This 16-page resource booklet contains a wide range of challenging and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Brian Bilston’s poem ‘Refugees.’ This is a clever poem that can be read in two ways - offering two perspectives regarding attitudes to refugees. Teachers have found the activities particularly useful throughout teaching, or for revision or guided reading sessions. 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.’ ‘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 stimulating and informative lesson develops students’ skill in creating informal letters that precisely meet the content, language and structural features of the form. In particular, they gain an in-depth understanding of how informal letters should be set out on the page, what information should be included within them, and what style they should be written in, in order to meet form, audience and purpose. Students follow a clear and logical learning journey, in which they: -Understand why letter writing is still important in the present day; -Unjumble a model example of an informal letter in order to establish its structure; -Work collaboratively to identify and analyse the content and language features in further model examples of informal letters; -Create a success criteria for effective informal letters (although a ready-made success criteria is included); -Write their own informal letters, using a structure strip and helpsheet (if needed) and the techniques that they have learnt; -Peer/self-assess their writing attempts. There are enough resources here really for two lessons, including: -Visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint; -Informal letters x 3 (based on The Simpsons, Batman, and Harry Potter characters) -Informal letters structure strip; -Informal letters helpsheet; -Step-by-step lesson plan. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final page of the slide.

This engaging and interesting lesson enables students to develop the knowledge and skills needed to analyse the structural features of previously unseen poems. In particular, they define and understand each of the key structural devices, 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 structural features through a group card-sorting activity; -Identifying each of the structural features in two poems through an exploratory task; -Understanding the writer’s intentions and the effect on the reader of various structural techniques; -Applying their understanding of the structural features and their effect to a comparison between two related poems; -Peer-evaluating their learning in the lesson. Included in this resource pack are: -A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; -Structural features cards for the card-sorting activity; -‘Analysing Structural Techniques’ worksheet for the development task; -Copies of the poems ‘The Falling Leaves’ by Margaret Postgate Cole and ‘next to of course god america i’ by E.E. Cummings for annotation (both freely available online); -A structure strip, a model example and a success criteria to guide the students throughout their comparative essay attempts; -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 interesting and engaging lesson enables students to understand the key structural, language and content features of Haiku poems, and to utilise these features accurately and imaginatively in their own Haikus. Students follow a clear and logical learning journey, in which they: -Define and identify the key structural and language features of Haikus; -Understand the origins and purposes of this form of poetry; -Read Haikus, answering questions about the content and use of language and structure; -Compare and contrast Haikus, evaluating their effectiveness; -Plan and create their own Haikus, using a guiding helpsheet and the knowledge/skills that they have accrued over the lesson; -Peer/self-assess their learning attempts. 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 Haiku 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 detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Sign of Four.' It contains comprehensive sections on: - Context; - Chapter by Chapter Summary (with quotes); - Main Characters; - Themes; - Doyle's Language Devices; - Features of Detective Novels. 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 engaging, comprehensive lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of Jane Weir’s contemporary war poem ‘Poppies’ with particular focus upon the symbolism, language, and structure used within the poem. By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate their knowledge of the text analytically, through assured, appropriate, and sustained interpretations. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining what symbols are, and considering some popular examples (including poppies); - Securing contextual understanding of both the use of poppies, and Jane Weir the poet; - Reading and interpreting the poem, using a provided line-by-line analysis, and interactive group activities; - Developing their understanding through inferring and analysing key language and structural choices; - Analysing how the themes of loss and remembrance are conveyed through Weir's use of symbolism; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlinks to informative and engaging videos) - Copy of poem; - Deeper thinking worksheet (and teacher answer sheet); - Analysis template with 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 16-page resource booklet contains a wide range of challenging and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Siegfried Sassoon’s World War 1 poem ‘Base Details.’ 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 informative enables students to make precise and detailed interpretations of H.G. Wells’ language choices in describing the Martians in ‘The War of the Worlds.’ Students identify and analyse the effect of Wells’ writing, using their understanding of various language devices, before applying these concepts to their own descriptive writing attempts. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: Defining and exemplifying the descriptive writing techniques, through a fun and interactive activity; Identifying the language techniques that Wells uses in his description of the Martians;’ Analysing the effectiveness of Wells’ descriptive writing; Creating their own descriptions of imagined aliens, using Wells’ model example and the techniques that they have gathered over the course of the lesson; Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts, using a clear success criteria; Included is: Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; Card sorting cards Selected extracts printed onto one sheet (from Book 1, Chapter 4 and Book 2, Chapter 2). There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 10 and 11 classes, however colleagues have used them for between year 9 and year 13 with some adaptations. This lesson is suitable for home/ remote learning. All images are licensed for commercial use.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students preparing for the ‘Unseen Poetry’ elements of English Literature examinations. It is ideal for GCSE and A Level students, as it contains detailed and comprehensive sections (including explanations, examples and key questions) on: Content -Subject Matter, Context, Tone, Atmosphere, The Poet; Language - Similes, Metaphors, Interesting Adjectives, Interesting Verbs, Imagery, Onomatopoeia, Alliteration, Assonance, Personification, Hyperbole, Oxymoron, Repetition; Form and Strcuture - Common Forms, Rhyme/ Rhyme Schemes, Metre, Rhythm, Stanzas, Line Type, Line Length. Plus lists of Adding Connectives and Contrasting Connectives for use when comparing. 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 lesson enables students to plan and create their own interesting, detailed, and imaginative feature articles. Through analysing existing feature articles, and noting their features of subject matter, language, and structure, students create articles that are highly appropriate to the genre and audiences of different magazines. Over the course of their learning journey, students: - Define and exemplify what feature articles are; - Identify and understand the different language and subject matter elements are within feature articles; - Analyse the language techniques and structures used within a model example of a feature article; - Write their own imaginative and appropriate front covers; - Peer and self assess each other's front cover attempts. The resources include: -Visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint; -A colourful and clear helpsheet for writing to explain; -Template for planning feature articles; -Andy Murray feature article 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. NOTE - Internet access is preferable for the planning task.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make sustained and insightful interpretations of the theme of duality within Stevenson’s ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’ In particular, students explore the differences in personality between Jekyll and Hyde, and infer Stevenson’s key messages about the duality of human nature. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining and understanding the belief in the duality of human nature across history; - Reading and comprehending Jekyll’s view of the duality of human nature in the final chapter; - Comparing and contrasting the personalities of Jekyll and Hyde; - Retelling the same event from the viewpoint of both Jekyll and Hyde; - Analysing Stevenson’s key message about the duality of the mind; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Extract from the final chapter; - Jekyll’s duality worksheet (and answer sheet for teachers); - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. These resources were originally taught to GCSE students, but with subtle adaptations they have also been used with KS3 and A Level Students. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

