Unique resources created by an experienced Secondary English and History teacher. These are academically rigorous resources that target children between 13 and 18 years of age.
Unique resources created by an experienced Secondary English and History teacher. These are academically rigorous resources that target children between 13 and 18 years of age.
Event: Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic
Focus: Refuting assumptions
This Essential English lesson is designed to continue students understanding of cultural assumptions (stereotypes) and how refuting misconceptions can add to the persuasiveness of a speech.
For this lesson, a specific event has been chosen from North West Qld: The Lake Moondarra Fishing Classic.
It includes viewing activities, brainstorming activities and a writing task.
Focus: Challenging Misconceptions about an event or place
This Essential English lesson is designed to continue students understanding of cultural assumptions (stereotypes) and how refuting misconceptions can add to the persuasiveness of a speech.
For this lesson, a specific event has been chosen from North West Qld: The Gregory Canoe Race. Videos and photos are shown and discussions are held to draw on students prior knowledge about this event.
• What are some words you would use to describe the scenery? Show photos and videos.
• Brainstorm misconceptions
• Brainstorm ways that these misconceptions could be eradicated
• Students in pairs will create a paragraph.
• Peer check
A PPT designed for a 70 minute Essential English lesson to teach students about The Hospitality Industry and introduce the idea of Misconceptions (aka stereotypes / cultural assumptions).
• Teach students about the four sections of the hospitality industry
o How to understand your target market
o The wants and needs of different demographics
o Example using Townsville – what would you pitch if your client brief was …
• Introduce terms: misconceptions / assumptions.
• Brainstorm misconceptions using a variety of locations and stimulus (Bali & Paris).
• Breaking down Mount Isa Rodeo exemplar (identifying persuasive devices, text connectives, misconceptions, counter argument, language features)
• Students to choose location from brainstorm activity and we create a paragraph as a class. Break down the paragraph – what is missing? What can be taken out? Have we used language devices? Have we used text connectives? Are we persuasive?
My school has 1 literacy lesson a week (70 minutes) taught by a different teacher than their usual English teacher. They do activities related to the unit but also spelling, grammar, reading comprehension etc.
Intro to the purpose of literacy lessons and the types of activities they will be doing.
Intro to ethos, pathos and logos and their historical origins.
Watch a short YouTube clip explaining these terms.
Copy notes about ethos and view examples (from advertising – print and tv adverts). Discuss why audiences are influenced to buy products endorsed by celebrities or experts.
Copy notes about logos and engage with examples.
Copy notes about pathos and engage with examples.
Bookmark making.
Spelling test.
A PPT designed to introduce students to Persuasive Language features that they should use in their upcoming assessment (multimodal presentation). Students copy what is underlined, and complete the activities on the slides.
This lesson takes students through a range of slides introducing language features including:
High modality
Groups of three
Adjectives
Repetition
Figurative language (similes and metaphors)
Reasons and evidence
Inclusive language
Imagery
Evaluative language
Students learn the difference between fact and opinion and practice identifying these.
Students view some clips and still images to identify language features.
Discussion of local event: Mt Isa Rodeo
Brainstorm reasons to visit
Watch 2x videos about this event to identify the techniques used to sell it to the viewer
Write a 1minute speech convincing your teacher to go to the rodeo
A PPT designed to teach 11 Essential English students about Being Persuasive. Students copy what is underlined, and complete the activities on the slides.
Within the lesson students will learn:
What does it mean to persuade?
How are VABs (values, attitudes and beliefs) vital to being persuasive?
Explaining purpose + target audience.
Ways to appeal to your audience: ethos, pathos and logos.
Viewing a range of videos which they must respond to including a Contiki advertisement, a Ted X talk ‘Kids need more recess’
Use prior knowledge to introduce what a persuasive speech is. Play 2 versions of speeches about climate change (David Attenborough vs Leonardo Dicaprio)
• Students had to choose which speaker they thought best addressed the impacts of climate change.
