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Reading Riddle and Vlad flea

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Reading Riddle provides ideas, resources, information and experiences related to reading and the Great Fire of London. The aim is to share materials that encourage children to read and bring interactive experiences into the classroom. I am a qualified teacher with 10 years of working in London schools. I recently published my first picture book (Vlad and the Great Fire of London) and I go into schools and libraries running activities around the Great Fire of London.

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Reading Riddle provides ideas, resources, information and experiences related to reading and the Great Fire of London. The aim is to share materials that encourage children to read and bring interactive experiences into the classroom. I am a qualified teacher with 10 years of working in London schools. I recently published my first picture book (Vlad and the Great Fire of London) and I go into schools and libraries running activities around the Great Fire of London.
Vlad and the Great Fire of London - Teacher's Guide
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Vlad and the Great Fire of London - Teacher's Guide

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This resource accompanies Vlad and the Great Fire of London picture book. This guide has been written by the author of the Vlad picture book. It shares the research behind the book and gives a detailed summary of the history before, during and after the fire. In addition it contains page by page guidance to the images in the original book and useful questions. If you are teaching the Great Fire of London this will give you the key information on the history, context and curriculum learning for this topic. There are Big Questions that test both deeper factual knowledge and critical thinking, and ideas about where to look for visits and other activities. It contains all the information you need to teach the topic to a greater depth, whether it is the first time or if you want to refresh your knowledge and find out some fun facts to keep the subject lively. Contents: • Why is the Great Fire of London a significant event? • Timeline of events • Before the fire • Vlad and the Great Fire of London explained • After the fire • Places to visit in person and online • Big Questions • Other Vlad resources
Great Fire of London timeline cards
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Great Fire of London timeline cards

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Six images to put in order and make a timeline of the Great Fire of London. For an extension activity children can write further detail and add information about when the fire was finally extinguished. Further free resources are available on my TES shop and if you have found this useful please give it a review so others know :) The images are taken from my picture book Vlad and the Great Fire of London and information about this and my school visits can be found on the Reading Riddle website.
What is the significance of the Great Fire of London
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What is the significance of the Great Fire of London

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Lesson 1 A powerpoint presentation introducing the Great Fire of London and what impact it had on the city. It includes information on where London is, what was in London and what it looks like now. Further resources to follow Images are taken from my picture book, Vlad and the Great Fire of London.
Map of London 1666 Great Fire of London grid work of main sites
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Map of London 1666 Great Fire of London grid work of main sites

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A map of London in 1666 with a grid to mark key sites of the Great Fire. Children mark sites such as Pudding Lane, Tower of London and the fields where Londoners camped after the fire. They are given the grid references to colour the area burned by the fire. This map covers the journey taken by Vlad and Boxton in the picture book of the events of the Great Fire (Vlad and the Great Fire of London by Kate and Sam Cunningham, which is available on Amazon). The map can be used with the book or works independently too. There are other free resources around the Great Fire of London available from my shop. For information on my storytelling and drama sessions please visit the Reading Riddle website.
Florence Nightingale literacy planning  persuasive writing
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Florence Nightingale literacy planning persuasive writing

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This lesson can be used in connection with the larger Florence Nightingale plan or as a stand alone lesson. Create a poster persuading people to wash their hands properly. Linked to the science investigation on hygiene the aim of this lesson is to produce text for a poster. For other free lesson plans and resources see my TES shop or the Reading Riddle website The website also includes information on the books and author visits.
Vlad and the Great Fire of London Activity Book
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Vlad and the Great Fire of London Activity Book

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This is a pdf version of my printed book, Vlad and the Great Fire of London Activity Book which is also available for sale from my website and Amazon. It is linked to (but can be used separately from) the picture book Vlad and the Great Fire of London. "Excellent book, fits perfectly with KS1 curriculum. Lovely language and great illustrations. Would also highly recommend the authors website and her school visits." This is not a lesson resource book, but was written as a fun activity book, which could be used as homework - the contents are listed below and can be seen on the attached video. I am uploading it here for easy, printable purchase, but please note the same copyright applies as if you bought the bound book. It was created so teachers could use the resources in class and this version would be easier to copy for your own use, in your class. It is a black and white book (to reduce cost and allow for colouring-in!) and includes the following pages: The Great Fire numbers – fill out the information, putting the correct number into the sentences. Dot-to-dot. What’s wrong? – identify the objects that could not have been in a room in 1666. Who am I? – five people who saw the fire give a clue to their identity. Unscramble their names from the letters given. The Fire Game – a board game with counters and a dice to make. Colour in the fire scene. Boxton is trapped! – help Boxton escape from Pudding Lane through the maze of streets to the fields. Easy bread rolls – a simple recipe to make your own bread. Acrostic – answer the clues to spell a phrase. Fire wordsearch – find all the hidden fire vocabulary. Vlad the flea and Boxton the rat finger puppets to make. Londoner finger puppets – firefighters with moving arms. Fire facts and answers to the quizzes. (Please note that the second file is the colour cover which you may not feel the need to print but has been included in case you want to) For information, resources, visits and to sign up for new materials as they come out please see the Reading Riddle website Many thanks, Kate
Vlad and the Great Fire of London planning for literacy diary writing
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Vlad and the Great Fire of London planning for literacy diary writing

