National Curriculum
National Literacy Strategy Framework of Objectives
Specific guidance: spelling conventions and rules

Year 5	Term 1 Objective 5
Year 5	Term 2 Objectives 4 & 6
Year 5	Term 3 Objective 5

Resources
Computer suite or cluster of internet-linked computers. It might be useful to print out and make copies of the Clue List in advance. 1 Clue List for every 2 pupils will suffice.

Teaching Activities

Introduction:
Explain to children that they are going to use the website to play a game while improving their spelling. (If the class has watched the BBC TV series 'Spell It Out', relate this to the Spellits' characters Eyes, Ears and Brain.) Once they're into the site, a little animation will introduce the game and engage the children in the dramatic story. The children can then work their way through the 8 spelling challenges either independently or in pairs. Each challenge has support mechanisms built in to help the children if they make a mistake.
The spelling challenges include:

Each time the children successfully complete a spelling activity they receive a clue which they can write down on their Clue Sheet. The children can work their way through the spelling activities in more than one session, recording the clues as they go along.

The 8 clues are as follows: Gypsy, fountain, copse, roses, picnic, carrots, halter and paddock.

These activities are best carried out with a partner which encourages the children to think and listen as they say the words.

Plenary
Once all the clues have been collected, the children should click on the Finished button and submit the clues to trigger the final animation which ends the story. This could be done as a whole class activity followed by a discussion on which of the rules taught in the game will be most useful in spelling tricky words in the future.