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Year 5/6 English NNC. Homework (or class writing task) using a humorous comic strip as a prompt for writing a short story where every sentence starts with a fronted adverbial. Can be customised, with more adverbial suggestions added or all suggestions removed for HA / LA groups.

A key for marking, to make the marking of writing more interactive. A set of symbols used my teachers, and the poster of symbols for the classroom wall, and small sheet version for we use on the back of the children's writing target cards) If you combine this with highlighting some of these in pink highlighter pen and the children responding in their own pink pen, you have a system where the children are eager to respond to comments written by their teacher that has transformed marking and response to marking in my school. [See also my 'Think Pink in Maths' resource for a way to make Maths marking more interactive.]

Every New National Curriculum statement for English for years 1 - 6 (includes Speaking & Listening, Reading, Writing Composition, Handwriting, GPS), sorted into 6 spreadsheet pages, set up to be printed onto A3 or A4 sheets. Each statement can be highlighted left to right to show progress along the line, along a sliding scale through: commencing // developing // secure // advanced // deep [See also my Assessment without levels grids, Maths]

A set of 9 ultra-close-up, striking colour photographs of different parts of animals (for example, a spider's silk spinners; a mosquito's eyes), along with display signs and an answer sheet. I've used these on a classroom wall (where children stick up Post-it notes with their guesses) or website / blog (where they post answers online), and it always generates lots of interest, speculation and debate. Photos are in .jpg format for printing or use online, the choice is yours.

How to get children responding to and acting on marking? Following an review that showed our marking needed to be improved, I created a system called 'Think Pink' in which teachers highlight part of their marking in pink highlighter (something specific - a question, some corrections, an extension, an explanation) and the child responds when their book is returned in pink pen. We invested in a box of pink pens for each class, and the children love them and are eager to respond. It has been in use for 18 months now, having started in Maths it was soon extended to English books and other subjects, and it has been taken on and used by other schools in our trust (including middle schools and secondary, not just primary). It was praised by Ofsted in a recent inspection as an example of best practice in interactive marking. I've included final pdf files that you can print and use it exactly as they are, or Word versions that you can customise, add your school logo, and distribute exactly as you want.

A lesson from the new National Curriculum (year 6 science) looking at variation in species, asking the children to identify the advantage that came from random variation. High level thinking skills required. Includes a set of pictures to print which illustrate each adaption (prehensile tail on a spider monkey, humans walking on 2 legs, long horns on a water buffalo, and 5 more), along with some prompt photos to reveal later showing the adaptions in use (the water buffalo throwing an attacking lion off with his its horns, a Neanderthal man carrying a spear).

An activity lasting 2-3 lessons, for year 6 to design, make, play and evaluate board games based on algebraic functions. Includes a teacher-made example that they can play first, a set of instructions, and some photos of children’s work to inspire them.

Based on the checklists used by KS2 writing moderators, your Year 6 children can self-assess as they write, to all the items from the assessment criteria required to meet the standards at the end of year 6. This spreadsheet grid includes Working Towards / Expected / Working Above the expected standard, and you can split the grid to print one, two or all three depending on the target range for an individual child. Each statement is numbered, reducing workload when setting one or more of them as a target. Everything your year 6 children need to check they are meeting the 2018 standards, and all in unlocked Excel spreadsheets so they are fully customisable (add school logo, class name, etc). The grids can be printed A4 or A3, one or two-sided; I’ve also added the year 3/4 and year 5/6 spelling word lists as referred to in the sheets. Also in this bundle is an incredibly useful ‘Summary of Evidence’ sheet, with the same numbering system as the self-assessment sheets. This makes it quick and easy to evidence which of the standards are met in a piece of writing, and identify patterns of gaps to address / fill before the end of June. The KS2 moderator who visited me last year loved this approach, and asked if she could take a set to share with her colleagues.

Two (easier & harder) sheets of questions for year 6 algebra, plus a follow-up homework. Over 40 questions on each sheet. Questions progressing along the lines of: n=4, what is 5n n = 15, what is 3n n-6 = 27, what is n n=12, what is 2n+3 3n-5 = 16, what is n Also includes squaring.

Written for year 6 algebra in the new National Curriculum (but also suitable at KS3), a differentiated question sheet, with a set of linear sequences for children to solve. In each case, they need to find the rule for n, then the 10th, 20th, 50th or other specified term. Example: Q: What is the 20th number in this sequence? 5, 8, 11 A: Rule: 3n+2 20th number is (3x20) + 2 = 62 Differentiated with 6 easier questions, 14 core (increasing in difficulty), then 4 extension questions going into negative number sequences for the more able. Answer sheet provided in same format. Whole document is in Word, so can be edited (tweaked slightly to make it easier or harder, depending on your class) or copy / pasted into Smartboard or other formats. Would also be suitable for a homework / reinforcement.

Find angle types, parallel and perpendicular lines, in pictures. A set of twelve outline pictures, of increasing difficulty / complexity, for students to find and label different types of angle (acute, obtuse, reflex, right) and lines (parallel, perpendicular). Good revision of the vocabulary of angle. Resource is included in ready to print PDF format, and editable Word doc (for those who only want to find angle types, not parallel and perpendicular; or those who want to include a specific image of their own, like a school logo). Simple 2 page resource, ready to use or set as homework; just saving you the time it took me to find 12 suitable images.

Resource using Numicon to identify perimeters, & look at relationship between area and perimeter. (Needs a tray of Numicon for best results).

A homework to revise the GPS areas of ADJECTIVES, PREPOSITIONS, NOUN TYPES, and PREFIXES / SUFFIXES. Open task, children create their own mini revision pages.

Research homework on Carl Linnaeus, and his main work, Linnaean taxonomy.

A shape drawing resource to help children improve the accuracy of their drawing and measuring ... which produces a pretty pattern they can enjoy colouring in afterwards. Suitable for ages 7 - 11.

2 Excel spreadsheets containing grids with written instructions for drawing shapes. Can be printed A3 or A4, and the layout adapted to different requirements. Examples (easier): Draw a pentagon with one line of symmetry. Examples (harder): Draw a pentagon with just one acute angle.

Spreadsheet format for mid-year reporting to parents, for years 1 - 6. Simple to complete (teachers just complete yellow boxes; the rest can be locked and password protected to prevent errors), it reports how the child is progressing at a mid-year point against the expectations of the new National Curriculum in Maths, Reading & Writing, as well as boxes for effort / behaviour, a space to describe interventions, and an editable box for a short personal comment. Includes a box for parent feedback and an invite to an upcoming parents' evening (which can be edited or removed, as required).

Homework or worksheet on equivalent fractions, fractions of amounts, etc. Easier & harder versions available.

Maths - a homework featuring ratio and proportion word problems