This engaging and informative lesson enables students to to make precise interpretations regarding the characters of Charlie and Tommo in Private Peaceful. In particular, students analyse how the relationship between the two characters is introduced and then developed throughout the novel. They also make key inferences about the similarities and differences between the brothers. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Comparing and contrasting the characteristics of the two brothers; - Comprehending how the brothers’ relationship is introduced by Morpugo in the opening chapters; - Tracking and analysing how their relationship develops over the course of the novel; - Creating character profiles for both brothers, using a (provided) template and the information that they have gathered over the course of the lesson; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Character Profile Templates (Word and PDF); - Relationship Development Graph Template (Word and PDF); - Extracts from Private Peaceful; - 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 3 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that students will need internet or library access to complete the research introduction task. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to understand the language features used by Michael Morpurgo to depict the horrors of war in Private Peaceful. In particular, students analyse the effectiveness of his similes, metaphors and personification (amongst other devices) before creating their own descriptive device-filled writing! The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining and exemplifying range of different descriptive techniques; - Identifying the descriptive language techniques in use in an extract from Private Peaceful (the section in which Tommo and his comrades are gassed); - Analysing the effectiveness of Morpurgo’s descriptive language, considering the effect on the reader; - Creating their own descriptive passages, using each of the descriptive language devices effectively; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Cards for the card-sorting activity; - Descriptive language essay template; - Extract from Private Peaceful; - Writing to describe helpsheet; - 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 3 and 9 with minimal adaptations. 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, interesting tasks, 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 ‘Private Peaceful.’ Round 1. The characters in Private Peaceful Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in Private Peaceful 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 informative lesson enables students to understand the key features of the historical context of World War I, in order to gain a clearer of understanding of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful. In particular, students learn about the horrific ordeal faced by young soldiers in WWI, and then relate their understanding of historical context to different plot features throughout the text. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Researching and understanding key information about World War I, including enlistment, life in the trenches, and accusations of cowardice; - Linking the key features of context to sections of the text, including descriptions of Tommo’s trench and Charlie’s arrest; - Reading selected extracts from the text, in order to link ideas regarding context and text together; - Creating their own propaganda posters, detailing what war was really like for young soldiers; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Research Template - Links to WWI worksheet (and answer sheet for teachers); - Comprehensive lesson plan. PDFs are included, and Word versions are in the zip file. 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 3 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that students will need internet or library access to complete the research introduction task. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make sustained and insightful interpretations of the way in which the character of Utterson is presented and developed throughout ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.’ In particular, students analyse how the Utterson’s calm and rational demeanour is tested through the strange and tragic events in the novella. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Establishing how the key characteristics of Mr Utterson; - Reading and comprehending key extracts describing Mr Utterson in the text; - Analysing how Utterson’s character is developed through events in the text; - Empathising with Utterson’s character and establishing his viewpoints; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Selected extracts from the text describing Utterson; - Utterson Emotion Graph for the development task; - 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.

This interesting and engaging lesson enables students to know what colons and semi-colons are and when they should be used, to understand the effect of colons and semi-colons in the writing of others, and to use subtle and appropriate colons and semi-colons in their own writing. Over the course of their learning journey, students: - Define and exemplify what colons and semi-colons are; - Identify where colons and semi-colons should be placed in writing; - Place colons and semi-colons into unpunctuated sentences correctly; - Analyse the effect of colons and semi-colons upon sentences and wider texts; - Use colons and semi-colons 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 Colons and Semi-colons’ worksheet (and teacher answer sheet); -A model example of a colon and semi-colon 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 engaging and informative lesson helps students to make detailed interpretations about the development of the creature in the garage throughout David Almond’s Skellig. In particular, students comprehend how the character is initially introduced, utilising textual evidence, before investigating how and why the creature transforms throughout the story. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining and exemplifying the key term 'prejudice', and noting its dangers; - Reading and comprehending the introduction of the creature through selected extracts; - Tracking how Michael and Mina's nurture and care helps to transform the creature over the course of the text; - Understanding the messages that can be learnt from this in terms of prejudice and not 'judging a book by its cover.' - Creating diary entries detailing the development of the creature; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Development of Skellig Storyboard (pdf and word); - Extracts from Chapters 1-10; - Writing to Describe Help-sheet; - 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 a year 7 class, 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 engaging and informative lesson helps students to make detailed interpretations about two of the main characters in David Almond’s Skellig: Michael and Mina. In particular, students comprehend the character traits of the two characters, before analysing the development of their relationship over the course of the story. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining and exemplifying the key character traits of both Michael and Mina; - Reading and tracking Michael and Mina's relationship development throughout the story; - Analysing how and why Michael and Mina's relationship becomes so strong by the end of the story; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Character Profile Sheets - Michael and Mina (pdf and word); - Relationship Development Graph (pdf and word); - Essay 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 a year 7 class, 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.

