Mr Grinling locks himself out of the lighthouse. Not only is Hamish the cat trapped inside, he also needs to switch on the light to warn the ships that they’re near the rocks! Mrs Grinling has an ingenious plan to get back in…but will it work? The Lighthouse Keepers Catastrophe Kit includes four lesson plans plus all the resources you need to turn up, engage, and teach this fantastic story. Lessons include listening and speaking, comprehension, information and story writing, art and a memory game. Delicious! Includes 4 Full Lessons Plans Learning Outcomes Printables Sequencing activity Story Mountain Story Planner Worksheets Online resources Learning outcomes English • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising • imagining and exploring ideas • listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently • making inferences on the basis of what is being said and done • predicting what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far • sequencing sentences to form short narratives • re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense • discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils • develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by: writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional) writing about real events Art • use drawing and imagination to develop their ideas. • Use tone, pattern, line and shape in pictures. These lessons are written by children’s author and tutor Claire Vorster. Enjoy!

Every picture tells a story, but which one? Here are 8 curated, visual creative writing prompts. Each image includes a writing prompt designed to inspire your students, or help them to write from the heart. Learning objectives: Generating ideas, planning and drafting Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Writing narratives, considering how authors have developed characters and settings Differentiation opportunities: Ask students to find an image they want to write a story about. You can create your own favourite visual creative writing prompts from headlines. It’s easy to pull up images from pinterest or amazing free image sites like unsplash. All my students enjoy this activity. It can help them generate ideas and write about characters and settings they are interested in.

There are many great reasons why The Lighthouse Keepers Lunch is so fun to read and teach. Here are four lesson plans plus all the resources you need to turn up, engage, and teach this fantastic story. Lessons include listening and speaking, comprehension, writing, art and drama. Delicious! Includes 4 Full Lessons Plans Learning Outcomes Printables Sequencing activity Story Mountain Story Planner Worksheets Online resources Learning outcomes English • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising • imagining and exploring ideas • listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently • making inferences on the basis of what is being said and done • predicting what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far • sequencing sentences to form short narratives • re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense • discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils • develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by: writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional) writing about real events Art • use drawing and imagination to develop their ideas of 17th Century London. • Use tone, pattern, line and shape in pictures. Drama • develop confidence using movement • develop spatial awareness • act out a story • facilitate the creation and communication of ideas These lessons are written by children’s author and tutor Claire Vorster. Enjoy!

Looking for a list of character traits? Writers can choose from a comprehensive list of character traits to bring their characters to life in their creative writing. Readers can discover how to describe the characters they are reading about. Your A-Z List of Character Traits comes from the £1 Super Story Starter Kit for any class. Ranging from Easy, through Medium to Advanced, you also get - 36 Character prompts 36 Setting prompts 36 Problem prompts 20 Narrative sentence prompts 3 Act Story Infographic Story planning templates £1 Super Story Starter Kit. One kit = super stories!!

To help your children to develop great reading strategies, this handy packet contains easy to use activities that cover 5 key reading comprehension skills. Written by a children’s author and teacher, this fun kit also contains fiction passages, games and discussion starters, specifically designed for your children to develop 5 reading strategies. Reading Skill 1: Activate prior knowledge Reading Skill 2: Predict what happens next Reading Skill 3: Steal or acquire vocabulary Reading Skill 4: Retell in their own words Reading Skill 5: Visualise a scene Resources included in this packet Reading & Read Aloud excerpts Comprehension questions Games Discussion starters and images Activity suggestions & instructions Reusable templates Worksheets

With the right tools, your students can write confident and compelling narrative pieces. These four activities will help students to discover how a character’s flaws or mistakes can become the engine for an electrifying plot. Your students will learn to - • Craft compelling, honest, potentially hilarious characters using techniques including psychology. • Quickly set themselves up for a successful first draft. • See that it’s good for a story when nothing goes according to plan. • Add a rough edge to the over-perfect characters that can make a story too obvious. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or other questions. Activities Speaking and listening, reading comprehension, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Resources included in this plan Reading and Comprehension Activities Mini and Comprehensive Writing Activities Famous quotes for discussion Literary examples Story prompts Story planner for students Online resource links

Dive into these 5 Senses lesson plans, packed with playful activities, as you head to the beach. Children can enjoy the story Hello Ocean by Pam Muñoz Ryan. You can almost feel the salt spray on your face and smell the musky scent of ocean in the cool morning air in this great example of the 5 Senses in writing. Then it’s time to eat… Resources include Full Lesson Plans including 12 Activities Printables and Worksheets Story ideas Excerpt from children’s story Ellie Sparrow and the Great Fire of London Online resource links Activities Comprehension, speaking and listening, memory game, diary writing, drawing / painting, research and design Learning objectives English • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, • imagining and exploring ideas • listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently • making inferences on the basis of what is being said and done • predicting what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far • sequencing sentences to form short narratives • re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense • discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils • develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by: writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional) writing about real events Art • use drawing and imagination to develop their ideas • use tone, pattern, line and shape in pictures.