A PPT designed for the first lesson back (lessons are 70 minutes). It begins with classroom expectations, finding out about the teacher and some interactive activities with peers. It also includes an explanation of how the QCE works and why it is better to get the literacy tick in year 11 than year 12. It includes a overview of the four assessments for the year so students understand they will be doing one speech per semester. They are introduced to their first assessment (a persuasive speech 4-6mins) and what the first unit will be about. They are given a copy of the learning intentions and success criteria to glue into their books. Then there is a creative group work activity designed to see their current ability levels.
**ABOUT THE UNIT
**
Unit 1: Language that works
Focus: Travel industry
Unit description: Students respond to a client travel brief by designing a multimodal presentation for a holiday centred on a chosen international event. They will research the event and its location, considering how to represent the place and the event to appeal to the client’s interests. The unit also examines how individual perspectives and cultural assumptions influence perceptions of places and events. Through this task, students develop skills I research and multimodal design, while exploring the intersection of culture, representation, and audience engagement.
A booklet designed to be filled in by students while spoken presentations are taking place in class (to keep them occupied and quiet). It begins with a careers word search followed by a brainstorming activity about their dream job. This is followed by a scereenshot of a job advertisment which appeared on Facebook for a beauty salon. Students answer 6 questions about this advertisement. There is a vocabulary building activity and an activity for using better words than ‘nice’ (i.e. descriptive language). There is an activity about forming adverbs. There are some writing activities (based on working in a hotel). Finally, students must write a cover letter in response to a specific job advertisement.
A lesson designed to introduce students to classic literature through fairy tales. After learning what a classic text is, students get to brainstorm some texts which come to mind. (Some answers are provided on the next slide). Then fairy tales are explained and their origins as spoken fairy tales. Using ‘Snow White’ students are going to read the classic text and answer comprehension questions about it. They will then write a quick review of this fairytale. They will then consider how it could be told in a modern setting. This is followed by watching the trailer for the film ‘Sydney White’ (2007) which does this. Students have time to map out their modernised tale.
In the same PPT is another lesson where students get introduced to parody, allusion and appropriation. They will view a television show which draws on these classic tales (Once Upon a Time). They watch season 1, episode 12 and answer questions on the worksheet (attached).
A quiz made as a fun end of year activity but which could also be used at the beginning of a school year. It was inspired by the television show Task Master. It begins with individual tasks and has some small group tasks at the end. Good for beginning of the year icebreakers or end of the year celebrations.
NB: Taskmaster is a British comedy panel game show created by comedian and musician Alex Horne and presented by both Horne and Greg Davies. In the programme, a group of five celebrities – mainly comedians – attempt to complete a series of challenges, with Horne acting as umpire in each challenge and Davies, the titular “Taskmaster”, judging the work and awarding points based on contestants’ performances.
A quiz made as a fun end of year activity but which could also be used at the beginning of a school year. It was inspired by the television show Spicks and Specs (an Australian music-themed comedic television quiz show on ABC and ABC iview). This version has 6 rounds and is appropriate for grades 8 and over as it requires students to be familiar with musical artists.
In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy.
This lesson centred around synonyms followed by revision of apostrophes (taught in previous lesson).
I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. Students copy the underlined text (e.g. definitions). To save on printing, activities can be projected on board and students write into their books.
In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy.
This lesson centred around apostrophes. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form. Students copy the underlined text (e.g. definitions). To save on printing, activities can be projected on board and students write into their books.
The PPT goes through the three uses of apostrophes and provides examples. There are some activities for possessive apostrophes, contractions etc.
In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy.
This lesson centred around idioms and tone. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form.
It includes a definition of each term and activities for students to brainstorm some examples. An idiom specific activity: provide a list of idioms and students to write what they actually mean. Tone related activity: list 4 tones at the top and provide 4 sentences which students must match to the tones listed.
