I have been teaching a long time. I enjoy creating theme based units of work that include activities relating to several subject areas. I like creating language arts and research units. I also have a passion for poetry, teaching and writing.
I have been teaching a long time. I enjoy creating theme based units of work that include activities relating to several subject areas. I like creating language arts and research units. I also have a passion for poetry, teaching and writing.
Figurative Language
This is a 20 page collection of language features, a requirement of every English curriculum. Each page is a different feature; there is a definition, examples and exercises for the students to complete.
Related terms:
language features and their effects
structural features
sentence forms
emotive language
figurative language types
These pages can be used in a number of ways, homework, class activities, interest groups, formal lessons, booklet style, as an introduction to writing and poetry instruction etc
his is 15 pages of Halloween themed poetry writing. The poetry writing examples used in the unit are original verse. The students get so involved in Halloween each year and are so motivated by the numerous "scary themes" they are more susceptible to the writing process.
Thanksgiving Story to read and Illustrate.
I have written a short story about how and why Thanksgiving is celebrated every year. The story is revealed in dialogue between a grandfather and his grandson, Paul.
The story has been written as a picture book. With all picture books it is essential for the illustration to match the part of the story unfolding on each page.
This package consists of:
• Story picture Book
• Title page
• Dedication
• 12 pages of story
• End page
• Back cover
• Instruction page
• Photos of simple binding methods
• Comprehension question page
I envisage several ways of using this book.
• For the younger classes, each page can be treated
separately. A page is read and the students illustrate.
Each child will have their own copy and can
follow the story as it is read to them. The
comprehension questions on the attached
sheet can be modified per ability.
• Older students will be able to read the story for themselves
and illustrate accordingly.
• I have included some photos of easy binding processes,
however, there are many binding ideas. Eg stapling the
pages together and covering the staples with a strip of
patterned contact or coloured paper. (photo included)
• This book can be used as an incentive to encourage the
students to write their stories to create a picture book of their
own.
I hope the students enjoy illustrating the story and creating their own picture book, and in doing so, improve their knowledge of the holiday and their reading skills.
A Dinosaur Themed Unit - Updated - OCTOBER, 2015
This is a unit of work based around the theme of dinosaurs. The unit is heavily biased towards research, literacy and science.
This unit is the updated version of a previous unit on dinosaurs, featuring an extra 35 pages of activities.
There are 65 pages of activities which can be spread over 4 weeks, the project topics included could be researched in depth which would assist students understanding of the topic and increase the length of time required to complete the unit. I feel that the unit can be adapted by the teacher to suit various grade levels.
Dinosaur Names Dictionary
Carnivores & Herbivores Research Project 1 (Favourite Dinosaur)
Charting Dinosaur Facts Research Project 2 (Dinosaur Habits)
Acrostic Poetry Writing Fact or Fiction
Research Project 3 Fossilised Remains
Alliteration Dimetrodon
Ichthyosaurus Plateosaurus
Pteranodon Triceratops
Allosaurus Brontosaurus
Early Life Chart Triassic Period
Jurassic Period Cretaceous Period
Story Writing Create your own Dinosaur
My Dinosaur Steam Shovel by Charles Malam
Dinosaur Wonderword Life of a Dinosaur
Make a Prehistoric Diorama Story Writing
Antonyms & Homographs Extinction of the Dinosaurs
My Extinction Theory Sentence Beginnings
Short Story Writing Visual Literacy
Visual Literacy Comprehension & Questions
Where are the dinosaurs? The Little Dinosaur
Narrative poetry
Poetry and Creative Writing about Winter – UPDATED – 15 new lessons.
This is a 31 page unit written around the theme of winter. The unit consists of creative writing and poetry, I have written two poems, one that I have used as a comprehension and the other is a type poem consisting of 4 stanzas of 4 lines and 8 words. The purpose is for the students to discuss the pattern and emulate it. I have tried to varied the activities to give students learning opportunities for students to express themselves.
