Victorian poetry regularly makes the top ten poems in public surveys, and much of our conception of what makes ‘good’ poetry was shaped by poets like Tennyson, Browning, Rossetti, and Arnold. This period formed the emotional and social attitudes which linger today – even in post-modern texts which claim to have moved beyond them. While the Romantics were read by the literati, the Victorian poets in this unit formed the core of public poetry consumption. An understanding of this period is essential for students who will read Edwardian and Modernist literature in later terms, by showing them what these writers and artists reacted against.
The unit is designed to be taught over an 8-10 week term, and contains:
Introduction to Victorian Britain – an easy research task which students can do together or individually, drawing on readily-available online resources about the nineteenth century.
Seven poetry-focused modules:
o The Poet Laureate: Alfred, Lord Tennyson
o The Pre-Raphaelites: Dante Gabriel and Christina Rossetti
o Celebrity Marriages: Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning
o Personal Piety: Matthew Arnold and Gerald Manley Hopkins
o Nonsense Poetry: Edward Lear and Lewis Carroll
o The Poetry of Empire: Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy
o America: Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson
A short list of films, documentaries, and series which students can watch for context.
An essay-based assessment task suitable for students aged 15-16
TOGETHER WITH SILAS MARNER
A thorough study of each chapter in Eliot’s short masterpiece Silas Marner. Each chapter is annotated with a short precis of the chapter’s events, so that students can quickly locate the right section, and a thematic table at the beginning lays out some of the complex philosophical and literary ideas which underpin Eliot’s morality tale. Language and narrative techniques are carefully explained, and each chapter is accompanied by a selection of quotations to strengthen students’ understanding of evidence-based arguments.
Voltaire’s brilliant philosophical satire has never been more relevant than now. Candide’s response to the belief that “all’s for the best in the best of all possible worlds” is a timely challenge for a climate in turmoil and the need for intelligent resilience.
This 59-page unit contains
An introductory task on the Enlightenment and its ideas and values
An biographical task on Voltaire’s life
Reading questions and activities on each chapter of Candide, supported by images
A bibliography of short stories which can be used as support texts and for extension reading
A number of essay questions suitable for senior students
This worksheet introduces students to an important element of poetry: rhyme and rhthym. It can be taught as a stand-alone lesson or as part of a wider study of poetry, and contains
a one page-explanation of the device or technique
at least two poems for easy differentiation
writing tasks for each poem following Bloom’s Taxonomy of lower- to higher-order questions
This worksheet introduces students to an important element of poetry: personification. It can be taught as a stand-alone lesson or as part of a wider study of poetry, and contains
a one page-explanation of the device or technique
at least two poems for easy differentiation
writing tasks for each poem following Bloom’s Taxonomy of lower- to higher-order questions
This worksheet introduces students to an important element of poetry: theme - in this case, modern life and technology. It can be taught as a stand-alone lesson or as part of a wider study of poetry, and contains
at least two poems for easy differentiation
writing tasks for each poem following Bloom’s Taxonomy of lower- to higher-order questions
This 54-page unit, written for Years 7-8 (ages 11-13) offers beginning high school students an introduction to genre, focusing on Andy Milligan’s adventure novel Trash. It comprises:
an introduction to genre and the conventions of the adventure genre
five sections on Trash with reading comprehension questions
activities on the foundational elements of narrative (character, setting, conflict, plot, and voice). These activities ask students to identify the narrative element in the novel and write short examples of their own
an exclusive short adventure story for reading extension or differentiation
a two-part assessment task where students identify conventions in an unseen passage, then write creatively in the genre
This worksheet introduces students to an important element of poetry: theme - in this case, cats and their relationships with men. It can be taught as a stand-alone lesson or as part of a wider study of poetry, and contains
a one page-explanation of the device or technique
at least two poems for easy differentiation
writing tasks for each poem following Bloom’s Taxonomy of lower- to higher-order questions
This worksheet introduces students to an important element of poetry: imagery. It can be taught as a stand-alone lesson or as part of a wider study of poetry, and contains
a one page-explanation of the device or technique
at least two poems for easy differentiation
writing tasks for each poem following Bloom’s Taxonomy of lower- to higher-order questions
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Lawrence’s gothic psychological study has been successfully used with a Stage 5 / Year 10 class ( 15 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
O.Henry’s comic and touching short story has been successfully used with a Stage 5 / Year 9 class (14 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference.
There are four activities, corresponding to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
A close reading task assists development of textual analysis
A writing at length task involves considering the story’s effect, mood, or technical strategies.
A choice of two creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
This twist-in-the-tale short story, ‘Desiree’s Baby,’ by Kate Chopin, is around 2300 words and has been successfully used with a Year 10 class (age 15-16).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
McHugh’s comical story has been successfully used with a Stage 4 / Year 7 class (11-12 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
These activities support Gary Soto’s recent short story ‘Seventh Grade’, which can be found free online by searching for the title.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Soto’s endearing character-driven story has been successfully used with a Stage 4 / Year 7 class (11-12 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
[Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564488)
Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
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A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Poe’s classic horror story has been successfully used with a Stage 5 / Year 10 class ( 15 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
[Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.]https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-12564488)
Each classic story is copyright free in Australia, the U.K. and U.S. Paragraphs are numbered for ease of reference.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Ross’s very short horror story has been successfully used with a Stage 4 / Year 7 class ( 11-12 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
These activities support Lesley Namioka’s recent short story ‘The All-American Slurp’, which can be found free online by searching for the title.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
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A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Namioka’s cross-cultural character-driven story has been successfully used with a Stage 4 / Year 7 class (11-12 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
These activities support Gillian Rubenstein’s recent short story ‘The Owl Boy and the Goddess Athene’, which can be found free online by searching for the title.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Rubenstein’s comical character-driven story has been successfully used with a Stage 4 / Year 7 class (11-12 years).
Short stories are a vital part of English literature. These short story studies can be used to build a short story unit, to supplement other texts, or as a standby lesson.
Use this with our FREE Introduction to Short Stories two-page handout.
These activities support Amy Tan’s recent short story ‘The Rules of the Game’, which can be found free online by searching for the title.
Activities correspond to Bloom’s taxonomy of lower- to higher-order tasks.
A comprehension question checks knowledge and understanding
Application questions ask students to apply their knowledge of literary or rhetorical technique
Analytical questions interrogate the story’s effect, mood, and construction-strategies.
Creative writing tasks use an aspect of the story as a springboard to write creatively, discursively, or persuasively.
Tan’s story about growing up Chinese-American has been successfully used with a Stage 4 / Year 8 class (12-13 years).
John Hersey’s Hiroshima is one of the narratives that have shaped our world, and is a great core text for a study of journalism, modern non-fiction, or life-writing. This extensive unit comprises:
An introductory section on the event
Six sections on each of the work’s parts
An extra/extension section on short films about nuclear issues
A bibliography of the influence of Hersey’s journalism
A close-reading exercise which compares Hersey’s style in 1946 and 1985
A list of long-form analytical and creative responses
Several contextual texts including the JapaneseImperial Rescript of Surrender and the Renouncing of Imperial Divinity; poetry by other survivors, and other American essays justifying the military’s decision
This unit was tested with a mixed-ability Year 10 class (age 15-16) and a lower-ability Year 11 (age 16-17) class.
Higher-order questions for each chapter of Orwell’s novel, and essay-style questions for each of Parts I, II, and III. Many of the chapter questions require close reading of a selected passage, and help students build a bank of quotes and concepts for essays.