To help your children to develop great reading strategies, this handy packet contains easy to use activities that cover 5 key reading comprehension skills. Written by a children’s author and teacher, this fun kit also contains fiction passages, games and discussion starters, specifically designed for your children to develop 5 reading strategies. Reading Skill 1: Swop genre Reading Skill 2: Scan & skim Reading Skill 3: Compare and contrast Reading Skill 4: Identify cause and effect Reading Skill 5: Express opinions Resources included in this packet Reading & Read Aloud excerpts Comprehension questions Games Discussion starters and images Activity suggestions & instructions Reusable templates Worksheets Online resources Poems

The IB English Individual Oral Commentary (IB English IOC). These lesson plans and activities are the antidote to anxiety and bundles of nerves in the classroom and at home. Coupled with fit-to-purpose resources that contain an element of fun, your students will build confidence and skills as they learn to - • Create a robust Thesis Statement that sets them up for success. • Write Body Paragraphs using proven Point, Evidence, Analysis structure. • Edit ideas so they have time for analysis. • With guidance, explore model commentaries. Spoken and transcribed. • Use every minute of their time effectively. • Use advertisements to gain confidence in delivering their IOC. • Practice planning using a workable structure. • Stay motivated, right to the end. Resources included in this pack Confidence building activities + examples Mini and comprehensive writing / planning activities + examples Template to build essay structure Links to model IOC commentaries Annotated model IOC transcript Annotated sample advertisement IOC model template IOC student template Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions. Many thanks!

We’ve all read great stories that end in a rush, and others that should have ended sooner. These four activities apply secrets from master storytellers to help students discover how to write effective story endings. They will learn to - • Review the closing lines of famous novels and develop their own style. • Discover how to use writing prompts to find their starting point. • Try out expert techniques to bring their stories to a close. • Stay motivated, right to the end. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or other questions. Activities Speaking and listening, planning, writing, reviewing. Resources included in this plan Writing Activities Story Prompts Reading and Comprehension Story Planner Online Resource Links

We’ve all read great stories that end in a rush, and others that should have ended sooner. These bundled lessons apply secrets from master storytellers to help students discover how to write effective story endings. They will learn to - • Review the closing lines of famous novels and develop their own style. • Use a great piece of advice from Pixar Story Artist, Emma Coates. • Try out expert techniques to bring their stories to a close. • Stay motivated, right to the end. • Know when it’s time to simply let go. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or other questions. Resources included in this plan Reading and Comprehension Activities Mini and Comprehensive Writing Activities Famous quotes for discussion Literary examples Story prompts Story planner for students Online resource links Activities Speaking and listening, reading comprehension, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies

With the right tools, your students can write confident and compelling narrative pieces. These bundled lessons apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, Students will discover how a character’s flaws or mistakes can become the engine for an electrifying plot. Your students will learn to - • Craft compelling, honest, potentially hilarious characters using techniques including psychology. • Quickly set themselves up for a successful first draft. • See that it’s good for a story when nothing goes according to plan. • Add a rough edge to the over-perfect characters that can make a story too obvious. • Use a secret weapon when they are looking for character inspiration. Activities Speaking and listening, reading comprehension, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Resources included in this plan Reading and Comprehension activities Mini and Comprehensive writing activities Famous quotes for discussion Literary examples Story prompts Story planner for students Online resource links Plus Bonus Antihero poster Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

One little spark, that’s all it took to start the Great Fire of London. Here are four lesson plans plus all the resources you need to turn up, engage, inspire and teach KS1 Great Fire of London. Lessons include listening and speaking, history, fiction, writing, art and drama. Watch the sparks fly! Learning outcomes: English • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising • imagining and exploring ideas • listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently • making inferences on the basis of what is being said and done • predicting what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far • sequencing sentences to form short narratives • re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense • discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils • develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by: writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional) writing about real events History • learning about: events beyond living memory that are significant nationally or globally [for example, the Great Fire of London, the first aeroplane flight or events commemorated through festivals or anniversaries] the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements. • use inquiry skills to gain information from photographs and written text • understand and create a timeline • offer opinions and suggestions about why things happened Art • use drawing and imagination to develop their ideas of 17th Century London. • Use tone, pattern, line and shape in pictures. Drama • develop confidence using movement • develop spatial awareness • act out a story • facilitate the creation and communication of ideas Lessons include excerpts and an illustration from the popular children’s novel Ellie Sparrow and the Great Fire of London. These lessons are written by author and tutor Claire Vorster. Enjoy!

