This 16-page resource booklet contains a wide range of challenging and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Ted Hughes’ power and conflict poem 'Bayonet Charge.’ Teachers have found the activities particularly useful throughout teaching, or for exam revision or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the key English Literature assessment objectives - suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and it is clearly highlighted within each task regarding which assessment strands the task is designed to demonstrate. It is provided in both Word (to allow for easy editing) and PDF (to ensure for consistency of formatting between computers). Activities within the booklet include (amongst many others): ‘Analysing Context’ - helping students to ‘Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.’ ‘Analysing Subject Matter, Language and Structure’ - to help students to ‘Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.’ ‘Diary Entry’ - to help students to ‘Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. Make an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ ‘The Speaker’ - to help students to ‘Read, understand and respond to texts. Students should be able to: maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.’

Based on the popular game show 'Pointless', this resource is perfect for use as a whole lesson resource, enrichment option, or revision tool. Editable, so that you can change to any other topic or change questions. (I've also added a blank template so that you can make your own games from scratch). Containing almost 30 slides of sound clips and suitably challenging questions, this resource is effective at both promoting engagement and enhancing learning. There are several full rounds of questions to build or revisit knowledge of characters, plot, and themes in 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.' Round 1. The characters in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone The nature of this game ensures that the resource can challenge students of all levels. A blank template has also been added, so that you can create your own games!

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of Simon Armitage’s contemporary relationships poem ‘Mother, Any Distance...’ In particular, students learn how the poet’s use of figurative language portrays the key messages in the poem, for example the maternal relationship between the speaker and his mother. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Discussing and applying the key messages and meanings in the poem; -Understanding key contextual information about the poet and his life; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; - Identifying and analysing the poet's use of figurative language; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Simon Armitage presents the strength of the maternal bond in Mother, Any Distance; -Peer assessing their partners' analysis attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful, engaging and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - Figurative Language in 'Mother, Any Distance' worksheet; - Figurative Language in 'Mother, Any Distance' answer-sheet; - Analysis template with in-built success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to know what agony aunt/uncle advice pages are and why people read them, understand the features that make effective agony aunt/uncle pages, before writing their own interesting and appropriate agony pages. In particular, students learn how to write to advise, including using facts and opinions for authority, rhetorical questions to make the reader think, and personal pronouns to keep the reader feeling involved. Over the course of their learning journey, students: - Define and exemplify what agony aunt/uncle advice pages are; - Understand why people read them; - Understand and categorise the different techniques used by columnists; - Identify the features of agony aunt/uncle pages in model examples; - Analyse the effect of techniques in these pages upon the reader; - Use a wide-range of techniques in writing their own problem pages; - Peer and self assess each other's attempts. The resources include: -Visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint; -A colourful and clear success criteria; -Blank problem page template; -A model example (Dear Debbie); -Helpful and comprehensive step-by-step lesson plan. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final page of the slide.

This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Roald Dahl's 'George's Marvellous Medicine.' Teachers have found them particularly useful in comprehension or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the KS1 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They also relate to key extracts, characters, and themes from the story, ensuring that children gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: - 'Feed Grandma' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'talk about their favourite words and phrases in the story;' - 'Dahl's Description' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Explain meanings of words that they know and ask the meaning of new words. Link the meaning of new words to words that they already know;' - 'George's Idea' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Say what might happen next in a story based on what has happened so far;' - 'Grandma' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Enjoy reading and discussing the order of events in books and how items of information are related.' Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 20 pages in length!) I've also added it as a PDF in case the formatting differs on your computer. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included).

This interesting and engaging double lesson enables students to define what homophones are, use a range of homophones correctly, and to be able to explain why homophones have been used correctly or incorrectly. This knowledge is of particular importance when working through the new National Curriculum. Throughout this lesson, students learn through a range of stimulating and interactive challenges and games, which logically guide them towards the learning objectives. Examples of these are homophones pictionary, crosswords, and the creation of homophones advice posters. Over the course of this lesson, they learn by: - Defining and identifying homophones; - Finding spelling patterns in a variety of homophones; - Advising others on how to remember to spell tricky homophones correctly; - Collaborating on a range of group activities; - Self-evaluating through frequent AfL tasks, in order to observe their progress through the lesson. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Word cards for the Pictionary game; - Worksheet with homophones questions; - Challenging homophones crossword; - Two varied AfL question sheets, for gauging progress through the lesson; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to understand the key functions and purposes of auxiliary and modal verbs. Furthermore, students learn how to use auxiliary and modal verbs accurately, and apply these to their own writing. Students follow a clear and logical learning journey, in which they: -Define and identify the key functions and purposes of auxiliary and modal verbs; -Understand why these verbs are needed in sentences, and how they can alter sentence form and meaning; -Identify each of the different types of auxiliary and modal verbs, including how they are affected by tense and context; -Read and analyse the use of modal verbs in an example text, determining how the use of these verbs affects meaning; -Apply their understanding of modal/ auxiliary verbs to their own writing attempts; -Peer/self-assess their learning attempts. All resources are provided in both office (Word and PowerPoint) to allow for easy editing, and PDF, in case formatting differs on your computer. Resources are eye-catching and purposeful, including: -Visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint; -An interesting, imaginative, and well-presented worksheet (in Word and PDF); - A useful helpsheet (also in Word and PDF); -Step-by-step lesson plan. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final page of the slide.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to understand what ellipses, question marks, and exclamation marks indicate, and determine where they should be used. They also learn to understand the effect of these punctuation forms in writing, and develop the skills to use these punctuation forms accurately in my own writing. Over the course of their learning journey, students: - Define and exemplify what ellipses, question marks, and exclamation marks are; - Identify where these punctuation marks should be placed in writing; - Correctly place ellipses, question marks, and exclamation marks into unpunctuated sentences; - Analyse the effect of these punctuation marks upon sentences and wider texts; - Use ellipses, question marks, and exclamation marks accurately and with subtlety in their own writing; - Peer and self assess each other's writing attempts. The resources include: -Visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint; -Placing Punctuation worksheet (and teacher answer sheet); -A model example of an ellipsis, question mark, and exclamation mark-filled piece of writing for analysis; -Helpful and comprehensive step-by-step lesson plan. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final page of the slide.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Sylvia Plath’s poem ‘You’re.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Line-by-Line Analysis; Poetic Devices/ Language Devices; Themes; Form/Structure; Poems for Comparison; More About the Poem. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This 16-page resource booklet contains a wide range of challenging and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Robert Frost’s 'Out. Out-.’ Teachers have found the activities particularly useful throughout teaching, or for exam revision or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the key English Literature assessment objectives - suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and it is clearly highlighted within each task regarding which assessment strands the task is designed to demonstrate. It is provided in both Word (to allow for easy editing) and PDF (to ensure for consistency of formatting between computers). Activities within the booklet include (amongst many others): ‘Analysing Context’ - helping students to ‘Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.’ ‘Analysing Subject Matter, Language and Structure’ - to help students to ‘Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.’ ‘Diary Entry’ - to help students to ‘Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. Make an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ ‘The Speaker’ - to help students to ‘Read, understand and respond to texts. Students should be able to: maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.’

