Literacy
problems to solve for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3 from our Literacy Team. The
latest questions are here
New problems every 2 weeks.
Key
Stage 1
Wordswork!
GRID
Here's another word grid challenge. Can you beat you last target? The
nine-letter word is mathematical shapes. Remember you can use any letters
in any order but each one only once in each word.
l
r
n
e
a
c
e
t
g
Key
Stage 2 Wordswork!
GRID
How many words can you make? You can only use each letter once in each
word. Your target is 15 words. If you want a harder challenge try to
use the centre letter in every word. There is one nine-letter word,
you might find it all at sea!
Key
Stage 3 Wordswork!
Messing about with texts
Activity 1
Read the passage from The Midnight fox below.
Use a highlighter or coloured pencils to mark:
Five nouns
Five verbs
Five adjectives
Reminder
A noun is the name of a thing, e.g. house,
dog, carpet.
A Verb is an action, e.g. he walks, she runs,
you smile.
A adverb is a word used to describe a verb,
e.g. to walk quickly, to speak aloud.
Activity 2
- nouns
For each of your nouns
can you suggest an alternative that the writer might have used?
e.g. you might begin:
Her movements as she crossed the meadow were...
Write your suggestions above the original words.
Write one adjective in front of each of your nouns;
e.g. you might begin:
Her agile steps....
Activity 3 - verbs
For each of your verbs can you suggest an alternative that the writer
might have used?
e.g. you might begin:
Her steps as she traversed the field seemed...
Write your suggestions above the original words.
Write one adverb with each of your verbs;
e.g. you might begin:
Her steps as she swiftly crossed the field...
Activity 4 - adjectives
For each of your adjectives can you suggest an alternative that
the writer might have used?
e.g. you might begin:
Her steps as she crossed the field were Softer and
swifter...
Write your suggestions above the original words.
Activity 5
Read the passage aloud with all the changes you have written.
Which of your changes make the passage better? Cross out those changes
which seem to get in the way.
Read the passage aloud again with just changes you have decided
to keep.
The black fox
Her steps as she crossed the field were lighter and quicker than a
cat's. As she came closer I could see that her black fur was tipped
with white. It was as if it were midnight and the moon were shining
on her fur, frosting it. The wind parted her fur as it changed directions.
Suddenly she stopped. She was ten feet away now, and with the changing
of the wind she got my scent. She looked right at me.
I did not move for a moment and neither did she. Her head was cocked
to one side, her tail curled up, her front left foot raised. In all
my life I never saw anything like that fox standing there with her pale
green golden eyes on me and this great black fur being blown by the
wind.
