CONTENTS

Before the Lesson

Welcome to Hero Academy 3

Join the Lesson: Instructions 4

Online Activities 5

Make Your Own Hero Academy Badge 6

During the Lesson

Create Your Own Superhero 7

Create Your Own Villain 8

Setting Generator 9

After the Lesson

Your Superhero Story 10

Make Your Story into a Comic Strip 11

Reading Corner and Registration Ideas 12

Keep Updated on Social Media 13

FOR SUPER
TEACHERS
Welcome to Hero Academy

Hero Academy is a brand new reading series set in a school for

superheroes for Reception-Year 2/Primary 1-3 to inspire young readers’
imaginations and turn them into reading superheroes.

Hero Academy is fully-decodable and finely leveled to ensure that all

children can access the series. It includes flexible teaching notes to
support guided, one-to-one and independent reading as your children
embed their whole-class phonics teaching.

Downloadable matching Curriculum Charts on

Oxford Owl for all UK curriculam.
Visit www.oxfordowl.co.uk for more information

Oxford Level 6 Oxford Level 9 Oxford Level 3

Oxford Level 12

Book Band Orange Book Band Gold Book Band Yellow Book Band Lime+

The Nosy Cook The Champion’s Cup Zoom Food Catnapped

Written by Vivian French Written by Benjamin Scott Written by Liz Miles Written by Paul Stewart
Teaching notes written by Nikki Elliston Teaching notes written by Nikki Elliston Teaching notes written by Nikki Elliston Teaching notes written by Nikki Elliston

