This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Michael Morpurgo’s ‘War Horse.’ It is most suitable for children in upper KS2 or lower KS3. It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Chapter by Chapter Summary (with quotes); Main Characters; Themes; Morpurgo’s Language Devices; Important Vocabulary. 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 resource pack of 2 sequenced whole class reading sessions aims to develop children’s comprehension sessions through reading the opening extract from Michael Morpurgo’s version of ‘Beowulf.’ The lessons are provided as easy-to-follow, step-by-step PowerPoint presentations and the reading is included as a PDF. Each reading is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s comprehension skills using VIPERS: vocabulary, inference, predicting, explaining, retrieval, summarising and sequencing. Each lesson contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. Further tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The sessions are best suited for children in years 5-6, although with minor adaptations they 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 John Keats’ relationships poem 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Line-by-Line Analysis; Poetic Devices/ Language Devices; Themes; Form/Structure; Poems for Comparison; Links to Wider Reading. 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 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 resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of George Orwell’s ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984).’ Teachers have found them particularly useful in exam revision, comprehension tasks, or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the KS4 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework - this makes the tasks suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and for teachers 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 students gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: ‘Context: 'Totalitarian Governments’ - to aid students with ‘Drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context and the literary tradition to which it belongs, to inform evaluation;’ ‘Orwell’s Description’ - to aid students with ‘Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;’ Winston Smith, O’Brien, and Julia’ - to aid students with ‘Seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence;’ ‘Editing the Text’ - to aid students with ‘Making an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 30 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 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 detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Imtiaz Dharker’s poem 'Honour Killing.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Line-by-Line Analysis; Poetic Devices/ Language Devices; Themes; Form/Structure; Poems for Comparison; Links to Wider Reading. 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).

Within this varied, interesting, and engaging lesson, students aim to build their knowledge of two of history’s most famous explorers: Christopher Columbus and Ibn Battuta. Students utilise their independent learning skills to research the two travelers, utilise map-reading and geographical skills to improve their knowledge of their journeys, and draw comparisons and contrasts between the two. The lesson follows a clear and logical learning journey, which requires students to: - Consider the skills and characteristics required to be a learner, and apply them to real life contexts; - Share what they already know about the two explorers, and use their curiosity to devise new questions about them; - Employ their independent learning skills to find out the key events and journeys in the lives of the two explorers; - Plot the locations of their expeditions on a world map, and consider questions about their journeys based upon what they see; - Compare and contrast the key features of each explorer, using connectives and key facts; - Peer assess each others’ learning using the simple but appropriate success criteria. Included in this lesson are: - Comprehensive, informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Helpful recording template for the research task; - World map for tracking their expeditions, with questions as an extension task; - Helpful and thorough teacher guidance/ lesson plan document, to assist implementation; - Cut-out copies of the learning objectives, to save time in the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students revising knowledge relating to Asia, as a part of their study of physical and human geography. It contains comprehensive sections on: Overview and map; Regions and Countries of Asia; Longest Rivers; Highest Mountains; Human Geography Features; Physical Geography Features. 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). The resource is most suitable for students in KS2 or KS3.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the key messages, language, and structure in Percy Shelley’s relationships poem ‘Love’s Philosophy.’ In particular, students learn how the poet’s use of language portrays the key messages in the poem, for example the narrator’s belief that the entwinement of nature should be reflected by people. 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 language devices; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Percey Shelley presents the strength of the maternal bond in Love’s Philosophy; -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; Language Devices in ‘Mother, Any Distance’ worksheet; 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 resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of C.S Lewis's 'The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.' Teachers have found them particularly useful in comprehension or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the upper KS2 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: - 'An Interview with Peter' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Understand what is read by drawing on information from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas, and using quotations for illustration;' - 'Lewis'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;' - 'Aslan' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Understand what is read by drawing on information from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas, and using quotations for illustration;' - 'Figurative Language in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, to create an impact on the reader.' Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is 21 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 clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising knowledge relating to the dinosaurs. It contains comprehensive sections on: Overview - the who, what, when, where of dinosaurs; Types of Dinosaurs - including Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus and Brontosaurus, amongst others; Key Questions about Dinosaurs - including ‘How do we know dinosaurs existed? and How are fossils formed?’ and more; Dinosaur Timeline - including details about the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods; Top Ten Dinosaur Facts! 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). The resource could be adapted for a variety of ages and abilities, but I originally used this with Key Stage 2 children.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for KS2 children when writing narrative poems. The organiser is also perfect for teachers, parents and English subject leaders - aiding their planning and supporting of children’s knowledge development for this writing text type. The organiser has a particular focus on the content, language and structural features required to write effective narrative poetry. It contains distinct sections covering: -Overview: Narrative Poetry; -Content: What to include, tone, common features, word mat; -Language: Vocabulary choices, poetic devices, rhyme, punctuation checklist; -Structure: Stanzas, syllables, rhythm, rhyme scheme, top tips; -Key Vocabulary. The content is fully aligned with the age-related expectations for upper KS2 children in writing. 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, in-depth lesson enables students to make detailed links between Much Ado About Nothing and its social and historical context. In particular, students analyse how social features such as courtly love, patriarchal society, social class, and illegitimacy are evidence throughout the play. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: - Defining and exemplifying the key features of Shakespearean context; - Reading and comprehending key extracts from Much Ado About Nothing, relating them to the features of Shakespearean context; - Completing an essay style response in which they consider how the key features of social and historical context influence the events of the play. - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and detailed - just download and teach from it! - Pictures of Shakespearean society for the introduction activity; - Shakespearean society worksheet (and teacher answer sheet); - Extracts from the text; - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan.

This lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of camera shots and angles, and in particular those used in horror movies. This should enable them to design their own sequences of camera shots and angles when producing their own moving image media texts. I used this lesson in the middle of the planning phase of a horror film trailer. However, as the main learning for the lesson is to be able to define, identify. analyse and use each of the camera shots and angles, it can be used for students at any stage of a media studies course. It includes a range of tasks, most of which are differentiated for different ability ranges, and includes lots of engaging subject matter. The lesson follows a clear learning journey, which is visually expressed to the students frequently throughout the PowerPoint presentation. The learning journey enables students to: - Define each of the camera angles and shots through a group activity; - Identify each of the shots and angles in movies stills; - Analyse why different shots and angles are effective after watching a segment of a film; - Create their own sequence of camera shots and angles for a short moving image piece; - Evaluate their success in using effective camera shots and angles. NOTE: The subject matter used for the final stages of the analysis task may be visually disturbing or inappropriate for some younger students - please check this section and alter it if you need to - you may wish just to pause the video before it gets too gory! All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson.

This lesson aims to help students to write descriptively, using a range of descriptive writing techniques. Students also learn how to incorporate the five senses into their writing. Furthermore, students explore social and moral issues such as 'swimming against the tide' and 'being different,' through the story of Oskar Schindler. Informative and engaging, this lesson follows a clear and logical learning journey. Students learn to: - Define the key term 'humane' - Understand the story of Oskar Schindler, and consider the social and moral dilemmas that he faced; - Consider decisions that they have had to make which contrast to popular opinion; - Remember the five senses, and discuss why they are important to descriptive writing; - Use the five senses to create descriptive sentences based on scenes from Schindler's List; - Write a descriptive piece about a difficult decision that they have had to make; - Peer-assess each others' learning attempts. Resources included are: A whole-lesson PowerPoint, that guides the teacher and learners throughout the entire lesson, an engaging worksheet, a writing to describe help-sheet, and a teacher guidance sheet. Note: I'm aware that this is a 15 film - however the clips that I have selected are not amongst the most graphic, and so I feel that the lesson can be used with students younger than 15. You will need a Youtube connection for the links to work. All images are cited at the end of the PowerPoint presentation, and are licensed for commercial use.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for KS2 children when writing war poems. The organiser is also perfect for teachers, parents and English subject leaders - aiding their planning and supporting of children’s knowledge development for this writing text type. The organiser has a particular focus on the content, language and structural features required to write effective war poetry. It contains distinct sections covering: -Overview: War Poetry; -Content: What to include, tone, common features, word mat; -Language: Vocabulary choices, poetic devices, rhyme, punctuation checklist; -Structure: Stanzas, syllables, rhythm, rhyme scheme, top tips; -Key Vocabulary. The content is fully aligned with the age-related expectations for upper KS2 children in writing. 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 is a fun, engaging, and highly informative lesson/set of tasks on Wilfred Owen's war poem 'Dulce et Decorum est. This has been taught during an observation lesson where the teacher received an Outstanding judgement. It comes complete with: - Engaging and visual PowerPoint to guide students (and teacher!) through the lesson; - Colourful and thought-provoking worksheet for the main analysis task; - Lesson plan/ teacher guidance sheet, which goes through the lesson step-by-step; - Resources to enable the teacher to make 'flags' for the development task. As well as building students' knowledge of the text, they also learn crucial analysis and speaking and listening skills, in addition to using and applying key terminology. All pictures are licensed for commercial use, and image authors cited on the final slide.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to understand the structural features used by Michael Morpurgo to plot the narrative and engage the reader in War Horse. In particular, students analyse the effectiveness of his first person perspective and narrative structure, before creating their own well-structured story plans. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: Understanding the benefits of Morpurgo’s first person narration from Joey’s viewpoint; Defining and exemplifying the different stages of narrative structure; Applying this understanding to ‘War Horse’, considering why each stage of narrative structure is vital to the novel. Analysing the effectiveness of Morpurgo’s structural devices, considering the effect on the reader; Creating plans for the structure of their own WW1 narratives, utilising the structural components discussed over the lesson ; Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts; Included is: Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; Narrative Structure Graph Template; Storyboard Template; Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 7 and 8 classes, however colleagues have used them for between years 4 and 9 with minimal adaptations. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice.’ Teachers have found them particularly useful for exam revision, comprehension tasks, or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the KS4 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework - this makes the tasks suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and for teachers 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 students gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: - ‘Context: Regency England’ - to aid students with ‘Drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context and the literary tradition to which it belongs, to inform evaluation;’ - ‘Austen’s Description’ - to aid students with ‘Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;’ - ‘Mr Darcy’ - to aid students with ‘Seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence;’ - ‘Editing the Novel’ - to aid students with ‘Making an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is almost 30 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).