This collection of 120 haikus by author Roger Hurn is a perfect resource for inspiring writing. The haikus are listed under the following headings: Haikus About Teachers, Schools and Learning Haikus About Stories, Books and Writing Haikus About Parents and Children Haikus About Lockdown Haikus About Nature & Animals Haikus About Global Warming Haikus About Life, Love & the Universe Haikus About Time and Memory Cliff-hanger Haikus Humorous Haikus Miscellaneous Haikus

This short play (average performance time 20 - 30 minutes) works as an exciting and imaginative way to engage and involve even the most reluctant pupils in learning about the Norman Conquest. It can be read aloud in class and also be used as a class assembly or for a whole school production. Like a real-life Game of Thrones, it highlights the key personalities of the time such as Harold Godwinson, Edward the Confessor and William of Normandy and dramatises the events that led up to the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The play provides the opportunity for at least thirty pupils to have speaking parts, although this is entirely at the teacher’s discretion. It makes use of a chorus of minstrels to describe the key events that are otherwise impossible to portray on a small performance area. The play uses five very catchy songs to advance the action. The lyrics and sheet music (with guitar chords) for the songs are included. In addition, recordings of the songs are provided as an aid to introduce the pupils to the songs. The backing tracks are also supplied for the pupils to sing over while they are rehearsing, as well as when they are performing the play.

This is a comic song about Santa getting stuck in a chimney after eating too many mince pies - and how he extricates himself. It's written by Roger Hurn, author of the Mystery Mob stories for reluctant readers, and sung by Jay Mathews of Literacy Goes Madd. It's the companion piece to the poem Santa and the Chimney - which is also on this site.

This very short but creepy story is guaranteed to send a shiver of fear down the spine this Halloween. It can be used to inspire pupils to use their imaginations to describe what they think will happen next and why? This story is suitable for pupils in Key Stages Two and Three. Pupils can: • Write a character sketch of each of the protagonists • Write a back story for one or both of the characters • Write a very short story of their own which ends on a cliff hanger

This is a poem about the ghost of Guy Fawkes watching people celebrating Bonfire Night and his reaction to it. The resource has some key questions to aid the discussion about the poem’s subject matter and Bonfire Night in general.