Story summary Story summary Story summary Story summary

A new cook arrives to replace Mrs Butterworth who is unwell. Cam discovers that she is a robot spy who has been Cam, Evan and the other heroes compete to win the Champion’s Cup that’s hidden in Lexis City Wildlife Park, Jin wants to be as fast as Ben, so he asks Mrs Butterworth to help Slink has gone missing. Pip receives a message that someone has
him make some zoom food. However, Jin eats too found him, but when she goes to investigate,
sent to find out the school’s secrets. but arch-enemy Ray Ranter wants the cup too! much and can’t stop. Who will come to his rescue? she finds Ray Ranter holding a cage with Slink in it! Pip faces a dilemma
of rescuing Slink or stopping a bridge from
Additional resources: Photocopiable master (PCM) 22: Mrs Butterworth’s collapsing. Luckily, Pip reacts quickly to save the day!
Additional resources: Photocopiable master (PCM) 22: Feelings fan; PCM 29: Sorting grid; PCM 30: Ask me Additional resources: Photocopiable master (PCM) 37: Think, say, feel; PCM 38: Character emotions register; cook book.
about … tokens. memory box/chest containing a leaflet or ticket for a local wildlife park/zoo. Additional resources: Photocopiable master (PCM) 48: Speech bubble;
PCM 50: Thought bubble; PCM 51:
Storyboard grid; display of Hero Academy super villains; ‘Ask me!’
tokens (p32 of this handbook).
Phonics and vocabulary checker*
Phonics and vocabulary checker* Phonics and vocabulary checker*
Phonics
Phonics Developing vocabulary
Phonics Developing vocabulary
Focus GPCs
Developing vocabulary Vocabulary checker*
oo (look), oo (zooms), ar, or, ur Mrs Butterworth, zoom,
Alternative spellings /e/ (a, ai), /l/ (il, le, al), /w/ (u), /f/ (ffe), /ng/ (ngue), /air/ (ar, eir), engraved, sprinted, Developing vocabulary
Focus GPCs Alternative pronunciations: y /igh/, /ee/, /i/, ch /c/, g, /j/, ey /ai/ muttered, pantry, Decodable words book, books, look, looks, cook, good, zoom, zooms, fast, beetroot, burst of potential, villainy, reinforced, wretched, thwart, sauntered, sneered,
/ai/ (ea, aigh), /ur/ (our, ere), /igh/ (eye) tiresome, tensed, hurtled, hot pursuit
Alternative spellings: /c/ (c, k, ck, ch), /f/ (ph), /v/ (ve), /w/ (wh), triumph, celebrate food, beetroot, spoon, too, shoots, dart, stars, for, speed, past, pull Apostrophes
troublesome e.g.
Decodable words e.g. (a) any, (ai) said, (il) pupil, (le) possible, (al) normal, (u) penguin, popcorn, turnip, burst, slurps, turn, turns
/e/ (ea), /ow/ (ou)
(ffe) giraffe, (ngue) tongue, (ar) ordinary, (eir) their, (ea) great, (aigh) Common words Contractions: can’t, couldn’t, didn’t, don’t, hadn’t, he’d, he’ll, he’s,
Decodable words e.g. /igh/ why, /ee/ nosy, /c/ school, /j/ giraffe, /ai/ grey look, for I’d, I’ll, I’m, it’s, I’ve, let’s, she’d,
straight, (our) colours, (ere) were, (eye) eyes. something’s, that’s, they’re, we’ll, we’d, we’re, won’t, wouldn’t, you’re
Common exception/irregular words my, you
e.g. (c) can, (k) Baker, (ck) back, (ch) school, (ph) Philippa, (ve) have, (wh)
(‘tricky’ words) Singular possession: Boost’s, Miss Linen’s, Mr Trainer’s, Ray Ranter’s,
who, (ea) head, (ou) out Slink’s, Swoop’s
Common words by, once, very Curriculum links and assessment
Oxford Reading Criterion Scale: Assessment Standard 3 Curriculum links and assessment Curriculum links and assessment
Curriculum links and assessment Oxford Reading Criterion Scale: Assessment Standard 1 Oxford Reading Criterion Scale: Assessment Standard 3
No. Criteria Assessment pointers in this story
Oxford Reading Criterion Scale: Assessment Standard 2 8 Can compare similarities and differences between texts Check children can talk about the villain and his helpers, No. Criteria Assessment pointers in this story
No. Criteria Assessment pointers in this story
in terms of characters, settings and themes. (D/E) whether they’ve encountered them in other stories, and 14 Can read words with contractions (e.g. I’m, I’ll,
19 Can read words with some vowel digraphs e.g. /ai/ Check children can read words containing the contractions
No. Criteria Assessment pointers in this story what happened. Check children can blend to read the decodable words listed we’ll, he’s) and understands that the apostrophe
/ee/ /igh/ /oa/ /oo/. (READ) listed.
9 Can provide simple explanations about events Check children can say why the bunny-wunny was choosing the correct pronunciation for the ‘oo’ grapheme. represents the omitted letter(s). (READ)
16 Can retell an unknown story (unfamiliar before Check children can use the story map on p24 to 20
or information, e.g. why a character acted in a hiding behind the bush (p7). Can talk about main points or key events in a Check children can retell the story using the story map on 21 Can talk about how different words and phrases
first reading) using beginning, middle and end. (R) summarize the key events in the story. Check children can talk about the word catnapped how this is
particular way. (D) simple text. (R) p16. affect meaning, including the use of some simple
21 Can locate specific information on a given page in Check children understand why Cam thinks Philippa a variant of kidnapped and what the new word means.
13 Can use syllables to read unknown polysyllabic words, Check children can read polysyllabic words, 22 Can read almost all the YR high-frequency words. literary language (alliteration). (E)
response to a question. (R) is nosy. Check children can read the common words in the story.
e.g. un-im-por-tant. (READ) e.g. champion’s. (READ) 22 Can discuss reasons for events in stories by
23 Can comment on obvious characteristics and Check children can comment on why they think Philippa Check children can understand the visual flashback and
15 Can read aloud with intonation, taking into account a Check children can read with expression and intonation 23 Knows the function of full stops when reading beginning to use clues in the story. (D)
isn’t a real person. Check children can read with expression, correctly explain how Slink was captured (p17).
actions of characters in stories. (D) wider range of punctuation (. ? ! , ). (READ) when reading aloud the final chapter. and shows this in their reading aloud. (READ) emphasizing the full stop. 23 Is beginning to read between the lines, using Check children can find clues as to who catnapped Slink and
25 Uses phonics first when encountering unfamiliar Check children can read unfamiliar words with the clues from text and illustrations, to discuss what their motives could be.
words. (READ) alternative pronunciations and alternative spellings thoughts, feelings and actions. (D)
listed.