Ray Bradbury’s advice on how to write confident and compelling narrative? “Let the world burn through you. Throw the prism light, white hot, on paper.” With the right tools, your students can write narrative pieces that blaze. In these lessons they’ll gain the skills to become highly attuned to the world around them, develop their voices and create their best work. They will learn how to - • Identify and develop strong ideas that add heat to a story. • Use popular song lyrics to find story ideas. • Beat writer’s block. Discover the technique that award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin uses to make a great start, every time. • Craft compelling stories that are relevant and timeless. Time Allowance / Key Stage 3-4 lessons KS3 Activities Speaking and listening, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Resources included in this plan Story prompts Images Quotes and song lyrics Story planners for students (2 pages) Online resource links Please contact Claire Vorster with any questions. Many thanks!

With the Story Starter Kit, your students can choose their own creative writing prompts. Each prompt will tell a great story, but which one? This activity is designed to inspire your students, or help them to write from the heart. Learning objectives Writing Generating ideas, planning and drafting Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Writing narratives, considering how authors have developed characters and settings Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Activities Planning, writing, reviewing. You can create use the Story Starter Kit to create your own favourite creative writing prompts. It’s easy to add your prompts to this flexible resource. All my students enjoy this activity. It helps them generate ideas and practice creating characters and settings. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or other questions. Many thanks!

With the right tools, your students can write confident and compelling narrative pieces. These bundled lessons apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, Students will discover how a character’s flaws or mistakes can become the engine for an electrifying plot. Your students will learn to - • Craft compelling, honest, potentially hilarious characters using various writing techniques. • Quickly set themselves up for a successful first draft. • See that it’s good for a story when nothing goes according to plan. Resources included in this plan Reading and Comprehension Activities Mini and Comprehensive Writing Activities Famous quotes for discussion Story prompts Story planner for students Online resource links Plus Bonus Antihero poster Activities Speaking and listening, reading comprehension, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions.

Your students can have lots of fun creating compelling settings for their stories. These bundled lessons apply secrets from master storytellers to build on existing skills, Your students will learn to: • Understand how settings can act as secondary characters in their stories. • Use 5 senses as a secret weapon to uncover great ideas for a story. • Learn how to structure their story for success. • Bridge information with imagination to create fantastic fiction. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions. Resources included in this plan Reading and Comprehension Activities Mini and Comprehensive Writing Activities Famous quotes for discussion Literary examples Story prompts Story planner for students Online resource links Activities Speaking and listening, reading comprehension, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies

There’s nothing quite like staring at a blank page. These bundled lesson plans apply secrets from master storytellers as students discover techniques to conquer those first line blues. They will learn to - Grab the reader’s attention from the very first line and hold onto it. Review the first lines of famous novels and develop their own style. Saturate their stories with atmosphere and meaning. Write to inform and entertain. And be ruthless about the editing process. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or other questions. Activities Speaking and listening, reading comprehension, planning, writing, reviewing. Learning objectives Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Writing Composition: generating ideas, planning and drafting Composition: shaping and constructing language for expression and effect Speaking and Listening Developing active listening skills and strategies Group discussion and interaction: Developing and adapting discussion skills and strategies Resources included in this plan Reading and Comprehension Activities Mini and Comprehensive Writing Activities Famous quotes for discussion Literary examples Story prompts Story planner for students Online resource links

Every great picture packs an unforgettable story, but which one? With this adaptable Visual Story Starter Kit, your students can choose from 12 curated creative writing prompts. Each image is designed to inspire your students, and help them to write from the heart. Includes Teaching Guide Printables 12 Curated images + story prompts Story planner Learning objectives Writing Generating ideas, planning and drafting Developing viewpoint, voice and ideas Writing narratives, considering how authors have developed characters and settings Reading Understanding the author’s craft: story shape Differentiation opportunities Ask students to find an image they want to write a story about. With the flexible Story Starter Kit you can create your activities. It’s easy to add your own visual prompts to this resource. All my students enjoy this activity. It helps them generate ideas and practice creating characters and settings. Please contact Claire Vorster for free resources, or with other questions. Many thanks!

In an old lighthouse, where a twenty-four-candle lantern lights a sparkling blue-green sea, live a lighthouse keeper and his little companion – a cat called Mackerel. One day, a huge storm comes and the lights go out. Mackerel has an ingenious plan to help…but will it work? Resources included 10 Activities Printables Story Mountain Worksheets Handouts Story planner Online resource links Activities Comprehension, speaking and listening, story & information writing, labeling, drawing /painting, memory game Learning outcomes English • listen and respond appropriately to adults and their peers • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings • use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising • imagining and exploring ideas • listening to and discussing a wide range of poems, stories and non-fiction at a level beyond that at which they can read independently • re-reading what they have written to check that it makes sense • discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils • develop positive attitudes towards and stamina for writing by: writing narratives about personal experiences and those of others (real and fictional) writing about real events Art • use drawing and imagination to develop their ideas. • Use tone, pattern, line and shape in pictures. These lessons are written by children’s author and tutor Claire Vorster. Enjoy!