I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
Ready-to-teach and easily adaptable 1 hour lesson on complex sentences. This lesson teaches students how to write complex sentences and how to move the dependent clause to different parts of the sentence accurately.
This lesson was designed for key stage 3, but could easily be adapted for key stage 2 or key stage 4 depending on the ability!
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An engaging and detailed quiz Powerpoint containing 30 questions and answers to question students on their general knowledge about books - both classic and modern! There are four rounds in total over 41 PowerPoint slides: three question rounds and one round in which students make up their own riddles. This is ideal for World Book Day.
This is aimed at secondary age students both in key stage 3 and key stage 4. There is a range of difficulty of questions covering books from Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Harry Potter to Sophie’s World and Animal Farm. The Powerpoint and is editable so that you can remove and alter questions to suit your students.
The Rounds
Round One: Book titles (these questions have various levels of scaffolding so that there is a range of difficulty).
Round Two: Characters and Settings
Round Three: Book Covers
This lesson works well for Book Day or for an end of term English or form time lesson.
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Fully resourced and ready-to-teach 1 hour lesson which leads students towards writing a poem about an everyday object using personification.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students. It is best suited to students who already know what personification is but need to practise using it effectively.
This lesson includes:
Explanation of personification
Differentiated learning outcomes
An extract from ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman with questions for students to consider the effect of the personification.
Structured peer assessment.
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This support mat/knowledge organiser is designed to help students in their independent literary textual analysis. It contains the following sections:
Annotation
Sentence starters for comparing/contrasting, introducing new information etc.
How to embed quotes within sentences
A checklist for outstanding analysis.
I use the checklist to help when giving students feedback (which is why they are coded by letters). I would then give students a specific letter to be their target for their next attempt.
I have included the file as a pdf for easy printing, and also as a ppt file so that you can edit it in line with your own teaching methods if you wish.
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Detailed character profiles for five of the main characters in The Merchant of Venice: Antonio, Bassanio, Shylock, Portia and Jessica. These profiles contain a description of each character and some of their important quotes. They could be used for revision or for learning about the characters before reading the play.
If you would like the lesson which includes these character profiles, click here.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A fully-resourced one hour lesson to guide students through annotating an extract from Lady Macbeth’s soliloquy in act 1 scene 5 of Macbeth by Shakespeare.
This resource includes:
a full Powerpoint including all teacher instructions that is ready to download and teach straight away.
a photo of an example annotation
a printable version of the extract which includes a glossary for key words.
For detailed character profiles, please click here.
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In this lesson, students are guided through the court room scene in Act 4 Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice. Students will consider the implications of justice and mercy and then consider how a Shakespearean audience would have viewed Shylock’s fate as compared to a modern one.
Learning Objective: Compare and contrast how a Shakespearean audience and a modern audience would respond to the trial scene in Act 4.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will discuss the implications of justice and mercy in practice.
Students will answer comprehension questions about Act 4 Scene 1.
Students will compare the response of a Shakespearean audience with a modern audience to Shylock’s fate.
Students will write a paragraph to address the question of to what extent do they feel pity for Shylock.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Students write their ideas on a post-it note examining a quote by the Duke about Shylock.
Starter: Introduction to key vocabulary (justice and mercy) and discussion around them.
Activity 1: Read and discuss a summary/extracts from Act 4 Scene 1. Questions are interspersed.
Activity 2: Class discussion exercise. Students share their opinions on to the extent that feel sorry for Shylock followed by an outline of the contextual differences between a Shakespearean and a modern audience.
Plenary: Students write a paragraph to answer this question: “Shylock is the true victim of The Merchant of Venice”. To what extent do you agree with this statement?”
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A 35 question quiz on The Merchant of Venice! This quiz has four rounds: characters, quotes, the casket tests and literary techniques. Many questions are multiple choice to scaffold learners and the quiz includes a range of more accessible and more challenging questions.
More Merchant of Venice Resources:
A complete bundle of resources for The Merchant of Venice which includes lessons to take you through the entire play, a quiz, knowledge organiser and revision posters. .
This bundle includes:
1) A 40 Question Shakespeare Quiz
2) Introduction to Characters and Themes in The Merchant of Venice
3) Act 1 Scene 1 (Antonio and Bassanio)
4) Portia’s Choice in Act 1 Scene 2 (FREE)
5) Shakespeare’s Portrayal of Shylock in Act 1 Scene 3
6) Jessica’s Character in Act 2 Scenes 1-3
7) The Casket Test in Act 2 Scene 7
8) Shylock’s Portrayal in Act 2 Scene 8
9) Prince Arragon in Act 2 Scene 9
10) Interpretations of Shylock in Act 3 Scene 1
11) Dramatic Irony in the Casket Scene in Act 3 Scene 2
12) Independently Interpreting Shakespeare Using Act 3 Scenes 3-5
13) Act 4: The Courtroom Scene
14) Evaluate the Ending of the Play in Act 5
15) A 35-Question Quiz on the Play with Answers Included
16) A knowledge organiser with key information for studying the play.