PPT also includes some spelling activities. Spelling rule – I before e except after c when the sound is ee. A NAPLAN style activity correcting misspelled words (answers included in the PPT – they pop up when you click).
In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy.
This lesson centred around conjunctions and adverbs. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form.
It includes a definition of each term and activities for students to brainstorm some examples.
Some simple text connectives (conjunctions) are explained using the F.A.N.B.O.Y.S acronym and some example sentences. A table listing other types of conjunctions more appropriate for secondary school is provided.
Some activities for students to apply what they have learned follow on the remaining slides (answers included in the PPT – they pop up when you click).
In Essential English, one of 4 lessons a week is dedicated to literacy.
This lesson centred around homophones. I have included the lesson in both PPT and worksheet form.
It includes a definition of homophones and an activity for students to brainstorm some examples.
Some common homophones which trip people up are explained e.g. than vs then / there, their or they’re.
Some activities for students to apply what they have learned follow on the remaining slides (answers included in the notes section of the PPT).
My school runs a 10 Legal Studies elective designed to give students a taste of Senior Legal Studies.
This is for a unit designed to give students foundational knowledge about criminal law with a focus on youth crime.
What is included:
Scope and Sequence – lays out the topics taught in each lesson across the 8-week term (two weeks of which are exam block). There are 2 lessons a week. Some of these lessons are also available for sale at my store.
Learning Intentions and Success Criteria Handout – included on learning wall and printed in A5 for students to glue into their books and refer to throughout the unit.
Unit Plan – which contains:
• Unit description
• Assessment details (formative and summative)
• Suggested resources (textbooks, websites, videos etc.)
• Teaching and learning cycle
• Reflection questions for teachers at the end of the unit
A resource which I think Legal Studies / Civics teachers will find helpful. If you use it, and like it, please give me a positive star rating / review.
An exam designed for 10 Legal Studies (a unit focusing on criminal law and youth crime). For this assessment students were allowed to see the sources for the extended response one week before the exam.
Included documents:
• Part A: 6 short response questions
• Prepared answers for Part A (to assist with marking).
• Exam planning paper
• Part B: Planning and response booklet
• Part B: Exam Stimulus (sources). It includes sources and context statements.
A resource which I think Legal Studies / Civics teachers will find helpful. If you use it, and like it, please give me a positive star rating / review.
A Practice exam designed for 10 Legal Studies (a unit focusing on criminal law and youth crime). For this assessment students were allowed to see the sources for the extended response one week before the exam.
Included documents:
• Part A: 7 short response questions
• Part B: Planning and response booklet
• Part B: Exam Stimulus (sources). It includes sources and context statements.
• Prepared answers for Part A (to assist with marking).
• Some typed responses (paragraphs from Part B) from students who sat the exam in 2024
A resource which I think Legal Studies / Civics teachers will find helpful. If you use it, and like it, please give me a positive star rating / review.
NB: My lessons have been designed for use in Australian classrooms and will often feature examples from Queensland legislation.
An 8 page revision sheet which can be used in classes as well as for homework in the lead up to an exam which has Part A (short response about criminal law) and Part B (extended response about Youth Crime). An answer sheet is also provided.
The revision booklet includes:
• Match the definitions (retribution, deterrence, rehabilitation, denunciation, community protection).
• Multiple choice questions (could be turned into a Blooket / Kahoot).
• Explaining processes (e.g. phases of a criminal trial / how a jury is selected).
• Short response comprehension questions.
• Key terms to define
• Concepts to explain e.g. rule of law
• Identifying key terms and labelling them with words from a word bank (adversarial system, evidence, beyond reasonable doubt, prosecution, jurisdiction, search warrant, restorative justice, fines, non-custodial sentence, the age of criminal responsibility)
A resource which I think Legal Studies / Civics teachers will find helpful. If you use it, and like it, please give me a positive star rating / review.
NB: My lessons have been designed for use in Australian classrooms and will often feature examples from Queensland legislation.