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 ‘The Merchant of Venice.’ Round 1. The characters in The Merchant of Venice Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in The Merchant of Venice 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 detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Chapter by Chapter Summary (with quotes); Main Characters; Themes; Austen’s Language Devices; Features of Romantic Novels. 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).

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, engaging visuals, 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 ‘Blood Brothers.’ Round 1. The characters in Blood Brothers Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in Blood Brothers 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 engaging and interesting lesson aims to improve students’ knowledge of the final events of the novel (the killing of Lennie by his best friend, George) in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. It also aims to build their skills in retrieving information from texts, understanding the writer’s ideas and opinions, and making precise and confident interpretations about texts. The lesson uses a range of tasks, that require students to use their visual and interpersonal skills. It follows this learning journey: - Reading, and interpreting the ending of the text; - Inferring the hidden meanings in the final section of the text; - Identifying the options available to George, and evaluating the pros and cons for each of them; - Arguing a viewpoint either justifying or condemning George’s actions; - Evaluating each others’ argumentative attempts. The resource includes a comprehensive and visually engaging PowerPoint presentation, a worksheet to evaluate George’s reasoning, an abstract from the text, a help-sheet for writing to analyse, and a lesson plan/ teacher guidance sheet. All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation. You can choose to buy this resource alone, or as part of the ‘Of Mice and Men - All Lessons and Scheme’ bundle, which contains seven full lessons, resources, teachers notes, and PowerPoint presentations, plus a Pointless Of Mice and Men game, for just £5!

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make precise and sustained interpretations regarding Susan Hill’s portrayal of the title character in The Woman in Black. In particular, they consider how the language techniques used (e.g. similes, adverbs and alliteration) are used to introduce and develop the mysterious woman each time that she appears. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining the key conventions of ghostly characters; - Understanding and exemplifying key descriptive devices; - Reading extracts introducing and developing the woman, comprehending key meanings; - Analysing how the features of Hill’s language help to create a chilling portrayal of the woman; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Extracts from ‘The Woman in Black’ in which the woman appears; - ‘Hill’s Language’ worksheet (and answer sheet for teachers); - Cards for descriptive devices sorting activity - Analysis template with 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 mixed ability year 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.