Spelling City
First to Second/Third Level
Vocabulary Spelling City’s online spelling and vocabulary games explore vocabulary, spelling, phonics and aspects of writing. Games can be paired with teachers’ word lists to give relevant vocabulary practice. Printable materials to accompany some of the activities are also available.
Sumdog
Early to Fourth Level
Sumdog has enabled free access to all maths, spelling and grammar activities. Sumdog Grammar provides in-depth reporting to identify grammar and vocabulary gaps and set challenges that support pupils to address them. You can adapt the order of skills and grammar practice to fit your own lesson plan, setting assessments and challenges that directly target the grammar and vocabulary needs of your pupils. Sumdog Spelling helps struggling learners improve their literacy proficiency by engaging them to practise with online gamified learning and real voices. Sumdog will choose words, or you can create your own custom word lists for pupils.
Twinkl
Early to Fourth Level
Access to PowerPoints, worksheets and assessments. Teachers can take advantage of full membership for one month, more info here: https://www.twinkl.co.uk/blog/how-to-utilise-twinkl-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown-a-guide-for-schools
This resource will also support the development of other curricular areas.
The Literacy Shed
First to Fourth Level
The Literacy Shed is home to a wide range of visual resources suitable for use in schools. The ‘sheds’ are broadly thematic e.g ‘The Inspiration Shed’ and ‘The Story Starter Shed’ and can be linked to class topics. Resources accompany each film and can be used in stand-alone literacy lessons, can form the basis for a whole literacy unit or can support literacy units that you already have in place.
BBC Bitesize
Early Level to Higher
Organised by sector and for the Scottish Curriculum. Literacy activities include listening and talking, writing, spelling, grammar, punctuation and links to popular, relevant stories and texts.
Topmarks
Early to Third Level
Topmarks has a variety of literacy learning games for young people aged 3 – 14. Games are based around letters and sounds, punctuation, spelling, stories, reading, poetry and more.
The Learning Cauldron (YouTube)
National 5 and Higher
The Learning Cauldron’s aim is to help each student maximise their language and literacy skills so they can enjoy learning and ultimately achieve their full potential academically, professionally and socially. This YouTube site contains a selection of tutorials and study clips including links to poetry and drama.
Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
Early to Second Level
The CLPE team will be providing ongoing support for literacy teaching. They will be adding to their selection of free resources which will help you to plan home learning and provide support for pupils and parents. A list of all free resources is available on the CLPE website.
Scottish Book Trust: Author’s Live on Demand
Early Level to Higher
The Authors Live on Demand website, hosted by the Scottish Book Trust, contains videos of all previous Authors Live broadcasts. Videos include a wide range of authors, illustrators and genres. Featured authors include Chris Riddell, Cressida Cowell, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Jackie Kay and Julia Donaldson.
CBeebies: Alphablocks
Early and First Level
The Alphablocks website contains games, songs and videos to support phonological awareness. Also contains links to full episodes via BBC iPlayer. Each episode has a specific phonics focus.
ICT Games
Early and First Level
ICT Games has a range of literacy games and activities designed for 5 – 8 year olds. These include activities to develop phonics, spelling, reading and writing. This website can be accessed using a desktop, laptop or tablet.
Pearson Primary Support
Early to Second Level
Pearson are providing schools and teachers with free access to a wide range of literacy resources. Register your school via this link:
https://www.pearson.com/uk/educators/schools/update-for-schools/primary-support.html
Resources available via this access include Bug Club Phonics, Bug Club, Rapid Reading, Rapid Phonics, Grammar and Spelling Bug, Power English Writing and Wordsmith.
Teach Your Monster to Read
Early and First Level
Teach Your Monster to Read includes a range of phonics and reading activities. Ideal for children in the very early stages of learning to read or for consolidation of prior learning. Includes a range of essential reading skills; matching letters to sounds, blending, segmenting, tricky words and reading full sentences.
Oxford Owl: Free eBook Library
Early to Second Level
Free eBook collection for children aged 3 – 11. Over 100 free eBooks available. Registration required but books available include audio books, biographies, dictionaries and flashcards/activities.
Pobble 365
First Level to Third Level
Pobble 365 inspires pupils to write creatively through the use of thought provoking images. There are 365 images available – one for each day of the year. Images are relevant to a range of genres – fairytales, superheroes, mythical creatures and much more. A range of activities are available to accompany each image.
Studyladder
Early to Second Level
Studyladder has a range of games and activities available to access free of charge after initial registration. Various aspects of literacy are explored including phonics, spelling, grammar and punctuation.
CommonLit
First to Higher Level
CommonLit contains activities that promote reading, writing, communication and problem-solving skills. Over 2,000 high-quality free reading passages and associated activities are available. Registration required. This is an American site which is linked to the American core curriculum. As such, caution should be exercised over the passages selected for use with pupils due to American spellings etc.
Crickweb
Early to Second Level
Crickweb has 252 free educational interactive teaching resources and activities designed for primary schools. There are also 84 free to use games and activities for children aged 4 – 11 (approx.)
