This Powerpoint discusses how adding detail to descriptions with adjectives and adverbs can make a scene more vivid. Students are asked to make boring sentences more exciting and to bring a description of a staff canteen to life by using appropriate adjectives and adverbs. I include a word document that could be used for homework purposes where students are asked to use adverbs in different places within sentences and to examine extracts of descriptive writing to see how adjectives and adverbs are used to appeal to our senses. This resource is intended for use with pupils aged between 10 and 14, the exercises can be easily differentiated according to ability.

This animated Power point showcases the features of persuasive writing and then provides advice on how to use the powers of persuasion to win an audience over. The features are recorded in a way which will make the techniques memorable. The students are asked to put their writing skills to the test by choosing to write a leaflet about the dangers of smoking or, alternatively, writing a speech about taking up a new hobby which does not involve a screen. I include a resource which explains how to build a speech rather like building a sandwich and has an activity where students need to identify rhetorical devices within a short passage; ideal for homework or revision purposes. This resource is suitable for pupils aged between 11 and 16.

Start the term with another quiz to check understanding of plurals, tenses, prefixes,suffixes, homophones, alphabetical order and much more besides. Answers are provided for ease of marking. Each section of the quiz can be tweaked to suit specific needs within your group. This is one of many similar quizzes to be found in my shop which can be used on a rotational basis when revising spelling and grammar. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Power Point is about writing to inform and explain. Students are asked to think about the structure of their writing, how to organise it logically with sub-headings or bullet points, how to include facts and statistics and how to maintain a formal tone throughout. Finally students are requested to write a piece of their own and may choose to write a report to the head teacher about an accident in the science lab, a leaflet to eleven year olds explaining how to cope with an asthma attack in PE or explain how to make a healthy meal from scratch to people with no previous cooking experience. This resource is suitable for ages 10+

This power point presentation looks particularly at the letter received by Lord Monteagle on November 4th 1605 and asks students to consider the implications and explore the inferences within. Questions are asked about the morality of the situation and the audience is asked to put themselves in the position of having a relative in Parliament and knowing full well something bad is going to happen. Students are required to reorganise the major events of the Gunpowder Plot into a cartoon strip to reinforce chronology. Background information is given about Guy Fawkes and we are asked to question why it is only his name we remember all these years later. I enclose information about the forthcoming three part screenplay entitled Gunpowder in which Kit Harington plays Robert Catesby and reveals he is related to him.There is a comprehension related to this article and opportunties for further research into Kit Harington's biography, a story board of the major events of the Gunpowder Plot or a comparison of crime and punishment then and now. Answers are provided to the questions. This resource is suitable for ages 10+

This animated Powerpoint exhibits passages from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone which have deliberate spelling mistakes in them. Pupils are required to read the passages carefully to see if they can identify the mistakes. The corrected passages will magically appear. Homophones are introduced and students are set the challenge of writing interesting sentences of their own which demonstrate their understanding of such words as which and witch etc. Another spelling game is introduced where the audience have to make up as many muggle (ordinary) words as they can out of Potter's fabulous incantations. This is intended as a fun way to practise spelling whilst also encouraging careful reading at the same time. Ideal for Halloween week and beyond. Suitable for Potter fans of all ages.

This Power Point resource show cases the dirty thirty : the thirty most common spelling mistakes. Pupils are given five at a time to try and memorise and then insert them into sentences to show they understand their meaning. Tips are given along the way as to how to remember tricky spellings whilst also encouraging the students to share their own techniques for better spelling. A useful resource to drop into lessons to check spelling abilities at every stage of the education journey.I include one of my popular quizzes which will aid revision of spelling grammar and punctuation. Answers are provided for ease of marking. Ages 10+

This animated Power Point examines different kinds of texts and literary techniques that are used to entertain us. Pupils are given examples of short and long sentence structures which achieve different effects. They are also shown examples of different techniques which appeal to different senses. Alliteration, assonance and onomatopoeia appeal to our sense of sound whilst similes, metaphors and personification often rely on a visual impact. The use of first, second and third person narrators is also covered. Short poems which can entertain us by means of shape and sound effects are included too. Lastly, students are asked to consider what kinds of literature they enjoy the most and to suggest favourite authors or genres to others in order to inspire further reading beyond the bounds of the curriculum. Extracts in this resource are by J.K.Rowling and Charles Dickens. Suitable for ages 14+