Merchant of Venice Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
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A fully-resourced one hour lesson to support students in exploring different interpretations of Shylock through the analysis of his “Hath not a Jew” monologue.
Learning Objective: Consider different interpretations of Shylock in Act 3 Scene 1.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will use a worksheet to independently analyse Shylock’s speech to find language devices and consider their effect.
Students will consider the multiple ways that Shylock’s character can be interpreted in this scene.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Students complete questions individually on definitions of tension and suspense.
Starter: Summary of Act 3 Scene 1 followed by reading of Shylock’s speech.
Activity one: Students individually analyse the scene using the worksheet followed by class discussion and suggested answers.
Activity two: Watch different interpretations of Shylock’s monologue followed by discussion of what different emotions they portray.
Plenary: Students perform excerpts of the speech applying different emotions to it each time.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A detailed knowledge organiser to support students studying ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare.
It includes the following:
A brief section on William Shakespeare
Key quotes and explanation of their importance
Overview of all the important characters
Important literary terms for studying the play
This is suitable for any age group studying the play. It is an excellent resource to be used for setting homework, quizzing in classes or as a support mat.
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2 hours of engaging activities and discussion to introduce students to gender roles and gender equality. This could easily be split into 2 or 3 one-hour lessons. It is suitable for students in key stages 3 and 4. These resources are in-depth but made accessible by the different and fun activities.
This resource includes:
A detailed powerpoint with 2 hours of activities (22 slides).
All preparation instructions (these resources are ready-to-teach, but some preparation is required).
A worksheet in ppt and pdf form.
The session covers three main questions. This could be split into three lessons each addressing one of the questions with very little adaptation required:
What is gender and what are gender roles?
What is the impact of gender roles and why does it matter?
What can we do to reduce gender inequality?
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A detailed lesson on Act 5 of The Merchant of Venice in which students are introduced to Freytag’s Pyramid so that they understand how the falling action leads to a resolution at the end of the play. They then consider which characters do or do not have a happy ending and write a review of the play.
Learning Objective: Evaluate the experience of different characters at the end of the play.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will be introduced to Freytag’s Pyramid and understand how the action falls towards the end of the play.
Students will read and discuss a summary of Act 5 scene 1.
Students will evaluate the experience of different characters at the ending of the play.
Students will write a review of the play.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Recall questions about Act 4
Starter: Introduction to Freytag’s Pyramid.
Activity one: Read and discuss summary of Act 5.
Activity two: Students complete a worksheet about whether the characters have a happy, sad or mixed ending. Students then swap and peer assess each other’s work.
Plenary: Students write a review of the play.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A fully-resourced one hour lesson to support students in exploring how Shakespeare uses dramatic irony in Act 3 Scene 2 to create tension as Bassanio chooses a casket. Students will be guided through and discuss the scene.
Learning Objective: Understand how Shakespeare uses dramatic irony to build tension in Act 3 Scene 2
Learning Outcomes:
-Students will experience dramatic irony through a class demonstration.
Students will understand how dramatic irony can be used for humour or to create tension.
Students will discuss Act 3 Scene 2 and interpret the meaning of Shakespearean language.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Recall questions about the casket tests from Act 2.
Starter: Dramatic irony explanation and examples.
Activity one: Think – pair – share after students watch and discuss two examples of dramatic irony.
Activity two: Summary of scene with discussion and interpretation tasks interspersed.
Plenary: Students answer questions on mini-whiteboards or scrap paper.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A fully-resourced one hour lesson to guide students through analysing the persuasive techniques used by Lady Macbeth in act 1 scene 7 of Macbeth.
This resource includes:
a full Powerpoint including all teacher instructions that is ready to download and teach straight away.
a ready-to-print worksheet.
For detailed character profiles, please click here.
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A fully-resourced one hour lesson to support students in exploring the casket test in Act 2 Scene 7 of The Merchant of Venice. Students will be guided through the reading of the scene and then creatively respond by predicting what they believe will be in the other incorrect casket.
Learning Objective: Explore the casket test for Portia’s suitors.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will read summaries of Act 2 Scenes 4-6 and complete recall questions.
-Students will be guided through the reading of Act 2 Scene 7 and consider the reasons the Prince gives for rejecting or choosing each casket.
-Students will creatively respond to the scene by predicting what will be in the remaining incorrect casket.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Match the character description to the name.
