An introductory handout for pupils embarking upon study of the Odyssey, covering oral tradition and the background of the Trojan War, accompanied by a book-by-book summary of the text. I have used these resources at both GCSE and A-level.
Detailed context of Malala Yousafzai's UN Takeover inspirational/motivational speech, with fully annotated transcript for complete unit of study (I used this speech for GCSE Controlled Assessment in English Language).
Two study maps to be annotated with quotations from the poems and pupils' analysis, covering the possible AS1 examination question themes of The Past ('Mending Wall' by Robert Frost, and 'The Forge' and 'Bogland' by Seamus Heaney), and Childhood Experiences ('The Railway Children' by Heaney and 'Out- Out' by Frost).
Two study maps for pupils to complete: firstly, considering how typical Circe is of the characters whom Odysseus meets; and, secondly, a detailed study map on the theme of xenia, with a completed version for use as teacher's answers. I found that these worked well as whole-class discussion once pupils had formulated their own responses, either in groups or independently. I composed these maps with the purpose of pupils then using their outcomes as structured plans for writing practice essays.
Two study maps for pupils to complete, guiding them through the theme of fate in the Odyssey, then the role of the immortals in the text. Pupils can complete the maps independently as revision, or teachers can lead the class through them in lesson time. Alternatively, what worked well for me was getting pupils to work in groups to produce responses, then in whole-class discussion, each producing a final version of the study map for their use.
Examining the theme of strength and weakness in Thomas Hardy's short story, and how this reflects the time in which it was set, looking at the supernatural, social class and people, the environment, vanity, and criminal punishment, as well as possible links with Shakespeare's Macbeth as a comparative text.
A lesson where pupils look at exemplar POINT-EVIDENCE-EXPLANATION paragraphs (written by my previous pupils on 'Boy in the Striped Pyjamas', but the success criteria of structuring paragraphs can be applied to any text), then use a table of success criteria to evaluate them in groups. With the understanding of these success criteria, and having seen 'What a Good One Looks Like', pupils then self-evaluate and improve their own work.
Due to the size of the videos, the presentation has been split into two parts. This is a task to practise Personal Writing, giving pupils the opportunity to practise generating ideas, planning, and structuring their planning prior to writing an assessment piece for Personal Writing. Task is based upon 'your worst holiday experience'.
A presentation in two formats including 'On the Beach at Fontana' by James Joyce, 'Nettles' by Vernon Scannell, 'Rough' by Stephen Spender, and 'The Evacuee' by R. S. Thomas. Poems are accompanied by written activities (or, alternatively, can be completed in discussion or group work), leading up to a final Reading assessment.
To introduce the play, this presentation prompts pupils to think about the difference between the feelings characters display on the outside and what they feel on the inside, highlighting the key theme of what's real and what's fake. The presentation contains videos, so is split into three separate files.
When asked to teach a quick unit on just short stories, this is what I pulled together: contains lots of videos and excerpts to analyse and apply theories of structure, character description, setting, atmosphere, drafting, and conclusions, to pupils' own work.
An active lesson based upon the CCEA GCSE Literature past-paper unseen poem 'Earlswood' by Fleur Adcock. Print and cut out a set of arrows and an enlarged poem per group, and supply glue (alternatively, the pupils can cut out the arrows if you print them). You can also incorporate Speaking&Listening presentations of groups' interpretations of the arrows glued onto the enlarged poem. ('Sticking on Earlswood.doc' is the teacher's answers.) Pupils can then use their responses to complete the writing worksheet. This lesson is all written from the examiner's mark scheme for this poem.
Two original essay maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they prepare to write essays on the character Candy, and how he is pitiable, as well as the loneliness in the lives of Candy, Crooks and George. Sharing pupils' responses as a whole class discussion works well, as an intermediary stage before using the essay map to write the essay. I created these frameworks for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the text. These are based upon past-paper questions and markschemes.
Two original study maps for the novel 'Of Mice and Men' for pupils to complete as they study the ranch workers, life on the ranch, and the control they have over their lives. Both study maps include completed versions for teachers to use to go through pupils' responses, which works well as whole class discussion. I created these study maps for my GCSE class to use as revision for their final exam after studying the whole novel, but colleagues also used them effectively as resources as they taught the text. They also form a good basis for writing a Speaking and Listening presentation on the text.
A detailed handout on the context and content of Obama's 2008 presidential victory speech, for the study of language techniques and spoken language / inspirational speeches.
Also included is a hexagon activity, which my GCSE pupils always love - in groups, pupils must debate and defend their reasoning behind matching up and making shapes with the hexagons, displaying different levels of Bloom's taxonomy with regard to which hexagons touch which others.
I hope the hexagons haven't moved in the documents; some text boxes might need enlarging if Word changes the font. Print out the hexagons and laminate, and enjoy pupils' presentations to the class of their final patterns!
Four handouts, prepared for KS5 study of Heaney's translation of Sophocles' Antigone, The Burial at Thebes, detailing Classical Theatre and Drama, as well as Greek gods and tyrants.
Three Role Play activities based upon curriculum texts (Of Mice and Men, An Inspector Calls, and Macbeth) and an exam-board approved Group Discussion activity, with a comprehensive set of pupils' research notes on the specified topic.