This 20-slide lesson introduces the key themes and context behind Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’. Students are encouraged to think about colonialism and cultural erasure, learning about Nigeria’s history since the 19th Century. Achebe’s life and work is discussed, and students are given an introduction to the Igbo (or ‘Ibo’) people. Key vocabulary and themes linked to the novel are explained, including the novel’s allegorical status. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are featured for students. Students are encouraged in this lesson to reflect upon the impacts of Western Colonialism - a practice seemingly more important now than ever in the wake of recent international conversations surrounding race and privilege. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 20-slide lesson uses Ernest Hemingway’s classic short story, ‘Cat in the Rain’, to teach students about the ‘Iceberg Theory’ and analytical inference. Using Hemingway’s story as the model, students are encouraged to think about how the story functions on a symbolic level in spite of its apparent simplicity and minimalism. Marking the difference between comprehension/fact and inference, students use the story to think about ‘reading between the lines’ in this text and in so many others. Using the cat as a symbol, Hemingway’s story is deliciously ambiguous, and students are prompted to think not only about how writers hide details beneath the surface (like an iceberg), but also how they too can create powerful meanings and effects in their own creative writing. This lesson works well for KS3 and GCSE students. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. A copy of Hemingway’s story is also included in this resource. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 20-slide poem analyses Alan Gillis’ poem, ‘Bulletin from The Daily Mail’. Exploring Gillis’ use of humour to satirise how tabloid newspapers demonise supposedly anti-social members of society, this lesson deconstructs the poem’s use of hyperbole, repetition, rhyme, and - of course - language. Questions and discussion points are included around the subject of news - its dissemination, agenda, and importance to our modern society. An essay question is included for students at the end. A copy of the poem is included within the PowerPoint. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 32-slide lesson on Wilfred Owen’s harrowing portrait of the First World War, ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’, contains a detailed and comprehensive exploration of the poem. The lesson includes context on the war, propaganda, and Owen himself, as well as analysis and questions on each stanza of the poem, including structure and form. Questions and tasks are included, with a final essay question for students (and two exemplar paragraphs) at the end. A copy of the poem is included too. This lesson is ideal for KS3 (particularly HA) and GCSE students, but could be easily adapted. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

Explore how Dickens uses Fezziwig in ‘A Christmas Carol’ to convey his message of charity, togetherness and humanity in the 19th century. This PowerPoint considers Dickens’ characterisation of Scrooge’s former employer, how he functions as the symbolic antithesis of Scrooge, and why the Spirit takes Scrooge back to the convivial Christmas party of his youth. Includes extract from the novella in which Fezziwig is introduced for students to highlight and annotate.

This 24-slide lesson explores Emma Lazarus’ poem, ‘The New Colossus’. Immortalised on its plaque beneath the iconic Statue of Liberty, Lazarus’ poem honours one of the greatest monuments in the world. This lesson explores how the poem personifies and gives symbolic power to Lady Liberty, analysing the sonnet’s language, form, structure, and rhyme. We look at why Lazarus juxtaposes Liberty with the ancient Colossus of Rhodes, and how Lazarus uses the poem to champion the rights of immigrants seeking comfort in the Land of Opportunity. A glossary is provided for challenging vocabulary, and the poem’s key ideas and images are deconstructed in detail. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. An essay question is included, as well as a creative task at the end of the lesson. The full poem is featured within the PowerPoint. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This crossword on John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’ provides an enjoyable but academic activity for pupils to test their knowledge of the novella. It always works as a great starter or plenary task.

This 30-slide lesson offers the perfect introduction to the context of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’. In the lesson, students explore Jacobean ideas of Kingship, looking closely at the reign of James I, the Divine Right and Great Chain of Being, and the atmosphere created by the Gunpowder Plot. We then look at Renaissance and Medieval ideas of gender (especially on the stage) and Aristotle’s rules for tragedy. The play’s key themes and ideas are explored, and students are encouraged to reflect on power and its relationship to corruption and even tyranny. Important vocabulary is explained, and students are tasked with researching other key words and ideas. Questions, discussion points and tasks are included for students. Also included in this resource is a copy of James I’s speech to Parliament in 1610 for the purpose of analysing the King’s attitudes to his Divine Right. Ideal for students reading the play at GCSE or upper-KS3. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 27-slide lesson explores Simon Armitage’s poem, ‘Hitcher’. The lesson analyses each stanza in comprehensive detail, considering Armitage’s use of language, structure, form, and poetic technique. The speaker’s increasing frustration and anger is examined closely as the poem builds to its infamous climax. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. One task involves creative writing, while an essay question is featured at the end of the lesson. This lesson is ideal for upper-KS3 or GCSE students. A copy of the poem is also included in this resource. PowerPoint and Word Doc saved as PDFs.

