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Dicing with Grammar

Average Rating4.74
(based on 229 reviews)

It's simple really: English grammar can be a very dry subject, but this need not be the case. For a few years now, I have been developing a games-based approach to teaching important grammar concepts. It is amazing how the introduction of dice takes the learning into a new place - the element of chance making it seem less like work and more like play. Because I test my games extensively in the classroom, I get a feel for what works. Dump your boring worksheets and start dicing with grammar.

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It's simple really: English grammar can be a very dry subject, but this need not be the case. For a few years now, I have been developing a games-based approach to teaching important grammar concepts. It is amazing how the introduction of dice takes the learning into a new place - the element of chance making it seem less like work and more like play. Because I test my games extensively in the classroom, I get a feel for what works. Dump your boring worksheets and start dicing with grammar.
Stone Age
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Stone Age

(5)
Three week writing unit for Year 3/Year 4. A fully resourced and differentiated unit including all slides and activities. Drama! Talk! Reading skills! Grammar skills! Organising information in fun and inviting ways! It’s all ready to pick up and use. I have included the full unit in a zip folder (if you buy, just use the zip!), as you cannot see it all in the preview. The children begin with an assessment task (a cold task) and then spend a week exploring a model text about the Stone Age and learning some key grammar skills for year 3 and 4. They go on to learn about structure and organisation whilst also learning about mammoths! Finally they use all of their new skills to create their own information text about the Iron Age. The whole 15 lesson unit is full of games and activities focused on these skills: I can show what I already know about writing an information text I can ask questions to improve my understanding of the text I can quickly find information in non-fiction texts I can use conjunctions (when, before, after, while) to explain when things happen I can use prepositions (in, on, inside, at, by, during, before, after) to explain when and where I can spot the key features of information texts I can use paragraphs to group information I can use headings and sub-headings to organise an information text I can present (show) information in different ways I can use glossaries to check the meaning of words (repair ā€˜meaning breakdowns’)
Beowulf, 3 week writing unit
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Beowulf, 3 week writing unit

(8)
This resource is 15 fully resourced sessions exploring the Anglo-Saxon legend Beowulf. Everything you need - models, PowerPoint slides, activities - is included in the ZIP file. The previews you can see show snippets of the first five sessions. It has been created for Year 5, but could be used in other KS2 classes. The unit draws on many versions of Beowulf. The model text harnesses the rich language used in Beowulf: dragonslayer by Rosemary Sutcliff. Each session has been carefully sequenced. The unit begins with immersion into the story through images and drama. There are also reading fluency and comprehension activities. Children in engage in short burst writing activities to learn and apply new skills. They also explore the key features of legends through a tool kit. Towards the end of the unit, children pick from a wide range of hot tasks, choosing the one that excites them most. Finally, children create their own legends, making use of planning grids and storyboards. This unit is ready to go. Creative teachers (and children!) will enjoy getting stuck-in to this one. Please also check out my other units, including ā€˜Theseus and the Minotaur’. with every lesson creatively planned in detail and many sessions resourced for SEN, EXP and GDS. /teaching-resource/theseus-and-the-minotaur-3-weeks-of-detailed-planning-fully-resourced-and-differentiated-11914692
Number the stars
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Number the stars

(1)
A fully resourced, three-week Year 6 writing unit based on chapter 14 of ā€˜Number the Stars’ by Lois Lowry. This unit links beautifully with history learning, World War 2. If children a familiar with the story of Anne Frank, this text provides another example of what was happening in Europe in the final years of WW2. All planning, slides and activities are included - no extra work necessary. Outcome After looking closely at chapter 14 of Number the Stars, children write their own suspenseful, historical story about a child who has to take a mysterious and important package on a dangerous journey. **The following objectives are comprehensively covered: ** Grammar skills • Use a parenthesis (a single dash) to add an afterthought • Use short sentences to create suspense • Use expanded noun phrases to add descriptive detail • Personify nouns Composition • Develop a historical character • Build atmosphere and create contrasting settings • Apply an understanding of the key features of historical stories and suspense writing • Plan a story using a familiar structure to support Reading and Vocabulary • Explore unfamiliar vocabulary in context • Develop reading fluency skills • Retrieve information and infer meaning • Retell a traditional story • Identify the key features of historical stories and suspense writing
Theseus and the Minotaur, performance poetry and book making
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Theseus and the Minotaur, performance poetry and book making

(1)
This one week KS2 English unit has a focus on performance and art (instead of writing). Over five sessions, children learn about intonation and perform two poems expressively. Both poems retell famous Greek myths (ā€˜The Minotaur’ and ā€˜Icarus’). Children also present lines from a poem through art and book making. A highly enjoyable unit! Here is a brief overview of each session. Detailed plans and all resources are included. Session 1 Watch and evaluate • I can say which poetry performance I enjoyed the most • I can evaluate a poetry performance Open questions You are the judge! Convince another Session 2 Performing poetry • I can show understanding through tone, volume and action Ping pong! What does Michael Rosen have to say about performance poetry? Explore the model Perform – small groups Peer assessment Perform – whole class Session 3 Applying our new skills and knowledge to a new poem • I can show understanding through tone, volume and action (revisit) • I can prepare a poem to read aloud and to perform ā€œRock… paper… anything!ā€ Let’s perform Introducing a new poem Can we use our new knowledge and skills for a different poem? Perform – whole class Session 4 Presenting a poem through book making and art (part 1) • I can discuss words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination Performance poetry! Windows and words How will we show the meaning of each line through pictures? Session 5 Presenting a poem through book making and art (part 2) • I can discuss words and phrases that capture the reader’s interest and imagination Warm up: Ping-pong Activity 1: Capturing a poem in pictures
biography
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biography

(0)
This is a 14 session biography writing unit for upper KS2. Children explore the life of Anne Frank - supporting history learning about WW2 - and then go on to choose one of four other people who SHOOK THE WORLD while they were young (Boyan Slat, Greta Thunberg, Pele or Marley Dias). After learning new writing skills, children write a biography about their chosen subject. If you purchase this unit, please open the youthquake biography zip file. Each of the 14 lessons is organised into its own subfolder. All lesson plans, lesson slides and activities are included - it’s ready to go. Everything is created in PowerPoint and Word, so you can edit and adapt as you wish. The png files you can see in the previews are just there to give a taste of the first few lessons. Your class will enjoy learning about biographies and creating a YOUTHQUAKE! Throughout this unit, I would recommend reading children selected biographies from YouthQuake: 50 Children and Young People Who Shook the World by Tom Adams & Sarah Walsh.
Theseus and the Minotaur news report
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Theseus and the Minotaur news report

(0)
This is a five session writing workshop designed to support Y6 writers achieve their age related expectation. It could easily be adapted by other KS2 classes for use as news report unit. During the project, children pick events from the story of Theseus and retell them in a journalistic style. They explore topic sentences, direct speech, reported speech, passive voice and many other skills. All resources are included. I ran this as a one-day writing workshop for writers who were a little off track. It could easily be adapted for use in any KS2 setting - everything is fully editable. I had some great outcomes - I’m sure you will too.