This animated Powerpoint presents pupils with information about the wandering albatross and the problems it faces with fishing boats and plastic waste. Pupils will learn about this endangered bird with its enormous wing span and how it glides across the Southern Ocean for huge distances in search of food. Pupils are asked to consider the challenges this creature faces in its quest for food and hear David Attenborough's warning about pollution in our seas and oceans as brought to our attention in the Blue Planet series. Students are asked to create their own eye catching poster and to use their persuasive writing skills in order to redress the problem of plastic waste. I include a puzzle entitled Planet Patrol concerning conservation issues as an added extra. All answers are provided.A word document is also included concerning the problem of plastic waste and includes some advice from Greenpeace. Pupils are asked to contribute their own ideas by adding to the list. These resources are intended to promote discussion and will encourage independent research and further investigation. Suitable for ages 8+

This is a mystery story set in Victorian times and is told in a series of episodes. Each episode focusses on revising aspects of grammar such as adjectives, adverbs, verbs (including modal verbs) and nouns (including proper, common and abstract). Opportunities are given for creative writing and further historical investigations. This is intended for use with pupils aged between 10 and 14 years and could be spread over a half term period in hourly chunks depending on ability. The characters of Sarah, Mr Grizzle and Mrs Plumworthy-Brown are introduced who will feature in my forthcoming resources.

This animated Power Point discusses how descriptive writing is used in travel brochures and autobiographies to describe places and events. Extracts are taken from works by J.K.Rowling, Anthony Bourdain , Susan Hill and Mary Shelley and pupils are asked to focus and discuss how techniques such as similes, metaphors, personification and pathetic fallacy are used for effect. Students are reminded to use Point, Evidence and Explain when commenting about an author’s writing. Finally, pupils are asked to match examples of figurative language to explanations and examples. They are required to provide examples of their own such as a metaphor to describe the moon or alliteration to describe a ticking clock in an examination. Worksheets are available show-casing these extracts which could be used alongside or separate from the Power Point. This resource is suitable for 14+ years (one of the extracts is quite graphic and describes the slaughter of a pig)

This animated Power Point discusses alliteration and onomatopoeia and asks pupils to identify these techniques within extracts from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as well as other sources. Pupils are given phrases which they need to sort and also decide on an example which shows both these devices. Students learn that writers will try to appeal to different senses in descriptive passages and this resource focuses particularly on the sense of sound. Students are given a provocative image and are required to describe it using both techniques. This resource will be useful when encouraging descriptive writing and identifying techniques authors use to build characters and settings. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Power Point comprises twelve slides and analyses statements, questions, commands and exclamations. pupils are asked to consider how these kinds of sentence are used in articles, reports, reviews and persuasive texts. Examples are given of how authors might vary the length of their sentences to convey the passing of time or because they are trying to appeal to different audiences. Pupils are shown how , by rearranging the order of words in a sentence, greater emphasis can be placed on a particular phrase. They are reminded to not only identify such techniques but also to analyse and explain the effect on the reader.Students are required to discuss two texts; one extract from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the other is an advertisement for a Lunchtime Laughter Club. I include a resource in which the onset of an anxiety attack is described in detail and the situation escalates to feeling out of control. Suggestions for a longer written task are given where pupils are required to describe a difficult situation such as the first day at a new school, or the moment you realise something embarrassing is circulating on social media. Suitable for ages 12+

This animated Power Point draws inspiration from the 500 words short story competition and Mary Poppins in equal measure. The story unfolds of Mrs. Brownley who , when trudging home one stormy night, finds a discarded umbrella and is whisked away on the breeze . Pupils read the short story and then are invited to write one of their own using their knowledge of setting and characterisation. Pupils are asked to consider how the tension will build towards a climax and how their story will reach a satisfactory conclusion. They are asked to empathise with their character's situation and to focus on the detail in their observations. Ideas are given paragraph by paragraph on how to structure their writing and how to improve its quality using devices such as similes , metaphors and personification. This resource is intended to inspire creative writing and is suitable for ages 10+

