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Creative Resources for English & Drama

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Hello and welcome to my little shop of resources. I'm a qualified teacher at both primary and secondary level (UK), with over ten years of teaching experience. You will find that many of the resources have an emphasis on student-led learning with opportunities for discussion, group work, creative writing and drama activities where appropriate. I hope my resources will save you lots of time and keep you inspired. Good luck!

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Hello and welcome to my little shop of resources. I'm a qualified teacher at both primary and secondary level (UK), with over ten years of teaching experience. You will find that many of the resources have an emphasis on student-led learning with opportunities for discussion, group work, creative writing and drama activities where appropriate. I hope my resources will save you lots of time and keep you inspired. Good luck!
Harkhuf the First Explorer - History/Literacy tasks for Ancient Egypt topic
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Harkhuf the First Explorer - History/Literacy tasks for Ancient Egypt topic

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Based on Laura Marshall's book, 'Harkhuf the First Explorer' (available on Amazon), these resources are aimed at teachers of Key Stage 2 and 3. Whether you are studying Ancient Egypt for topic work or have pupils who remain inspired by the period, these free resources could help kick-start your lessons. Included here are: - A basic scheme of work - A Powerpoint presentation with a History and Literacy focus - A synonym worksheet based on an extract from the book - An editable storyboard which class teachers can adapt according to the ability level of their pupils - Spelling labels - Differentiated planning handouts - Images for classroom display use only Follow the author on Twitter @steelyreserve Facebook Page: Harkhuf the First Explorer Schools and teachers, please contact via the Facebook page for bulk discounts, school visits and other offers
Leave Taking by Winsome Pinnock - Gap Fill Activity
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Leave Taking by Winsome Pinnock - Gap Fill Activity

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A scene-by-scene gap fill activity for this new GCSE Literature text, with room for notes on language, form, structure and context. Best printed on A3 paper. Suitable to be set as a cover lesson, with Scene 3 modeled for students. Extension task: Set design.
The Day the Crayons Quit PPT KS1
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The Day the Crayons Quit PPT KS1

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This Powerpoint presentation contains prompts for discussion surrounding Drew Daywalt's 'The Day the Crayons Quit'. There are literacy tasks here you won't find anywhere else and yet the presentation is compatible with existing schemes of work. It is hoped that the presentation will provide a colourful springboard for working from this excellent book for Key Stage One.
What's Your Problem? - Narrative Stories
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What's Your Problem? - Narrative Stories

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To plan a narrative (story) using problems and resolutions This basic lesson plan and presentation provide a springboard for looking at narrative stories in a different way. Pupils at Key Stage 2 and 3 are often very good at writing descriptively but struggle to structure their writing in an engaging way and are often in a rush to finish their work. By beginning with the “problem” of the story, pupils are able to work from the middle and then flesh out ideas for their characters, setting and resolution. The presentation also includes some work on conjunctions in order to boost literacy at sentence level.
Madame Doubtfire
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Madame Doubtfire

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This powerpoint presentation on Madame Doubtfire contains thematic analysis and consideration of the writer’s viewpoint and techniques. There is also a drama task and a reading assessment task. For the drama task, I have also included a “job descriptions” sheet in order to make each pupil’s role very clear. Incidentally, this is good preparation for Key Stage 4 Drama where pupils will need to work in a similar collaborative manner and reflect on their process. I have also included some essential linguistic terms for literary analysis.
Relationship cluster – AQA poetry
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Relationship cluster – AQA poetry

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This unit of work provides a basis for teaching the old spec AQA poetry curriculum for the Relationships cluster of the Moon on the Tides anthology. This is only suitable for teachers still using the old spec so 2015 will be the last year that this PPT can be used. There are suggested learning objectives for approximately half a term of teaching for high ability pupils with success criteria provided for some lessons. For example, pupils are asked to compare two poems by Carol Ann Duffy ('Hour' and 'Quickdraw') with particular attention to techniques and their effect on the reader. Pupils are also asked to consider some unseen poetry. For extension activities, pupils are encouraged to explore writing their own poetry and to think about song lyrics as being poetry. It is hoped that this will help to engage pupils more closely with the topics covered. Page numbers for the Moon on the Tides booklet have not been included, in case teachers are providing their own copies of the poems.

In summary, this resource is a starting point to enable pupils to:
- Compare poems in terms of their form, structure, techniques and effects
- Analyse unseen poems
- Structure their ideas in a logical sequence
- Consider human relationships and how the speaker interacts with the subject

It is not intended to be an exhaustive unit of work as it allows teachers to edit as they see fit, according to their individual needs and the needs of their pupils. As it is for higher ability groups, it is assumed that pupils will have a good working knowledge of poetic techniques, however I recommend compiling a revision list of key terms as part of your teaching of this module. GCSE, aged 14-16
Private Peaceful comprehension task based on film
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Private Peaceful comprehension task based on film

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Based on the first 20 minutes or so of the film, these questions will help to focus your Key Stage 3 pupils on the film of Private Peaceful. I recommend using the English subtitles on the film even for higher ability pupils. Pupils can answer on the sheet or in their exercise books using whole sentences. This could also be a useful homework task towards the end of the term/half-term.
Story Boxes creative writing task
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Story Boxes creative writing task

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This activity is a great ice breaker for new classes. You will need to create groups of 3-6 pupils. These can be mixed ability or with pupils of similar ability levels. Each group will need a box filled with random objects such as old watches, mirrors, swimming goggles, toy cars, happy families cards, Playmobil or Lego animals, foreign bank notes, postcards etc. Each group needs to come up with a story structure with a beginning, middle and ending and write their version of the story independently. It’s great for sharing ideas and allowing those that normally struggle with their imaginations to feel like they are part of the creative process. Ages 8 to 12, Key Stage 2 and 3, primary and secondary, creative writing
1984 vs The Handmaid's Tale - THEME OF TIME
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1984 vs The Handmaid's Tale - THEME OF TIME

