Hero image

Spagbag

Average Rating2.41
(based on 19 reviews)

A teacher and tutor with more than thirty years' experience working in both mainstream and independent schools. I have an Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from UEA and have written a dissertation about encouraging children to write. I am a mother of three and interested in all things green. I am in the process of setting up my TES shop and hope to launch my "Spagbag" resources which are suitable for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.

219Uploads

61k+Views

6k+Downloads

A teacher and tutor with more than thirty years' experience working in both mainstream and independent schools. I have an Honours degree in English Literature and Linguistics from UEA and have written a dissertation about encouraging children to write. I am a mother of three and interested in all things green. I am in the process of setting up my TES shop and hope to launch my "Spagbag" resources which are suitable for both Primary and Secondary aged pupils.
Albatrosses, Attenborough and the problem of plastic waste
jlimbjlimb

Albatrosses, Attenborough and the problem of plastic waste

(0)
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+
In the news: report writing and articles
jlimbjlimb

In the news: report writing and articles

(0)
This animated Powerpoint showcases three topical news items which contain deliberate spelling errors . The pupils have to identify these errors and then are faced with a report about school gym facilities which is riddled with mistakes. The pupils are requested to re-write the report correctly. The homophone errors in the final report are ones such as there/their, too/two, your/you’re which are commonly made and require a grammatical understanding of the text. I include a resource about the problems of policing groups of teens who gather in public spaces and become labelled as hoodies or chavs. Pupils are required to answer questions related to the newspaper article and to respond with an article of their own. Also included are two articles, one about da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi, an oil painting which achieved the highest auction price for any work of art and the other about space exploration and how this has become the playground of rich men. These articles are intended to inspire debate and further discussion. This resource is suitable for use with pupils aged 10 to 14 years.
The Victorian Christmas as popularised by Dickens
jlimbjlimb

The Victorian Christmas as popularised by Dickens

(0)
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+
Punctuate with Potter in The Chamber of Secrets
jlimbjlimb

Punctuate with Potter in The Chamber of Secrets

(0)
This animated Power Point asks pupils to punctuate passages from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The selected passages will test knowledge of proper nouns, apostrophes for contraction, hyphens, colons, brackets, speech marks and much more besides. The answers will appear as if by magic. There is an activity to invent muggle words from some of the characters' names and a bonus question to test knowledge of the book. Pupils are asked to write a formal letter to Harry complaining about inappropriate use of his wizarding skills. This is an ideal way to test knowledge of punctuation and encourage reading at the same time. Suitable for ages 10+
Punctuate with Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
jlimbjlimb

Punctuate with Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

(0)
This animated Power Point presents pupils with five extracts taken from J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and asks them to provide the missing punctuation. The extracts selected will test knowledge of proper nouns, speech-marks, colloquialisms and colons in particular. The extracts will also require knowledge of how to write a formal letter and how to compose an advertisement. Pupils can be divided into Hogwarts' Houses and answer questions from each extract. Answers will magically appear. Finally, students are challenged to write their own advertisement for a super-charged broom of their own invention. This resource is suitable for ages 10+ and is intended to test knowledge of punctuation as well as comprehension . Moreover, it will encourage further reading and develop writing skills.
water quiz and the problem of plastic waste in seas and oceans
jlimbjlimb

water quiz and the problem of plastic waste in seas and oceans

(0)
This animated Power Point has twenty questions all to do with water and its properties. The questions test scientific and geographical knowledge. This resource includes a poem about the sea which is told rather like a riddle. This quiz can be dropped into any lesson concerning water and could be used as a resource for revision or to kick start further investigation and independent research. I include a word document about the problem of plastic waste in our seas and oceans which includes some advice from Greenpeace. Students are invited to contribute ideas of their own to help solve this growing problem and they are encouraged to design a poster outlining the issue. Suitable for ages 8+
Punctuation and letter writing practice with Potter
jlimbjlimb

Punctuation and letter writing practice with Potter

(0)
This power Point takes extracts from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, removes the punctuation, and asks the audience to rewrite the paragraphs inserting the necessary capital letters and punctuation marks to bring them back to life again.Pupils will need to consider paragraphing, capital letters and question marks. They will need to insert speech marks and apostrophes for contractions. They will need to think about starting a new line when a different character begins speaking. The perfected passages do magically appear and will inspire pupils to read and explore further for themselves. Formal and informal letters are looked at from the hand of J.K.Rowling and pupils are asked to write either a formal or informal letter for themselves. The formal letter explains why Harry Potter is to be expelled from Hogwarts; the informal letter is written by Harry himself explaining to his beloved Snuffles about the terrible week he's been having at Hogwarts.Pupils are given a further task of inviting either Neville, Draco or Hermione to a special event at their own school and are asked to consider why they wish this character in particular to attend. This resource is intended to support the practice of perfecting punctuation in a fun way and also examine the skills of letter writing. Pupils will be inspired to read more widely from J K Rowling's novels, whilst also revising their writing skills. Suitable for Potter fans of all ages. This resource will add an extra dimension to revision.
Bundle of sea and ocean themed resources
jlimbjlimb

Bundle of sea and ocean themed resources

4 Resources
I have bundled together six resources which will be ideal for studies on oceans and seas. It would be ideal for use throughout the summer term. There are stories and quizzes, guessing games and activities aplenty here.There are opportunities for further research and investigation into environmental and conservation issues. Suitable for use with Primary aged pupils 7-11 years.
Adjectives that describe my Dad. Hero or villain?
jlimbjlimb

Adjectives that describe my Dad. Hero or villain?

