Below is a list of links to either websites or activties that require no pre-planning or special resources.
Pencils, paper and whiteboard should be enough.
While I own some of the material linked below, much of it has come from searching the internet or donations from other people.
This is why everything is free to use.
If you have something awesome you would like to add to the closet, please click here or use the 'add to' button below.
This is a writing game where children either build or reduce sentences. Great for focussing on specific vocabulary choices or for encouraging the leap from simple to compound, or compound to complex sentences.
For all ages!
This is a simple drag-and-drop organiser. Drag the nouns/verbs/adverbs/adjectives to the treasure chest. Useful for a quick recap or AfL activity. It requires a Google sign-in but this is purely to prevent reset problems.
This fantastic speaking, writing and drama recourse was created and shared by @MrB_Y3. Please follow him on Twitter!
This is one of mine - it's a little rough around the edges. Essentially, it'll provide writing prompts for the 5 stages of a story mountain. They might flow together seamlessly; they might need some working around. The aim is to get the children discussing and writing.
Any suggestions for phrases to add will be greatly appreciated!
This is essentially virtual story dice for KS1 (until I work out the code for the visual version). Hide or reveal different aspects of a story and challenge the children to write, tell or act out a story.
Slow Writing Randomiser (UKS2)
Slow writing is fantastic if you have to fill an hour or more. Randomly select an element from each column then set the children to work. They can even self- and peer-moderate because the randomiser also provies success criteria.
I can work on a LKS2 and KS1 version if there are enough requests.
Similar to the other word generators, this one takes the elements of Story Dice and randomises them. I'm working on a more visual one, but this is a filler for now!
Again, choose some or all of the elements and set the children off. Tell, act or write. I like to have them act out in groups then write it up as a comic, or design a poster for the movie (persuasive writing!).
A truly random selection of things. Younger children can invent a story about them. Older children can write about them. The buttons at the top allow you to group them into sets (write a story containing...); the spinner selects just one. There's a lot you can do with these.
It doesn't have to be writing either. It would work just as well for a peaceful (silent?) drawing afternoon activity.
Again, if you have more suggestions, please let me know!
Argulably, this is more KS3 but you could always give it a go. Randomly select character aspects and have the children tell, write or act out that character. Good for 10 minutes of planning and 5 minutes of showing per child. Easily get through an hour and no marking!
These Jeopardy quizzes are a great way to pass a whole hour.
Split the class into teams and either have them write their answers in a white board and declare them, or let them answer quizshow style.
To add more teams, click the + button under the teams.
To rename the teams, click on the team name.