Free resources and initiatives provided for home learning or use in school – updated 25 March 2020 – new links in blue
Phonics
Interactive phonics games and resources
Decodable comics aligned to phonics phases – new to me and quite wonderful!
Film Literacy from Into Film (free account required)
The 3Cs (colour, camera, character) and the 3Ss, (story, setting, sound) can be used to help students discuss and analyse all the elements of a film text. Working with the 3Cs and 3Ss enables students to make connections between the features of all texts, and develop their decoding, encoding, reading and writing skills.
Free Into Film activities for young people to do at home
Film making memory card game – careers quiz – review template – make a thaumatrope – top 5 film making tips – film poster template – plan a film party – hair and make-up design – costume design – design a film party
This literacy pack provides a range of worksheets for analysing the storyline and characters within any film. There are also worksheets to help young people to develop their personal analysis and interpretation of the film in addition to a section on filmmaking tasks. The final section contains worksheets to promote extended writing to develop the learning from any film.
Authors and Poets
@reading_realm on twitter and FB
…live poetry, sign language and readings of poems…’
@EarlyTrain on twitter – poems read by Matt Goodfellow
Radioblogging with Pie Corbett et al
‘RadioBlogging – daily shows with interactive activities to keep everyone busy and engaged, brought to you by Pie Corbett, Deputy Mitchell, Ian Rockey and Russell Prue, just listen and blog, it’s live, fun and interactive with new educational tasks each day for your students whether at home or in school.’
Cressida Cowell reading How to Train your Dragon
Tom Palmer reads Incredible Edible
Daily writing activities from Brian Moses
Piers Torday story time on Instagram Live = @piers_torday
Books and Audio Stories
Free audio stories from Audible
Family Support
‘As a response to school closures, we have developed a comprehensive web portal for parents, to support you during this time. Over the next days, weeks and months we will be updating this as often as we can with new and useful content for parents.
Split up by age group below, you will find ideas and guidance for simple activities that will engage your children at home, while also benefiting their reading, writing and language development.
You’ll be able to access free reading and writing resources, audiobooks, videos, competitions and reading challenges. Every resource is available for free, although to access some you may need to create a free account.’
National Organisations and Charities
Free writing activities from Pobble
Free resources from The Literacy Shed
Friends!
Free online activities from Alison Philipson
… and finally follow @idletim on twitter for all round good advice