Starter: Summary of Act 2 Scenes 4-6 followed by recall questions and think-pair-share to consider Shylock’s reaction.
Activity one: Guided reading of the scene with student questions interspersed.
Activity two: Students creatively predict what will be inside the other incorrect casket.
Plenary: Act 2 Scene 7 ends with Portia saying “a gentle riddance” as she is happy to see the Prince leave. Why do you think she says this? Is it because she doesn’t want to marry the Prince specifically or is there another reason?
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A fully-resourced one hour lesson to support students in exploring the question of ‘to what extent was Shakespeare Anti-Semitic in his writing of The Merchant of Venice?’ Students will be guided through a class discussion and then work in pairs to unpack the language in act 2 scene 8.
Learning Objective: Consider to what extent Shakespeare’s portrayal of Shylock is anti-Semitic.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will learn key vocabulary such as cultural context, stereotype etc.
Students will be introduced to the cultural context of anti-Semitism in Elizabethan England and in Venice.
Students will work in pairs to analyse the language in act 2 scene 8.
Students will write a PEE question on Shakespeare and anti-Semitism.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Match the key terms to the definition.
Starter: Cultural context of anti-Semitism in Jacobean society.
Activity one: Reading Act 2 Scene 8 and discussion questions.
Activity two: Students work individually or in pairs to complete the worksheet.
Plenary: Write a PEE paragraph to answer the question ‘to what extent do you think Shakespeare was anti-Semitic?’
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A fully-resourced one hour lesson to support students in exploring the question of ‘how is Prince Arragon presented in The Merchant of Venice?’ Students will be guided through a class discussion of the scene and then will complete a slow writing PETER paragraph on Prince Arragon.
Learning Objective: Write an analytical paragraph about how the Prince of Arragon is presented in Act 2 Scene 9.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will consider the morphology of the word ‘analysis’.
-Students will unpick the meaning of Act 2 Scene 8 with teacher support.
-Students will be guided through how to write a PETER analytical paragraph.
Students will write predictions about what will come next in the play.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Recall questions about the first casket in act 2 scene 7
Starter: Think – pair – share about the meaning of the word ‘analysis’ followed by morphological explanation of the word.
Activity one: Class discussion and reading of Act 2 Scene 9 to support students in unpicking the meaning of the text.
Activity two: Slow writing of PETER paragraph to answer the question of ‘how is the Prince of Arragon portrayed?’
Peer Assessment
Plenary: Based on selected points, students write a prediction for what will happen next in the play.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
In this comprehensive lesson, students are guided through how to understand and interpret Shakespeare independently using word roots and context clues to unpick meanings of familiar words. They will work through Act 3 Scenes 3-5 with varying levels of support.
Learning Objective: Independently comprehend and interpret scenes from The Merchant of Venice
Learning Outcomes:
-Students will be guided through how to comprehend and decipher Shakespearean English using word roots and context clues.
Students will work both in pairs and individually to interpret scenes.
Students will make a prediction about what will happen next in the play.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Students infer details from image.
Starter: Overview of differences between Shakespearean and modern English.
Task one: Teacher modelling of how to interpret Act 3 Scene 3.
Task two: Students work in pairs to interpret Act 3 Scene 4.
Task three: Students work individually to interpret Act 3 Scene 5.
Plenary: Students predict what will happen next in the play.
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
An hour long engaging lesson in which students are introduced to the main characters and themes in Macbeth. Through individual and group work, students will practise reading skills - in particular comprehension, inference and summarising - and collaborate with each other to share information that they have gleaned from profiles about the key characters in the play.
Students will also be shown images representing Macbeth and prompted to infer themes they think will be evident in the play.
Learning Objective: Get to know the main characters and themes in Macbeth.
Learning Outcomes:
Find and highlight key information about your character in the play.
Re-write information about your character and share it with others in your own words.
Question others about their characters and make connections between different characters.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think – Pair – Share question about ambition
Starter: Students look at five images representing Macbeth and infer themes from them.
Activity one: Students are assigned a character from Macbeth. They read the information sheet and take bullet points notes in their graphic organiser.
Activity two: Students circulate around the room swapping facts until they have completed all five character profiles.
Plenary: Mini quiz based on the characters in the lesson.
This lesson contains a 16-slide PowerPoint and five printable character profiles.
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A fully-resourced and differentiated lesson to teach students what an infographic is and the purpose of one.
I have used this lesson both in teaching English (looking at purposes of texts or for a way to present student research) or as part of teaching GCSE Media Studies.
I have included it as one-lesson but it could easily be split into multiple lessons in which students research a chosen topic and then create a final version of their own infographic.
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