This Power Point uses persuasive writing techniques to inform us of the dangers of global warming. Pupils are asked to retrieve information and identify specific techniques from the text in a series of related questions. They are asked to design a poster outlining four simple things we could do to slow down global warming. Anagrams of key words from the text need to be solved. Useful links are given to promote further investigation. This resource will support research about pollution, global warming and climate change. Ideal for promoting discussion and independent research.I include a word document about polar bears and how they are adapted to the Arctic environment. Pupils are asked to consider the dangers polar bears face and to question whether global warming is the only issue. Is there more we could do to help them?Moreover, I include a Planet Patrol puzzle which contains over twenty interlocked words concerning conservation issues which could be easily differentiated according to ability. All answers provided. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Powerpointresource portrays three of the pure bred dragon breeds taken from Newt Scamander's latest edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and asks pupils to compare and contrast between the three. Having read the informative texts, the students are required to retrieve relevant information to answer a series of questions. Finally they are required to launch a campaign to save the most endangered of the three dragons featured here: the Swedish Short-Snout. Pupils must put their persuasive writing techniques to the test and add weight to their arguments by designing an eye-catching poster. Reminders are given about how to make a persuasive speech. Answers are provided. This activity will appeal to Potter fans of all ages and will promote wider reading and further investigation into mythological creatures.The resource is presented both as a Powerpoint and as an accompanying word document.

This resource is one in a series of similar quizzes which test various aspects of spelling , punctuation and grammar. This one focuses on of/off and where/wear and we're as well as other homophones. Pupils need to insert commas where needed, use prefixes to form opposites and invent examples of their own. They are given a weirdly worded passage featuring Joe who finds spelling difficult. All answers are provided at the end. This resource can be easily dropped into a revision session and will enable students to review their own mistakes, without the need for lengthy marking. Used on a regular basis, these quizzes will help to raise standards in SPaG. I include an activity which encourages pupils to write an informal letter to Joe and also a further worksheet which looks at questions and statements and asks pupils to utilise a range of punctuation in their own descriptive writing. Suitable for ages 10+

This animated Powerpoint resource bases its information on Newt Scamander's special edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and compares and contrasts three pure bred breeds of dragon namely the Antipodean Opaleye, the Ukrainian Ironbelly and the Hungarian Horntail. Pupils are given a series of questions to answer based on this information and asked to compile an eye-witness report for The Ukrainian Daily Herald of an Ironbelly swooping over the Black Sea with disastrous consequences for the occupants of an unsuspecting sailing ship. All answers are provided together with orders of merit upon completion of the task.Students are given reminders about how to organise their information effectively. Fun activity for Harry Potter fans revising comprehension skills , report writing and independent reading.Students also get to devise their own dragon names! Suitable for ages 8+

This resource is presented as an animated Powerpoint and in word format and takes inspiration from Newt Scamander’s fifty-second edition of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. It showcases the native British breeds of dragon , namely the Common Welsh Green and the Hebridean Black. Pupils scour the information comparing and contrasting the physical attributes of these magnificent creatures in order to answer a series of questions. The answers are provided. Finally, they put their letter writing skills to the test by applying for an apprenticeship as a dragon trainer based in the Outer Hebrides under the auspices of the MacFusty clan.Pupils are reminded of the conventions of formal letter writing. This is an activity which will appeal to Harry Potter fans and is one of three similar resources which can be found in my shop, each with different extended writing options. Suitable for ages 8+

This animated PowerPoint consists of 25 slides and is intended to accompany the reading of Patrick Ness’ novel, A Monster Calls. Students are asked to consider what constitutes a nightmare and how our senses can feed into our subconscious mind. They are required to consider elements of a Gothic novel and how atmosphere is created both in terms of the words and the illustrations here. What is the significance of the ancient yew tree and how does this relate to modern day cancer treatments? Pupils are asked to list what they can glean about the major characters and to examine where their own sympathies lie. Finally they are required to write their own review of this memorable novel and are invited to do their own independent research about Herne the Hunter and the techniques the illustrator used to ensure this novel became a multi-award winning one. I include a resource about mindfulness as a tool to help with anger issues and difficult emotions which Conor might have benefited from as he coped with losing his mother. Also included are other word documents which display information about the mythology of the Green Man and a poem which is a call to the Green Man, which will be useful when discussing wider symbolism and environmental issues.There are worksheets on which pupils can record character sketches for both major and minor characters within the book, as well as explore Conor’s emotional struggle in graphic detail. Suitable for ages 12+