Find Find
Find
Hero Academy on Hero Academy on Find
Hero Academy on
Oxford Reading Oxford Reading Hero Academy on
Oxford Reading
Buddy Buddy Oxford Reading
Buddy
Buddy

oxfordreadingbuddy.com *A full phonic breakdown can be found in the Hero Academy Reception/Primary oxfordreadingbuddy.com
For a full phonic breakdown see the Phonic and vocabulary overview section in this handbook.
*
oxfordreadingbuddy.com 1 Teaching Handbook.
*A full phonic breakdown can be found in the Hero Academy Year 2/Primary 3 Teaching Handbook. *A full vocabulary breakdown can be found in the Hero Academy
Year 2/Primary 3 Teaching Handbook. oxfordreadingbuddy.com
© Oxford University Press 2018. No sharing, copying or adaptation
© Oxford University Press 2018. No sharing, copying or adaptation of materials permitted except by subscribers to Oxford Owl. www.oxfordowl.co.uk of materials permitted except by subscribers to Oxford Owl. www.oxfordowl.co.uk
© Oxford University Press 2018. No sharing, copying or adaptation of materials permitted except by subscribers to Oxford Owl. www.oxfordowl.co.uk © Oxford University Press 2018. No sharing, copying or adaptation
of materials permitted except by subscribers to Oxford Owl. www.oxfordowl.co.uk

3
 elcome to Hero Academy!
About our series editors
FOR SUPER
TEACHERS How to Join the Lesson
Chris Riddell
Chris Riddell is the creator of an extraordinary range
of books which have won many illustration awards
including the UNESCO Prize, the Greenaway Medal
(on three occasions) and the Hay Festival Medal for
This Hero
Illustration. His workAcademy activityand the
includes Ottoline titles, pack is designed to be used alongside
Goth Girl series, the first book of which won the Costa
theBook
Children’s Hero Award.Academy Online
Chris has also achievedLesson.
global Featuring the Hero Academy
successseries
through his editors,
New York world-famous
Times best-selling author Paul Stewart and former
collaboration on The Edge Chronicles with Paul Stewart
and through Children’s Laureate
his illustrated works with otherChris Riddell, the lesson is the perfect
high-profile
figures including Neil Gaiman
introduction and the Academy
to Hero comedian and will get them thinking about

Welcome to Hero Academy!

Russell Brand. Chris was the Waterstones Children’s
Laureate 2015–2017 and how wasto create
appointed Book their
Trust’sown super characters!

eries editorsfirst official ambassador in 2017. He lives and works

in Brighton.

Paul Stewart
extraordinaryPaul Stewart is an international star who has written
range
everything
llustration awards from picture books to football stories,
Greenaway Medalfantasy and horror, and his collaboration with Chris
for on The Edge Chronicles has made him a
Riddell
y Festival Medal
toline titles, and the in both the UK and USA. A graduate of
bestseller
which won the Lancaster
Costa University and of the University of East
also achieved globalcreative writing course, Paul taught English
Anglia’s
as a foreign language in Sri-Lanka and worked as a
mes best-selling
cles with Paulprimary
Stewartschool teacher in England before becoming
a full-time writer. He has travelled extensively in
with other high-profile
d the comedianWestern Europe, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, the
United States and East Africa. Paul now lives in
erstones Children’s
pointed BookBrighton
Trust’s with his wife and their two children.
. He lives and works
Chris Riddell Paul Stewart