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, interesting tasks, 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 'Skellig.' Round 1. The characters in Skellig Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in Skellig 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 informative lesson helps students to identify and analyse the descriptive language techniques used by David Almond to describe the derelict garage in Skellig, before creating their own descriptive language techniques to describe an old and run-down setting. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining and exemplifying the key descriptive techniques through a group activity; - Reading and comprehending an extract from Skellig, in which Michael's old and run-down garage is described; - Identifying the descriptive techniques within the extract and analysing their effectiveness; - Learning how to create effective and imaginative adjectives, verbs, similes, metaphors, and personification; - Creating their own device-filled descriptions of an old and decrepit place; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Word Bank template (pdf and word); - Selected extract - Skellig - Michael's Garage; - 'Create Your Own Personification' worksheet (pdf and word); - Cards for the card-sorting activity; - 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 a year 7 class, 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 Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Sign of Four.' 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: 19th Century London' - 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;' - 'Doyle's Description' - to aid students with 'Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;' - 'Mary Morstan' - 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).

In this engaging and informative lesson, students learn to make sustained and precise interpretations of the structural features within The Sign of Four. In particular, students analyse Jonathan Small’s testimony in chapter 12 of the novel, before linking this to the idea of a fitting resolution within the narrative structure model. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: - Reading and understanding chapters 11 and 12, in which Jonathan Small gives his testimony; - Sequencing and storyboarding the events of Jonathan Small's life; - Identifying and analysing the structural stages of narrative structure, and applying this to The Sign of Four; - Understanding how readers at the time would react to the depiction of Jonathan Small; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole Lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Paper Copies of Chapters 11 and 12; - Storyboard Template (and PDF); - Narrative Structure Template (and PDF); - Essay Template; - Detailed 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 both younger and older (up to A Level) students. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

In this engaging and informative lesson, students learn to make sustained and precise interpretations of the character of Tonga in 'The Sign of Four.' In particular, students analyse Watson’s account of Tonga’s appearance, mannerisms and behaviours in chapter 10 of the novel, before linking this to notions of the savage cultural ‘other’ that were commonly held during the colonial era in Britain. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: - Understanding the social and cultural context of Britain's colonial past; - Reading and understanding chapters 9 and 10, in which Tonga makes his appearance; - Identifying and analysing the language techniques used by Doyle in describing Tonga; - Understanding how readers at the time would react to the depiction of Tonga; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole Lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Paper Copies of Chapters 9 and 10; - Tonga - Links to Context Worksheet (and teacher answer sheet); - Essay Template; - Detailed 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 both younger and older (up to A Level) students. Please note that you'll need access to internet/laptops for opening quiz activity. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

In this engaging and informative lesson enables students to make clear and insightful links between Arthur Conan Doyle’s 'The Sign of Four' and its historical context of 19th Century London. In particular, students learn about the Jack the Ripper murders and subsequent attitudes towards the police, before considering how these ideas are reflected through Athelney Jones in the novel. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: - Researching the context of 19th Century London, such as the Jack the Ripper murders and attitudes towards the police; - Reading and understanding chapters 5 and 6, in which Athelney Jones makes his appearance; - Identifying and analysing the language techniques used by Doyle in describing Athelney Jones; - Analysing Doyle's intentions in presenting Athelney Jones in such a manner; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole Lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Paper Copies of Chapters 5 and 6; - Athelney Jones links to context worksheet; - Researching Context worksheet - Essay Template; - Detailed 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 both younger and older (up to A Level) students. Please note that you'll need access to internet/laptops for the researching activity. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

In this engaging and informative lesson enables students to make clear and insightful links between Arthur Conan Doyle’s 'The Sign of Four' and its historical context of 19th Century London. In particular, students learn about the Jack the Ripper murders and subsequent attitudes towards the police, before considering how these ideas are reflected through Athelney Jones in the novel. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: - Researching the context of 19th Century London, such as the Jack the Ripper murders and attitudes towards the police; - Reading and understanding chapters 5 and 6, in which Athelney Jones makes his appearance; - Identifying and analysing the language techniques used by Doyle in describing Athelney Jones; - Analysing Doyle's intentions in presenting Athelney Jones in such a manner; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole Lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Paper Copies of Chapters 5 and 6; - Athelney Jones links to context worksheet; - Researching Context worksheet - Essay Template; - Detailed 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 both younger and older (up to A Level) students. Please note that you'll need access to internet/laptops for the researching activity. 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, interesting tasks, 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 Arthur Conan Doyle's 'The Sign of Four.' Round 1. The characters in The Sign of Four Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in The Sign of Four 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!