This 16-page resource booklet contains a wide range of challenging and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Owen Sheers’ poem 'Farther.’ Teachers have found the activities particularly useful throughout teaching, or for exam revision or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the key English Literature assessment objectives - suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and it is clearly highlighted within each task regarding which assessment strands the task is designed to demonstrate. It is provided in both Word (to allow for easy editing) and PDF (to ensure for consistency of formatting between computers). Activities within the booklet include (amongst many others): ‘Analysing Context’ - helping students to ‘Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.’ ‘Analysing Subject Matter, Language and Structure’ - to help students to ‘Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.’ ‘Diary Entry’ - to help students to ‘Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. Make an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ ‘The Speaker’ - to help students to ‘Read, understand and respond to texts. Students should be able to: maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.’

This engaging and interesting lesson enables students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to establish the content (e.g. the subject matter, poet’s key messages, and surface/ deeper meanings) of previously unseen poems. In particular, they define and understand each of the key features of content, practice identifying them in poems and analyse their effectiveness upon the reader. The lesson utilises a range of tasks, that require students to be both independent and collaborative learners. It follows this learning journey: -Defining and exemplifying each of the features of content through a group card-sorting activity; -Discussing , understanding, and practicing some of the skills and techniques needed to initially explore a poem for content; -Considering the ideas of interpretation, inference, surface/deeper meaning, and textual evidence as important mechanisms for exploration; -Applying their understanding of the features of content and the skills needed to find them through a jigsaw activity; -Self-evaluating their own learning in the lesson. Included in this resource pack are: -A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; -Content features cards for the card-sorting activity; -‘Establishing Content’ worksheet for the development task; -Copies of the poems ‘Two Scavengers in a Truck…’ by Laurence Ferlinghetti, ‘Nothing’s Changed’ by Tatamkhulu Afrika, ‘Hitcher’ by Simon Armitage and 'Island Man’ by Grace Nichols for annotation (both freely available online); -A comprehensive teacher guidance form/lesson plan to assist delivery. Resources are provided in both Word (for easy editing - find in the zip file)and PDF (to prevent formatting issues between computers). All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Simon Armitage’s power and conflict poem 'Remains.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Line-by-Line Analysis; Poetic Devices/ Language Devices; Themes; Form/Structure; Poems for Comparison; The Poet’s Influences. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through a reading of the opening chapter of Max Evans’ ‘Who Let the Gods Out?’ The resource pack includes the extract and all of the activities for the session, which the class are guided through via a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. The reading is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in KS2. I originally used this with Year 3-4 children, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups. The session is also suitable for home/ remote learning.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills when reading non-fiction texts. This particular session focuses on their reading of an original information sheet (included) about saltwater crocodiles. The reading is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in years 2-4, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension of the opening chapter of Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile. It contains a link to the online text (on the first slide) and this is also provided as a PDF. This is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in years 2-3, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension of the opening chapters of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. It contains a link to the online chapter (on the first slide). This is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in years 3-5, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension of the opening chapter of Malorie Blackman’s ‘A Dangerous Game.’ It contains a link to the online chapter (on the first slide) and a PDF version if needed. This is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in years 2-4, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension of the opening chapter of Roald Dahl’s ‘The BFG.’ It contains a link to the online chapter (on the first slide - also provided as PDF). This is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in years 3-5, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising R.J. Palacio’s ‘Wonder.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Section by Section Summary (with quotes); Main Characters; Themes; Palacio’s Literary Devices; The Narrative Point of View. All key words and ideas are compartmentalised for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included). It is suitable for all students, but was originally made for those between years 5-8.