If you want to watch the online lesson LIVE then tune in to the Oxford
star who has written
football stories,
Education YouTube channel on Friday 5th October at 2pm (GMT).
boration with Chris
as made him a
A. A graduate ofDon’t worry if you can’t make it, the video will remain on our channel
University of East
and you can share it with your pupils at a time that suits your timetable.
Paul taught English
a and worked as a
nd before becoming
d extensively in
, Australia, the
ul now lives in
wo children.
If you’re joining us LIVE, make sure you’re subscribed to the Oxford
Education YouTube channel and you’ve clicked the bell icon so that
you’ll receive a notification when the online lesson is LIVE.
www.youtube.com/oxfordeducation
7

4
FOR SUPER
TEACHERS Before the Lesson
TIPS FOR HOLDING A SUPERHERO DISCUSSION
• Discuss superheroes that they already know.

• Tease out what heroes have in common: what specific talents, skills or strengths
they have; what they wear; what special gadgets and machines they use; how
they overcome baddies and make sure everyone is safe.

• Find out what superpowers children would have if they could choose their
own and why. Share what superpower you would want!

SOME SUPER HERO ACTIVITIES TO TRY...

Make your own Hero Academy mask

Make a Hero Mask You will need:

a piece of card
felt-tip pens or crayons

Get children to create their own super disguise

scissors
some elastic.

with this easy cut-out mask with materials in the Ask an adult
to help you.

classroom.

Go to:
pinterest.co.uk/oxfordeducation/project-x/ 26

hero-academy/

Make a Hero Cape

Look like a superhero with our easy
cape-making arts and craft idea here.

Go to: pinterest.co.uk/oxfordeducation/
project-x/hero-academy/

Take Our Hero Quiz

Are you confident and competitive like Pip or
shy and sporty like Axel? You and your pupils
can take this quiz to find out which Hero
Academy character you are most like.

Go to: qzzr.com/c/quiz/464713/which-hero-
academy-superhero-are-you

5
 FOR
YOUNG Make Your Own Hero
HEROES
Academy Badge
Make your own Hero Aca
Make youryour
Make own HeroHero
Academy badge
Make your ownown Academy
Hero Academy badge
badge
Make
Ready to enrol into your
Hero own Hero
Academy? YouAcademy
will need: badge
You willYouneed:
will need: an adult to help you
You will
an adult need:
to helpto you a piece of paper
an
You toadult
will need: help you
an adult
a pieceaof help
paper you felt-tip pens or crayons
You will need afelt-tip
abadge
piecean to
piece
ofadult
penspaper
or
felt-tip
oftobe
helpayou
paper
crayons
pens or
part
crayons
ofscissors
this
felt-tipapens
piece
orof paper
crayons
exclusive school for
scissors
superheroes!
scissors
felt-tip
scissorstape.
sticky
pens or crayons
sticky tape.
sticky
scissorstape.
sticky tape.
sticky tape.
You will need: 1. Trace the shield 2. Colour the shield’s
• an adult to help you shape below onto 1. Trace the shield shape
outline in blue,and 2.
1. Trace the shield
the shape 2. Colour
above Colour
on to
the the
thepaper.
shield's
• a piece of paper Trace1. the the2.rest
Trace
the paper. shield shape of the shield's
1. above on shield
to
above the shape
paper.
on to the paper.
2. outline
Colour the
in shield's
blue,
outline and theand the
in blue,
• felt-tip pens or crayonsabove1. on
Trace the
to the shield
paper. shape 2.
shield
outline Colour
inin
rest of rest
the
red.
blue,
the shield andshield's
in the
red.
above on to the paper. of the
outline in shield
blue, in red.
and the
• scissors rest of the shield in red.
rest of the shield in red.
• sticky tape

3. Cut along the lines of

3. Cut along Cut
3.3.Cut the lines
along
along of
the
the lines
lines of 4.the
Use 4.the
shield.
Usetape
theUse
4. tape
to thetotape to
3.the shield.
Cut along the lines of 4. stick the
Use the tape to
shield
of the
the
3. Cut
the shield. along shield.
shield. the lines of stick the
stickshield
4. stick
Use onto
thetape
the shield
to
on tothe
your
on
shield
top.
to your top.
the shield. your top. sticktop.
on to your the shield
on to your top.