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Starting with the concept of a palimpsest, AS/A Level pupils will explore language and ideas linked to the theme of time using drama activities, worksheets, fun extension activities and extended writing tasks. Recommended are “magic slates” for the starter (Amazon sells some cute cupcake-shaped ones in a pack of 8 which fit nicely with the extension task). Includes: 2 x lesson plans 3 x differentiated worksheets 1 unseen dystopian genre exam-style question
Mock papers for Jekyll and Hyde - New OCR style 9-1
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Mock papers for Jekyll and Hyde - New OCR style 9-1

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Three time-saving mock papers (featuring six essay questions in total) designed in the same style as the OCR exemplar materials, to get pupils thinking about the range of questions which they might encounter. Each paper contains an extract-based question, as well as an additional question where students are encouraged to focus on two key examples from the text. Topics covered: - Religious discourse - Gothic genre - Professional status - Structure - London - Duality
Stanislavsky - Concentration
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Stanislavsky - Concentration

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Linking practitioner work on Stanislavsky’s “concentration of attention” to KS3 work on evacuees through the use of props. Props listed can be substituted with any replicas of wartime objects that pupils can imbue with meaning for their evacuee character.
Dictionary Destruction vocabulary builder
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Dictionary Destruction vocabulary builder

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Learning objective: To sort words according to their class This is a task to be completed using old dictionaries that are falling apart or cheap dictionaries from shops such as The Works that are often on sale for £1. Pupils will delight in the opportunity to cut out words from the dictionary. It is also possible to cut out words in advance of the lesson if you think any behavioural issues could materialise. Pupils are asked to sort the words into their class (verb/noun/adjective) and to construct sentences using the vocabulary they encounter. Pupils are able to engage with vocabulary and grammar in a way that they would not normally be able to do. There is also an activity on the Powerpoint where pupils will design their own board game. This activity works well over two lessons at the end of term if you don't want to generate any more marking! You will need: Powerpoint presentation Old/cheap dictionaries Scissors Glue Worksheet with sorting table Grammar, vocabulary, Ages 8 to 12, Key Stage 2 and 3, primary and secondary
Sex in The Handmaid's Tale
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Sex in The Handmaid's Tale

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Exploring sexual politics in Margaret Atwood’s novel and critically evaluating the treatment of the theme This Powerpoint presentation asks a series of questions related to the theme of feminism and sexual politics to get students thinking more critically about the text. It would be suitable for use over the course one or two lessons. The presentation highlights key quotations and focuses analysis on key episodes and sub-themes. There are sample assessment questions to be used at the end of the session/s.
The Rotters' Club Chapter Summary Template
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The Rotters' Club Chapter Summary Template

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A resource to get students ready and motivated to summarize the plot points before further analysis. A great way to check up on overall knowledge and for group work to scaffold those falling behind with set reading.
KS3 'My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece' by Annabel Pitcher
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KS3 'My Sister Lives on The Mantelpiece' by Annabel Pitcher

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This is a loose unit of work based on the novel 'My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece' by Annabel Pitcher. The novel tackles difficult themes such as racism, alcoholism, parental separation and terrorism and has proved to be an extremely good book to open up discussion in the classroom. The Powerpoint presentation includes: - Lesson ideas with learning objectives - Opportunities for creative writing and drama activities inspired by the book - Related vocabulary for optional spelling tests - Success criteria for Levels 5 to 7. - Points for discussion for key chapters The novel could be taught as a cross-curricular link to the study of Islam or Christianity in Religious Studies. This Powerpoint gives pupils the opportunity to develop their speaking, listening, writing and reading skills. The novel is a good example of a contemporary work of fiction and will be a refreshing change for pupils at Key Stage 3 at all ability levels. I hope you and your class enjoy the book and that you have some interesting discussions!
'Never Let Me Go' chapter overview
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'Never Let Me Go' chapter overview

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A useful revision tool for KS5 pupils studying Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Never Let Me Go’. This resource comprises individual chapter summaries for all twenty three chapters and includes some pertinent quotations. It is hoped that this resource will save you several hours of PPA time as well as catalyse personal responses and analysis from your pupils.
'The Goldfish Boy' by Lisa Thompson - powerpoint
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'The Goldfish Boy' by Lisa Thompson - powerpoint

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Powerpoint slides to accompany class reading of Lisa Thompson’s wonderful novel ‘The Goldfish Boy’ about a young boy suffering with OCD after the death of his baby brother. The slides contain HOT questions to get HA Key Stage 2 and mixed ability Key Stage 3 pupils thinking about themes and characters. It is intended as a starting point for teachers tackling the novel who can then customize slides and add in appropriate tasks as they see fit.
The Day the Crayons Quit PPT
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The Day the Crayons Quit PPT

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This Powerpoint presentation contains prompts for discussion surrounding Drew Daywalt's 'The Day the Crayons Quit'. There are literacy tasks here you won't find anywhere else and yet the presentation is compatible with existing schemes of work. It is hoped that the presentation will provide a colorful springboard for working from this excellent book for elementary school pupils.
The Sign of the Four - CHAPTER OVERVIEW
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The Sign of the Four - CHAPTER OVERVIEW

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Intended as a revision tool for AQA English Literature GCSE, this table neatly outlines the plot summary in twelve columns, one for each chapter of Arthur Conan Doyle’s ‘The Sign of the Four’. It would make sense to print these as A3 revision sheets for each pupil. This overview could also be used to aid a dramatic interpretation of the text.