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A set of literacy lessons based on the picture book Vlad and the Great Fire of London. Using the characters and drama the plan enables the children to write Boxton's diary explaining his perspective on the events of 1666. Further resources are available on TES and my website www.readingriddle.co.uk The picture book Vlad and the Great Fire of London is available from Amazon or The National Archives bookshop.
Great Fire of London vocabulary word mat / wordmat
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Great Fire of London vocabulary word mat / wordmat

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Key vocabulary for the history topic, the Great Fire of London, with illustrations to support KS1 children of varying abilities. I hope the sheet is a useful resource in its own right links with my book, Vlad and the Great Fire of London, illustrated by Sam Cunningham. The book is available from Amazon or from www.readingriddle.co.uk. Further resources, materials and updates are also available on the Reading Riddle website.
Great Fire of London set of 7 lesson plans
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Great Fire of London set of 7 lesson plans

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This is a set of 7 lessons on the Great Fire of London with aims, activities, vocabulary and references to the National Curriculum. The lessons go with the further resources I have uploaded, but you can use and adapt in whatever way is most useful to you and your class. I love this topic and have tried to include plenty of talk, drama activities and images that bring it to life, in a way that will excite children, and give them the tools to write and discuss with enthusiasm. The Big Questions aim to give them a wider perspective and stretch their understanding. I visit schools linked to my book ‘Vlad and the Great Fire of London’, for information about this please look at the Reading Riddle website. If you have found this useful please give it a review :) and look at my other free resources.
Vlad and the First World War Teacher's Guide
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Vlad and the First World War Teacher's Guide

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This resource accompanies Vlad and the First World War picture book. This guide has been written by the author of the Vlad picture book. It shares the research behind the book and gives a detailed summary of the history before, during and after the war. In addition it contains page by page guidance to the images in the original book and useful questions. If you are teaching this topic it will give you the key information on the history, context and curriculum learning. There are Big Questions that test both deeper factual knowledge and critical thinking, and ideas about where to look for visits and other activities. It contains all the information you need to teach the topic to a greater depth, whether it is the first time or if you want to refresh your knowledge and find out some fun facts to keep the subject lively. Contents: • Extending knowledge of events in modern history • Timeline of events • The start of the First World War The British colonies • Vlad and the First World War explained • After the War • Places to visit in person and online • Big Questions • Other Vlad resources
Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure Teacher's Guide
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Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure Teacher's Guide

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This resource accompanies Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure picture book. This guide has been written by the author of the Vlad picture book. It shares the research behind the book and gives a detailed summary of the history before, during and after her time in Scutari Hospital. In addition it contains page by page guidance to the images in the original book and useful questions. If you are teaching a topic about Florence Nightingale this will give you the key information on the history, context and curriculum learning. There are Big Questions that test both deeper factual knowledge and critical thinking, and ideas about where to look for visits and other activities. It contains all the information you need to teach the topic to a greater depth, whether it is the first time or if you want to refresh your knowledge and find out some fun facts to keep the subject lively. Contents: • Why is Florence Nightingale’s work important? • Timeline of events • Florence Nightingale’s early life • Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure explained • After Scutari Hospital • Places to visit in person and online • Big Questions • Other Vlad resources
Vlad and the Great Fire of London literacy plan to write a story set during the events
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Vlad and the Great Fire of London literacy plan to write a story set during the events

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Using the events of the Great Fire of London, this planning enables children to take an alternative character and write their story. Using drama the children consider the events and write a story set in September 1666. For further ideas and planning see the Reading Riddle website. Vlad and the Great Fire of London is available from Amazon or The National Archives bookshop.
images of materials and clues to why Great Fire of London spread
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images of materials and clues to why Great Fire of London spread

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A mixture of images of materials and clues from 1666 and now that lead to discussion about things that caused the Great Fire to spread. This resource relates to the lesson plan available for free from the shop. The images can be cut up and sorted into the relevant era. They then provide a starting point for comparing what houses were made from and how close they were placed.
Tutankhamun ancient Egypt word mat with topic vocabulary
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Tutankhamun ancient Egypt word mat with topic vocabulary