I have also added new original poetry that require the students to look carefully at the meaning and answer questions. Another poem I have written asks the students to rewrite as a story.
The unit has four pictures/photos, one requires the students to make assumptions about what is evident in the picture. The other three photos, I have used to stimulate their imaginations and encourage the students to come up with a story to explain what they see and write about it.
I also introduce the students to Catalogue and Sestina Poetry writing.
This a Fairy Tale (& 1 Nursery Rhyme) themed unit. Like other units that I have written, I try to give a large variety of activities to ensure the interest of the students and also to present them with a broad cross section of knowledge. Unlike other units that I have written, this is more a unit for girls, hopefully, I have added enough “macho” activities to keep the boys engaged.
Table of Contents.
List of Fairy Tales
Vocabulary List
Linguistic Activities
Fairy Tale Research
Fairy Tales and Countries of Origin
Research Experts
Newspaper Article
Advertising Poster
Big Bad Wolf Business Card
Business Cards
Rhyming Verse (original poem)
Fairy Tale Statistics
Fairy Tale Writing
Storyboard
Nursery Rhymes
Wanted Poster
Fairy Tale Arts
Draw the Meanie
Venn Diagrams
Dioramas
Rating Characters from Fairy Tales
Baddy Advertising
Problem Solving
Twenty Ways to Say…
Research The Little Mermaid
Artistic Drawing
Acrostic Poetry
Mail a Friend…
Fairy Tale Cartoon
Story Writing
Carnival of Venice
Mind Map
Verbs and Imagination
Interesting Ways to “Say”!
Story Starters
Cinquain Poetry
This is a unit of work consisting of 100 geography themed task cards that would be suitable for grades 5 to 8. The cards take the students through a journey of activities that will encourage them to become familiar with single maps of a country, state county or city, the various maps contained in an atlas and the use of a globe.
The cards are suitable for small group work or for individual extension or as homework activities.
Answers are included.
This unit is made up of 5 original pieces of writing and questions. There are two foreign postcards, two poems and a page of classifieds that require the students to read carefully and;
Locate Information
Identify Inferences
Work with Words
Dictionary Work
Sequence of Events
and
Answers
This is 20 pages of worksheets and activities around the theme of Christmas. The activities are distinctive and varied, from a poem written by myself, with questions, grammar exercises, creative writing prompts to colouring.
These activities can be used in a number of ways, as whole class learning, homework, extension work, interesting activities for students who have completed their work, substitute teacher lessons or as you require.
These are task cards and do not fit into any category.
These cards are designed as extension for those students who often complete their work at a faster rate.
The cards could also be fun for the whole class. The activities on the cards are creative and imaginative and require the students, in some cases, to use problem solving skills.
Students are required to draw, list, invent, design and adapt to a number of different situations.
Suitable for sale in the UK and US.
I have updated my Dragon Language Arts Unit to include extra creative writing and poetry activities.
This is a Language and research unit of work written for students around the theme of Dragons. The unit has numerous activities that will appeal to various age groups, as individual tasks, group activities, extension, as a book of work to be completed at the student’s own pace etc. I have tried to arrange the activities around a short story that I have written called, A Dragon’s Tale! I have tried to balance language and research activities in this unit.
This is a standalone unit with the theme of dragons, it is also a part of a Dragon and Medieval themed Unit.
A Dragon’s Tale!
How Well Did You Read?
Dictionary Skills
Contractions
Fiery Tales
Just Published!
Storyboard
Lost Little Dragon Poetry Writing
Create Your Own Dragon
Venn Diagrams – Dragons V Dinosaurs
Dragon Wonderword
Chinese New Year Research
Creative Writing
The Earth is Flat!