(0)
This resource is ideal for Father’s Day and has two poems describing dads. One dad has extremely smelly feet that stink of gorgonzola and stale underwear. The other poem describes Dad as more of a super hero type who is earth-quaking, nerve-shaking and fast talking (but only before 6pm.). Pupils will enjoy the humour and vivid imagery within the poems and will be inspired to think of adjectives that describe their own father’s finest qualities. They are asked to think of a special memory about their Dad and perhaps create their own poetry in celebration of Father’s Day. Suitable for all ages.
Halloween adjectives and adverbs
jlimbjlimb

Halloween adjectives and adverbs

(0)
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.
Remembrance Poem and ode to Autumn
jlimbjlimb

Remembrance Poem and ode to Autumn

(0)
This animated power point presentation is of a poem written by a 15 year old about remembrance. November is the time of year to remember lives lost in war and this poem compares late autumn to this sense of loss in a very poignant way. The audience is asked to focus on particular words and phrases which the poet uses to compare the decaying leaves and the perforated bodies of the battleground. Pupils are also asked to consider the symbolic significance of poppies. This resource would be ideal to use when studying war poetry or reflecting on Remembrance Sunday. This resource is suitable for students aged 11 to 16 years. I include puzzles which will aid the revision of poetry such as Keats' ode to Autumn as well as Tennyson's Charge of the Light Brigade.
The Gunpowder Plot : The warning letter
jlimbjlimb

The Gunpowder Plot : The warning letter

(0)
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+
Guy Fawkes: good guy or bad guy?
jlimbjlimb

Guy Fawkes: good guy or bad guy?

(0)
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+
Halloween Spagbag Special with Potter
jlimbjlimb

Halloween Spagbag Special with Potter

4 Resources
I have bundled together four resources which will prove useful on the approach to Halloween. Powers of comprehension will be tested, punctuation will be practised and letters will be written. Potter fans will be encouraged to widen their reading as they explore the history of broomstick games through the ages... Suitable for ages 10+
Letters and the Gunpowder Plot
jlimbjlimb

Letters and the Gunpowder Plot

3 Resources
I have bundled together three resources which will be useful for the study of letter writing and in particular how a letter saved the day when we look at the intrigues surrounding the Gunpowder Plot. This resource has more relevance today because of the new drama series entitled Gunpowder which stars Kit Harington of Game of Thrones fame who plays Robert Catesby, the brains behind the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Here Harington reveals he is a direct ancestor of Catesby.
Easter egg activities with Potter and poetry
jlimbjlimb

Easter egg activities with Potter and poetry

(0)
This animated Power Point resource is ideal for the run up to Easter. It includes a short story about a visit to a free range egg farm and comprehension questions to check understanding of the humorous nuances. The differences between free range and caged hens eggs could be used to inspire further independent investigation and research.A passage from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone is included which describes the birth of Norbert a baby dragon. A poem is included about a dragon birth and students are invited to write descriptively about the birth of a dragon as it bursts from its shell. Lots of ideas and explorations here around eggs and the symbolism surrounding them. Ideal for Potter fans . Suitable for ages 8+
Chinese New Year story
jlimbjlimb

Chinese New Year story

(0)
This Power Point presentation tells the story of how the animals took part in a race across a river in order to impress the Emperor with their physical prowess and skill. As the animals splashed and scrambled around in the water , the Emperor decided which animal was worthy to represent each year. Not only will the students enjoy the story but also they will be required to work out which animal represents year 2020 in the Chinese Zodiac. Pupils are required to think about their own strengths and weaknesses and to set goals in order to improve on their own capabilities in 2020. Suitable for ages 7+
Easter chocolate treat activities and quiz
jlimbjlimb

Easter chocolate treat activities and quiz

(0)
This resource is ideal to use on the run up to Easter. It contains a crossword where all the answers are the names of well known chocolate bars. When the answers are placed correctly onto the grid the highlighted letters, when rearranged will spell out the name of a famous Roald Dahl character. Pupils are required to think about a place to go where their family would enjoy a special day out and also design their own chocolate bar thinking about the ingredients contained within it as well as the packaging. Suitable for ages 10+ I include one of my popular Spagbag quizzes which should prove useful when revising aspects of grammar, spelling and punctuation.All answers are provided for ease of marking.
Spring time adjectives, adverbs and verbs revision.
jlimbjlimb

Spring time adjectives, adverbs and verbs revision.

(0)
This animated Power Point tests knowledge of adjectives, adverbs and verbs. Students are asked to supply suitable adjectives to describe Spring and are required to describe their own favourite season. They have anagrams to solve and adjectives to identify. In a playground scene, students are asked to supply relevant adjectives, adverbs and verbs to complete the description. Students are required to sort colour synonyms for green and yellow. I include a word document on the use of adjectives and adverbs which could be used as an extension task. This resource is ideal for revising adjectives, adverbs and verbs as well as descriptive writing about settings. This resource would be ideal to be used for revision purposes during the Spring term. Suitable for ages 10+
space week Saturn and Cassini mission comprehension and descriptive writing
jlimbjlimb

space week Saturn and Cassini mission comprehension and descriptive writing

(0)
This animated Power point showcases data about Saturn and the Cassini mission to discover more about the planet. Pupils are then presented with fourteen questions to test their powers of comprehension about what they have read. Links are provided to enable further independent research. Answers are provided to the comprehension for ease of marking.Finally pupils are presented with a short poem about space exploration and are asked to produce some descriptive writing of their own about visiting a planet of their own choosing. This resource would complement studies during Space Week and also poetry linked to space exploration. Suitable for ages 8+