This lesson uses questioning to elicit students’ knowledge of methods used by the writers and understanding of some of their effects. Students are asked to annotate their copies of the poems in the questioning phase of the lesson so that they can then use their notes to spend 40 minutes working independently on both sections of an exam-style question. The two poems used are by John Clare and Walter de la Mare, both called “Winter” (and both in the public domain so no issues with copyright).

This is a revision (practice) powerpoint covering many of the skills required for English Language Paper 2. There is also an unseen poem which links thematically, so there’s a bit of Paper 2 Lit interleaved. There are three non-fiction texts, rather than two, so that there’s a greater breadth of reading during the revision period. The powerpoint ends with an exam-style paper 2 writing task.

This is a lesson focusing on the skills needed to tackle the unseen poetry question in paper 2 of the English Literature exam. The two poems used are “The Thunderstorm” by Emily Dickinson and “The Thunder Mutters” by John Clare (both public domain). Printable copies of the poems, for annotation, and the exam-style questions are on the final slide.

This 9-slide powerpoint has the aim: link ideas about the moon to characters in the play. Pupils are invited to think about how the moon is used to deepen the characters of the fairies. The lesson invites discussion and the sharing of ideas, to be recorded in a Venn diagram which is then used as the basis of a more formal written response.

This is a straightforward quiz on Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 29. Answers are provided. This could be used for revision or homework. Alternatively, it could be used to structure a reading of the poem.

This uses John Clare’s “First Love”. There are 7 comprehension questions, the ideas from which can be used to annotate the poem in preparation for tackling the exam-style question at the bottom of the page. The questions could structure a class/small group discussion before the students work independently on the exam-style question. Useful for cover, for homework or for revision.

This powerpoint guides students through the AQA GCSE English Language paper question by question (in that there are example questions and some guidance). There’s too much here for an hour’s lesson - could be extended over two or even three lessons. The text is a heavily abridged segment from “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming in which Bond faces his enemy, Le Chiffre at the casino.

This is a straightforward worksheet, suitable for cover, revision or homework, asking students to identify some of Sherriff’s motifs in “Journey’s End”, to find evidence of where they’re used in the text and to comment on their effect.

This resource uses the speech that the Fairy delivers in response to Puck’s “How now, spirit! Whither wander you?” There are seven questions and then a longer writing task, to write a letter. The questions should furnish the children with some ideas prior to tackling the letter-writing activity. This could be used as cover, for homework or the questions could be used to structure a guided reading activity. Suggested answers are provided though these are only a guide.

A way into unseen poetry. There are questions in boxes for the pupils to work through in pairs and then an exam-style question for independent work using the ideas that have come through the discussion. Created as a cover activity; could also be used in a small group, guided reading session or for revision or homework.

This 21 slide powerpoint is a walkthrough of paper 2, question 4. It uses two shortened texts, one pre-1914 and one contemporary and the lesson focuses on clear comparison and explaining how the writers’ words, phrases and patterns convey their feelings about zoos.

Planned for year 11 to embed the skills needed for English Language Paper 2, question 4, this powerpoint uses two short texts (shorter than would be used in the real thing), both about pigs. One is from “The Guardian”, the other from Dickens’s “American Notes”.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity using an abridged text from Dickens’ story “The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain”. There are 8 questions. This could be set for homework or used as cover. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading session.

This is a straightforward powerpoint using questioning and discussion to explore Emily Dickinson’s poem (about a train), “I like to see it lap the miles”. Created for a KS4 class to prepare for their exam question on unseen poetry, I have used the questioning and discussion in class, left it for a few days and then set the exam-style question for homework. Created for KS4 but could also be useful at KS3, especially in schools beginning GCSE study in year 9.

This uses Emily Dickinson’s beautiful poem about resilience. I created this as a revision task for year 11 but it could be used at KS3. There are 11 questions that could work for cover, for homework or to structure a discussion or guided reading session. Suggested responses are provided but these are not definitive!

This is an extract from Stoker’s “Dracula” with 18 quiz questions (answers provided). This could be used for revision, as a starter activity, for homework, cover or to structure a guided reading activity.

Sassoon’s “The Dug Out” (in the public domain) and 10 questions which could be used for cover or homework, or to structure a guided reading activity.

A straightfoward worksheet with a copy of Sassoon’s poem (which is in the public domain) and 12 questions which could be used to structure a guided reading session, or for assessment. Alternatively, this work could be set as cover or as a homework to support a unit of work on poetry, particularly the poetry of the first World War.

This is Betjeman’s simple but powerful “Harvest Hymn” with six questions focusing on the presentation of the speakers in the poem, summing up by asking the students to express the poet’s viewpoint in their own words. Created for a KS3 class but could be used for stretch and challenge at KS2 or for less confident students who need a gentle way into the unseen poetry task at GCSE English Lit.

This is a worksheet using Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Fame is a Bee” (in the public domain). There are ten questions and then a task for the pupils. This could be used to structure a guided reading or literacy lesson. Alternatively, it could be set for cover or used as a homework to support a unit on poetry or metaphor.