8
8
8
8
8

Ch
can ildren
own write th
na ei
badg me on r
t
mad e or the he
e-up ir
nam super
e!

6
 Create Your Own Superhero
FOR
YOUNG
HEROES

Create your own superhero by filling in the below,

just like Nisha!

Superpower: ........................ Draw your superhero:

....................................................

Hobbies: ................................

....................................................

Likes: ......................................

...................................................

Dislikes: ................................

...................................................

7
 WANTED
FOR
YOUNG
HEROES

Draw your villain:

VILLIAN NAME
...................................................................................................................................

HOBBIES LIKES AND DISLIKES

............................................................. .............................................................
............................................................. .............................................................
............................................................. .............................................................

SUPERPOWER FAVOURITE HIDEOUT

............................................................. .............................................................
............................................................. .............................................................
............................................................. .............................................................

REWARD:
.....................................................
8
 FOR
YOUNG Setting Generator
HEROES

Circle one word from each column to help you

create the setting for your own superhero story

PLACE TIME WEATHER

city morning sunny

park after school snowy

school night-time windy

beach lunch-time rainy

Add your own: Add your own: Add your own:

...................... ...................... ......................

9
 FOR
YOUNG Your Superhero Story
HEROES

Time to put your planning together to create

your story using:
• Your superhero you created from page 7
• Your villain you created from page 8
• The setting generator from page 9

What does your villain want most and how will

they achieve it?

..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................

How does your superhero use their superpower

to stop the villain?

..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................

What happens to your villain in the end?

..........................................................................................................................

..........................................................................................................................

10
 FOR
YOUNG Make Your Story into a
HEROES
Comic Strip

Draw your story in the grid below.

Beginning

Middle

End

11
FOR SUPER
TEACHERS Stimulate the Love for
Superheroes...
Reading Corner Ideas
Your class and corridor reading areas are a great starting point for inspiring
pupils.

Display pictures of the characters they will meet in the books

Select children’s comments to add to the display

Make some this superhero is reading cloaks for your book area.
See the Make a Hero Cape activity on page 4 of this pack.

Get the children to make their own superhero bookmarks. You can find
this activity in the Hero Academy Reception and Year 1/P1-P2 Teacher’s
Handbook on page 17.

Display
pictures of the
characters Superhero
reading
capes
Children’s
comments

Registration
Have a hero-themed registration:
• ask children to practise their
favourite superhero/power pose
when their name is called
• have themed name badges
• start the day with a superhero quiz or
fact.

12
 Want More Hero Academy
FOR SUPER
TEACHERS activities?

Find lots of downloadable Hero

Academy print-outs for decorating
your classrooms and reading
corners as well as online activities to
captivate young readers.
www.pinterest.co.uk/
oxfordeducation/heroacademy

Join our community of teachers to keep updated with Oxford Primary news
and support and to connect with other teachers nationwide.
www.facebook.com/oxfordeducationuk/

Try a Hero Academy sample lesson on

Oxford Owl to try out how the Hero
Academy series could be used in your class.

Sample lesson includes:

• ebook
• guided reading notes
• independent reading activity
• guidance for one-to-one sessions

13
 Find out more
www.oxford primary.co.uk/heroacademy

web www.oxfordprimary.co.uk tel 01536 452610

For more support, visit www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-school
email primary.enquiries@oup.com fax 01865 313472