This 30-slide lesson explores Stave One of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. Students are encouraged to consider Dickens’ characterisation of Scrooge - his attitude to charity, romance, and Christmas - and to think about how Marley’s Ghost triggers Scrooge’s metamorphosis of misanthropist to philanthropist. Scrooge’s relationship with Fred and Bob Cratchit (his character foils) is analysed. We also think about symbols of cold and darkness, and link this all to Dickens’ message in this allegorical novella. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. An essay question on Scrooge is featured, supported by tips for students and an exemplar introduction and differentiated analytical paragraphs. Also included is a worksheet for students to analyse the language used by Dickens to describe Scrooge in Stave One. This is ideal for those studying the novella at GCSE or at KS3. PowerPoint and Word doc. saved as PDFs.

Let your students track how each of the Seven Commandments is broken with this great worksheet. Understanding when and why (and by whom) each Commandment is broken is paramount to Orwell’s vision of corruption and manipulation on the farm. Hugely useful for helping students to really know the plot and structure of the novella.

This crossword on George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ provides an enjoyable but academic activity for pupils to test their knowledge of the novella. It always works as a great starter or plenary task. Ideal for KS3 or KS4.

This 20-slide lesson explores Chapter 2 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider how the revolution begins and how Orwell introduces the key characters of Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer (among others). The Seven Commandments are debated and discussed. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about Lenin, Trotsky, and Stalin, as well as the role of the Russian Orthodox Church in the Russian Revolution and its aftermath. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 23-slide lesson explores Chapter 3 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider the significance of Napoleon’s focus on the education of the young, and the beginnings of the farm’s use of propaganda and indoctrination. Boxer’s stupendous strength is discussed and his role foreshadowed. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about who/what Squealer represents. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. This lesson builds to an extract-based essay question (included in the resource), with step-by-step instructions for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint and Word Doc saved as PDF.

This 20-slide lesson explores Chapter 5 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider how the farm juggles punishing dissenting characters like Mollie as plans develop for the windmill. The most significant event explored here, of course, is Napoleon’s attack on Snowball, revealing his behind-the-scenes quest for leadership and paving the way for his totalitarian dictatorship. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about Stalin’s expulsion of Trotsky from the Soviet Union. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. An extract-based question is also included here. An exemplar introduction is featured in the PowerPoint. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 15-slide lesson explores Chapter 4 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider how Orwell presents the Battle of the Cowshed and its significance in the animals’ quest for independence. Alongside this, we explore how Snowball and Napoleon exhibit very different styles of leadership. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about who/what Mr Pilkington and Mr Frederick represent. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 15-slide lesson explores Chapter 1 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider how Orwell plants the seeds of revolution on the farm via Old Major’s rhetorical skill. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about who/what Old Major and Mr. Jones represent. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 15-slide lesson explores Chapter 6 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider how the pigs begin to violate the Seven Commandments (sleeping in beds and trading with humans) and how Squealer is able to justify these transgressions through manipulative rhetoric. The use of Snowball as a scapegoat is explored, alongside how and why Orwell emphasises Boxer’s significance to the farm’s ‘success’. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about the slippery relationships between Stalin and the US, UK, and Germany. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 15-slide lesson explores Chapter 7 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider how Napoleon begins to consolidate his totalitarian rule through establishing a reign of terror. As animals begin to show signs of dissent and mild revolt, the pigs’ increasing use of violence shatters any illusion of a utopian society. As ever, Squealer’s propagandistic rhetoric is analysed. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about the Great Purge and the Peasants’ Revolt in the Soviet Union. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This 15-slide lesson explores Chapter 9 of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’. In this comprehensive lesson, students consider the tragic fate of Boxer as his stupendous strength finally fails. We analyse how the pigs exploit Boxer’s death with cold calculation, and debate whether Benjamin’s refusal to utilise his literacy is responsible for his friend’s fate. The allegorical function of the novella is also closely studied, as pupils learn about who/what Boxer and Moses represent. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The lesson is ideal for KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.