Sea Monsters
Dragon Constellations
Dragon Cooking
Fiery Story Starters
Dragon Story Writing
Dragon Slayer Research
Dragon Fine Arts
Dragon Task cards
Acrostic Poetry
Dragon Flags
Cinquain Poetry
Simile Poetry
Komodo Dragon
Facts and Opinions
Colouring
Poetry Writing
Alliteration
This is 16 pages of updated Grammar Activities that can be used in a variety of ways, as homework, group or individual activities or as an introduction a new concept to the students. There is answer sheets included at the end of the activity pages.
Activities Include:
Jumbled Words
Analogies
Tautology
Punctuation
Spelling & Proofreading
Homonyms
Spelling
Antonyms
Dictionary Work
Abbreviations
Similes
Apostrophes
Alphabetical Order
Answers
There are 9 pages of research topics and bibliographic details, and answers. The research is based on the letters of the alphabet, so the sheets can be distributed to the students as a research project over time. Alternatively, the sheets can be cut into 26 individual smaller projects, I have found in the past that this is a good activity for students who finish work quickly or are motivated to do more work.
When the questions have been answered, the students have to write the book details on the sheet as well. This is preparation for writing bibliographies.
This is a 15 page bundle of activities to improve student’s word skills. These activities can be used as homework, individual lessons, group work or an introduction into a specific skill.
Word activities included are:
Classifying words
Shades of meaning
Word associations
Animal idioms
One word for many
Collective nouns
Common errors
Singular & plural
Punctuation
Gender & their young
Adjectives
Direct speech
Vocabulary fun
ANSWERS
This is a Language and research unit of work written for students around medieval themes. The unit has numerous activities that will appeal to various age groups, as individual tasks, group activities, extension, as a book of work to be completed etc. I have tried to arrange the activities around a short story that I have written, A Knight’s Tale! I have tried to balance language and research activities in this unit.
This is a standalone unit on medieval times, it is also a part of a larger unit I have written called Dragon and Medieval Themed Unit.
Contents:
A Knight’s Tale!
Change the Ending
Idioms
Design the Castle
Damsel in Distress
Synonyms
Coat of Arms
Shields
Medieval Research – Weapons
Medieval Research – Siege Weaponry
Technology and Military Developments
A Day in the Life of a Medieval Knight
Medieval Clothing
Medieval – War Games
Castles
Inside the Castle
The Black Death
Medieval Food
Limericks
Medieval Wonderword
Tapestries
A set of 50 Task Cards designed to stimulate creativity and imagination.
The cards can be used as group or individual activities. As a group activity the cards foster communication and discussion in order to solve the problems.
In a mixed ability class, I found it necessary to have activities available for those students who complete work quickly. Not simply more work but tasks that the students would consider challenging and enjoyable.
Topics include:
Schools
Camping
Leisure
Road Rules
Tourism
Computers
This is a 14 page mini unit with activities for visual interpretation (literacy). The students are required to study various illustrations and interpret what is happening. There are several different types of activities that the students will complete. A Christmas colouring, poetry and Christmas tree decoration activities.
This is a Language and research unit of work written for students around medieval themes. The unit has numerous activities that will appeal to various age groups, as individual tasks, group activities, extension, as a book of work to be completed etc. I have tried to arrange the activities around a short story that I have written, A Knight’s Tale! I have tried to balance language and research activities in this unit.
This is a standalone unit on medieval times, it is also a part of a larger unit I have written called Dragon and Medieval Themed Unit.
Contents:
A Knight’s Tale!
Change the Ending
Idioms
Design the Castle
Damsel in Distress
Synonyms
Coat of Arms
Shields
Medieval Research – Weapons
Medieval Research – Siege Weaponry
Technology and Military Developments
A Day in the Life of a Medieval Knight
Medieval Clothing
Medieval – War Games
Castles
Inside the Castle
The Black Death
Medieval Food
Limericks
Medieval Wonderword
Tapestries
UPDATED 11/2016
These cards are designed as extension for those students who often complete their work at a faster rate.
The cards could also be fun for the whole class. The activities on the cards are creative and imaginative and require the students, in some cases, to use problem solving skills.
Students are required to draw, list, invent, design and adapt to a number of different situations.