On this cheerfully illustrated sheet, young children can fill in the gaps to create their own poem, or descriptive writing sheet. Titled, In the Woods, the first line invites a describing word for a robin, and the second line invites a choice of woodland animal (the picture offers ideas) and a describing word to go with it. They can then think up a verb, or ‘doing word’ for the squirrels, and describe the trees too. There’s a spare line for any extra ideas the writer may wish to add. See my other woodland writing sheets too, for harder and easier work. This sheet is fun to colour, interesting to write, and insightful about forests and their wildlife.

This colouring sheet promotes an understanding of wildlife and an appreciation of the natural world, as well as helping young children develop skills such as fine motor control and colour differentiation and application. There is plenty of scope for different colours here, with the patterns on the frog, the drops and patterns in the water and the background grasses, rushes and sun. See my other wildlife colouring sheets too, for a selection.

This simple, illustrated writing sheet is fun to write and colour in. The text invites a describing word for a robin, and another woodland animal of the writer’s choice, with a describing word. The various creatures illustrated, and the forest background, will provide young children with an incite into life inside a wood. The resource promotes writing, reading, colouring skills, and understanding and appreciation of the natural environment. Try my harder version too.

Young children will enjoy thinking up a word or more to complete the phrase - This frog is…, and having a go at writing it on the line provided. More words can be added below, as wanted. Encourage sounding out and emergent writing, rather than accuracy, with this writing activity, to build confidence in independent writing. Perhaps prompt for - green, hoppy, wet, patchy, jumpy, friendly, smiling, splashy or croaking, if ideas are needed. See my other simple writing sheets on wildlife themes for more variety.

Young children will enjoy thinking up a word or more to complete the given phrase - I can see… , and having a go at sounding it out and writing it on the line provided. They can then be rewarded with colouring fun, shading in this fascinating picture. For the writing, encourage children to study the picture and identify some of its features first, then let them choose their favourite one or few to write. Examples to prompt for if needed - a snail, a bird, flowers, grass, leaves, sky, the sun, a ladybird. Able writers could be encouraged to add a describing word or other embellishment. The resource promotes literacy, fine motor control, colour and shape awareness and an appreciation of the natural world.

Three beautiful, fun, punchy rhymes about spring, for Early Years and KS1. Baby animals, hatching birds, green leaves, budding flowers, growing grass, fresh, blue skies and other wonders of springtime are addressed in these buoyant little verses. They can be read out for listening, chanted and clapped together, enacted, discussed, illustrated, put to music or percussion, and referred to for inspiration and guidance when going outside to enjoy a fine spring day. The poems are my own.

Children love colours, and are always keen to say which their favourite colour is, so they’ll love this writing and colouring sheet. There is one writing line, starting - I like the colour ___ , with a large space for them to write their favourite one. Let them sound it out and have a go at the writing, even if the spelling is wrong, to build confidence in writing. Later, they could repeat the task with a word card to guide their spelling. They can colour in the shapes with that colour, or with a mix for variety and design fun. This resource promotes shape and pattern awareness as well as literacy, colour sense and fine motor control.

Young children will enjoy thinking up a word to complete the phrase - this robin is. Prompt for words such as - red, tiny, fluffy, happy, a baby, soft, hoppy, flappy, feathery, friendly. Encourage emergent writing and sounding out of letters, even if resulting in incorrect spelling. This will build confidence in writing. Present the colouring part of the activity as a reward for the writing, to ensure every child has a go at it.

Reading/sounding out + learning about shells, seaside, nature and more. Eight describing words for shells for young readers (Reception - Y2), big, bright and clear, around a colourful photo of shells on beach. Words: shells, hard, curly, dry, shiny, hollow, sandy, wet. Help children turn sheet to read the words. Watch my video on seaside shells: https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 See my other seaside and phonics resources too.

Crazy space alien to colour in. Drawn freehand, this whirly, twirly, crazy creature is waiting to leap to life with the first touch of colour. The resource supports Space studies at all primary levels, also serving for pencil control practice, colour sense development and expressive arts and design material. Development tip: after colouring, suggest children design their own alien, then describe it in words. See my many other space-themed creative resources too.

This fascinating castle picture will lure your emergent readers into sounding out the ten words that describe it. The bright, bold lettering is easy to clear and attractive, and the words are intriguing, yet simple, comprising: old, cold, dark, big, grand, still, spooky, crumbly, stony and webby. Fun and motivating for older readers too; also for younger children to look at. Handy for quick revision, testing and general reading practice. Also supports castle and history studies.

Young children will enjoy colouring in this lively natural scene, and identifying insects and other crawly creatures as they work. They will develop colour awareness, fine motor skills and an understanding of the minibeasts and their natural environment, as they bring the picture alive with their own creative input.

Let imagination take off with this exciting rocket writing and colouring sheet. Young children will enjoy choosing one or more items to complete the given phrase - I can see, sounding out the word(s) and having a go at spelling them. If anyone needs idea prompts, perhaps suggest a rocket, stars, sun, moon, spaceman or dog. The colouring part of the activity could be presented as a reward for the writing. This resource promotes literacy, fine motor skills, colour and shape awareness and an understanding of the concept of space and its contents.

This rhyme bank and examples page will provide all the back-up you need to concoct verses about castle characters with your class. There are rhyme lists for King, Queen, Knight, Prince, Princess and Ghost, with an example verse for each on the next page. Tips for presenting and guiding are also provided. Bring history alive by inventing funny, crazy, spooky or beautiful rhyming couplets (or more) about the people who lived in our ancient castles, or bring your literacy or poetry lesson alive this way. I introduce rhymes like these in my poetry workshops, adapting the presentation to suit the different literacy levels. It’s an activity that gets everyone hooked.

Young children will love colouring in this lively dragon and its surroundings. Their ideas can fly like the creature, as they experiment with different colour combinations and pencil strokes. See also my dragon poetry worksheets for Early Years and KS1 and my Dragon’s Menu alliteration game.

Two poems of mine, published in The School Magazine, Australia: What is a Cloud? and Puddle Pictures. (Both on one sheet.) What is a Cloud? is a metaphor poem, presenting different cloud moods with simple images. Puddle Pictures shows, in a fun, simple way, how a puddle reflects then dries. Both poems promote nature appreciation and a love of poetry. Also recommended for PSHE, being gentle, calming and upbeat.

These three little poems feature a caterpillar, a spider and a swarm of ants, each rhyme being informative as well as punchy and fun. Read out, chant and clap them with class, then discuss, enact, draw and write about these fascinating little creatures, with the verses to inspire and inform. The rhymes will support outdoor classroom activities and all related studies. Ideal for Early Years, KS1 and lower juniors. Supports Literacy - poetry and language - too.

This simple game spurs children to read or sound out the 7 words, so they can link them (by pen, pencil or finger) to the correct picture representation below. Some of the words also feature in my ‘Seaside Findings’ phonics game; using both in quick succession will reinforce learning. Suitable for all KS1 and Reception/EY. Able children can add further words and pictures, or write a follow-on sentence about something they have found at the seaside. Younger children can identify initial letters and their phonics, guessing words they can’t yet read, with the help of the pictures. This resource also supports seaside and ocean studies. VIDEO INSPIRATION x 2 (author speaking and reading her poems about seaside wonders): https://photos.app.goo.gl/wkeZ8K6iCfcFQneZ9 + https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipMarEm9uVBDEGPTykSlkAfT6jdVArKlPen6X5lk1le7dqUc89gEztNjSO7V6qsxUQ?key=X0hIWmdaV1M0Q2lHYURKbDdIVFFPMTVBTWRUdkhn