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With illustrations and vocabulary from the book Vlad and Tutankhamun’s Tomb this word mat is one of the resources created for the ancient Egypt topic. There are many more free resources including planning and lesson resources. The picture book Vlad and Tutankhamun’s Tomb is a many layered story that was written to engage, trigger ideas, discussion and help children visualise life for a ancient Egyptian worker. The linked resources help understand the research behind the story. More information about the books, resources and school visits can be found on the Reading Riddle website
WW1 - writing a newspaper article about Dr Phoebe Chapple and her brave action saving others
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WW1 - writing a newspaper article about Dr Phoebe Chapple and her brave action saving others

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This planning has the resources and links needed to write a newspaper article about what Dr Phoebe Chapple did to be awarded the Military Medal during the First World War. It would work well with the story book Vlad and the First World War - but does stand alone. Dr Phoebe Chapple was an Australian doctor who paid to travel to England and join the medics serving in the First World War. She was awarded a Military Medal after putting herself in danger during an attack on a medical centre on the Western Front. She survived and returned to Australia after the war. Read about her and other inspirational people from a wide range of backgrounds in Vlad and the First World War, which includes a fact file about the real people included in the story. For information about school visits go to the Reading Riddle website.
Vlad and the First World War Activity Book
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Vlad and the First World War Activity Book

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This is a pdf version of my printed book,* Vlad and the First World War Activity Book *which is also available for sale from my website and Amazon. It is linked to (but can be used separately from) the picture book Vlad and the First World War. This is not a lesson resource book, but was written as a fun activity book, which could be used as homework - the contents are listed below and the attached video demonstrates some of the activities. I am uploading it here for easy, printable purchase, but please note the same copyright applies as if you bought the bound book. It was created so teachers could use the resources in class and this version would be easier to copy for your own use, in your class. It is a black and white book (to reduce cost and allow for colouring-in!) and includes the following pages: Cryptography - 3 different types of code writing to try Make a biplane - instructions on how to make a WW1 paper aircraft Make a periscopes - instructions and template to make a periscope First World War facts Wordsearch Battleships - can you complete the grid? Military Badges - information on 4 genuine cap badges to inspire designing one yourself Draw Crisp VC the carrier pigeon Trench Maze -find your way through Crossword Answers
Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure Activity Book
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Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure Activity Book

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This is a pdf version of my printed book, Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Activity Book which is also available for sale from my website and Amazon. It is linked to (but can be used separately from) the picture book Vlad and the Florence Nightingale Adventure. This is not a lesson resource book, but was written as a fun activity book, which could be used as homework - the contents are listed below and the interior can be seen on the attached video. I am uploading it here for easy, printable purchase, but please note the same copyright applies as if you bought the bound book. It was created so teachers could use the resources in class and this version would be easier to copy for your own use, in your class. It is a black and white book (to reduce cost and allow for colouring-in!) and includes the following pages: What did Florence Nightingale do for us? - pick the correct 5 words to complete the facts (reading/comprehension) Colouring in First Aid - 3 tips on how to treat bleeding, choking and burns Crossword Tortoise shell maze Simple letter sudoku Crutches and Bandages board game - based on snakes and ladders Florence facts - with multiple choice answers Word search Label the map - where are the countries linked to the Crimean War Instructions on how to make a lantern for Florence
Fiction book general questions
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Fiction book general questions

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This is a set of 13 questions about fiction books which aim to prompt discussion. They could be used by groups working independently, for example as a guided reading activity, or in a book corner. They were designed with white space on the right-hand side for the children to write or draw their ideas, and if they are laminated they could then be used repeatedly. Individual sheets might initiate specific pieces of work eg pulling out favourite vocabulary before focussing on what words children might choose to improve their own writing. If you have any suggestions, or would like text specific questions please let me know. Thank you.
Fiction book review sheets
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Fiction book review sheets

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Three simple differentiated sheets for fiction book reviews. They have been made with Key Stage 1 in mind and I have used these to make a class book for the book corner or library where children can share their ideas about books.
Developing fine motor control and strengthening hand muscles to improve handwriting
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Developing fine motor control and strengthening hand muscles to improve handwriting

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These documents include the rationale, list of activities and record sheet for a set of activities targeted at children who find handwriting and controlling pencils difficult. The aim is to strengthen their grip and improve their ability to control pencils. I put this together after having been asked to do these activities with children by Physios and Occupational Therapists over the years, and having been told that often a barrier to the writing was an inability to hold a small grip. Obviously larger pencils and pencil grips also help but these mini-workouts were targeted at children who still had difficulties and had is many cases had less access to activities needing fine motor control at a younger age.