twenty interlocked words in a grid concerning conservation issues and could be easily differentiated to suit different abilities. All answers provided. Included is a word document about the problem with plastic waste and includes some advice from Greenpeace. Students are invited to contribute ideas of their own and to design a poster conveying this problem in our marine environments. Suitable for ages 8+

This powerpoint comprises ten slides reminding pupils how to write a formal letter. It has some multiple choice questions regarding maintaining a formal tone and gives comparisons between informal and formal styles of writing. Pupils are required to set out their own formal letter and are given two options to choose from: a letter to the head teacher complaining about litter or a letter to a local restaurant owner complaining about poor service. This resource is suitable for use with pupils aged 10 to 14 years.

This animated power point outlines in a simplistic way the features of a Gothic novel and explains the use of pathetic fallacy as a tool used by the author to create unease. An extract from Susan Hill's ghost story Woman in Black is used as a starting point for discussion about literary techniques to create a sense of immediacy and of being enveloped by the landscape. I include a further resource where pupils can discuss and highlight examples of pathetic fallacy within extracts taken from Woman in Black, A Monster Calls and Frankenstein. This resource is suitable for ages 11-16.

This animated power point collates ten facts about Guy Fawkes and his part in the Gunpowder Plot that are not widely known. I include information about the drama series in which the Game of Thrones actor Kit Harington plays Robert Catesby, the brains behind the Gunpowder plot. Harington reveals there is a family connection which prompted him to get involved in the screenplay.There is a comprehension related to this article and opportunities provided for further writing and research such as a biography, a story board and a comparison of crime and punishment then and now. All answers are provided to the comprehension for ease of marking. This resource would prove useful as a lesson starter or as a means of starting a discussion about this infamous historical figure. Was he really a bad guy? Why is it that we know Guy Fawkes' name and yet Robert Catesby's name is less well known today. The resource is suitable for ages 10+