This introductory lesson to the greatest World War One poet includes sixteen slides about his life. The folder also contains a very moving letter that he wrote to his mother about a disastrous sentry duty that he had to undertake. The powerpoint concludes with a choice of activities inspired by this letter, such as highlighting all the powerful language and writing your own poem; responding to the letter as Owen’s mother; interviewing Owen and then writing up the interview as a newspaper report (planning sheets included). A great resource to celebrate the centenary of the end of World War One and can be used in both English lessons and history lessons. This can also be used as an introduction to the two other lessons on Dulce et Decorum Est and Exposure, both available here.

Students explore John Agard’s use of irony in this clever poem. They are then supported to write a parody of the poem, rejecting any stereotypes of themselves. A multiple choice quiz worksheet is used as a starter to get students interested in the themes and ideas.

There are eighteen lessons covering the twelve chapters of Neil Gaiman’s horror story for children, “Coraline”. Lessons explore Gaiman’s original use of language as you progress through the book, in particular his description of colours, smell and his use of similes. The scheme of work culminates in students writing their own horror story about “The Other School” that they attend and the “other teachers” who they have to battle to defend their school from. Some lesson folders contain more than one choice of activity. The key theme of bravery is also explored also.

Three lessons and two worksheets on John Agard’s brilliant poem “Checking Out Me History”. The first lesson uses a worksheet to enable students to discover the eight historical figures referred to in the poem and to discuss their own experience of history education. The second lesson covers the theme of the poem, focusing on how Agard presents identity. Using a worksheet and activity, students then explore their own identity. Finally, the third lesson looks at how Agard uses imagery of seeing in his work and students are then supported to create original and interesting imagery of their own.

Help your students to recognize and identify bias in newspaper reports. Students are presented with two newspaper reports which they have to make more biased using the techniques that they have identified throughout the lesson. Help your students to become more savvy readers of the media.

Encourage your students to use a wider variety of sentences by teaching them how to begin sentences with the present participle, “ing” form of the verb. This powerpoint contains a clear explanation, ten sentences to re-write with answers and five fictional products to for students to sell using this type of sentence. In the final activity students choose their own product or company to promote using this sentence type. It can be used as two separate lessons of thirty minutes or a lesson of an hour, factoring in feedback from students.

Encourage your students to write a powerfully persuasive formal letter from a choice of five letter writing tasks. After studying an extract from Mahatma Ghandi’s 1940 open letter to Hitler, designed to persuade him to stop World War Two, students choose a subject that they are passionate about from the following choices: A letter to your local council arguing that the building project should not go ahead. . Write a letter to the organisers of an expedition persuading them that you should be on the team. Write a letter to a well-known person persuading them to visit your school or college for the benefit of the students. Write a letter to a celebrity of your choice persuading him or her to support a campaign to end world poverty. Write a letter to the Manager of the School Meals Service in which you offer your advice. Key persuasive features are identified on a twenty slide powerpoint. Students are encouraged to use emotive language; antithesis; rhetorical question; simple sentences; repetition and direct address. Perfect for teaching GCSE transacational writing.

Have fun learning to speak like an American with this quiz on the difference between British and American English. In teams students guess the American equivalent of thirty British English nouns. Cartoon graphics make this accessible to second language speakers. All answers are provided and the activity culminates by challenging students to talk like Americans, making up a script that uses as many of the thirty words that they have guessed as they can. Give extra points for those who can add the accent! A worksheet embeds the learning and could be completed in class or for homework.

A comprehensive explanation of the regular and irregular formations of the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives. All exercises are provided with answers for peer or self-assessment. The seventeen slide powerpoint ends by challenging students to write a piece of advertising copy, using as many superlative adjectives as they can. A useful follow-up lesson to Adjectives, this lesson should take 30 to 45 minutes.

Did you know that sixty percent of English words derive from Latin and Greek? This thirty-five slide Powerpoint gives a range of clues for words containing ten different Latin roots. With an explanation of how Latin roots have come to be in the English language, all the answers are provided. A final table for students to fill in in class or at home consolidates the learning. Designed to allow students to work independently or in groups, this interactive Powerpoint will inspire your students to think more deeply about the English language.

Two lessons using an extract from Bill Bryson’s travelogue “Notes from a Small Island” in which he describes his disappointment at visiting Blackpool. The lesson sequence is as follows: In the first lesson the students attempt the question “How does the writer use language to show disappointment?” in preparation for AQA English Paper One Question 2 on language. A WAGOLL answer is provided demonstrating how the answer should be marked. A mark scheme is provided and students peer assess each other’s work following the model, giving each other a mark and written feedback. The second lesson uses the theme of disappointment as a springboard. Students write a story about disappointment in preparation for Section B: Writing on English Paper One. An example of planning a story with a 3 part story structure is included, as well as a further extract from Bryson on Weston-Super-Mare in which he shows disappointment. 23 slides and two extracts included.

Students are given a look/cover/spell/check sheet with 20 words with silent letters to spell. The powerpoint then gives each of the words with the letter missing and students write the correct spelling of the word. The answers are provided on the powerpoint and cartoon graphics are included to help second language speakers. A further worksheet supports a spot the silent letter activity in a passage about a ghastly day. Students then use the words which they have learnt to write a story using as many silent letters as possible.

Adding the suffixes -ful and -fully to the ends of words can be tricky because if the word ends in y, then you change the y to an i. This rule is explained and then there are twenty sentences that students have to complete with key words, either ending in -ful or -fully. Cartoon graphics are included to help second language speakers. All answers provided, so students mark their own work. A workheet is provided to consolidated the learning either at home or in class. A free suffix worksheet is thrown in for good measure too.

Using two sources, students imagine that they were a soldier at the Dunkirk evacuation and write an eye-witness account of it. The first source is a powerpoint with two with background information and historical contest. The second source is a an extract from Churchill’s famous "We shall fight them on the beaches speech. This could be used as stimulus for creative writing for English or empathetic writing for history.

A fun quiz with twenty logos that students have to guess before designing a logo to represent themselves. Could be done as a one-off lesson or as part of a Media Studies scheme.

Have fun revising key language techniques with this enjoyable quiz. Students can work in pairs or groups to guess the product being advertised. For extra bonus points they have to name the language techniques used (imperatives; direct address; rhetorical questions; bold statements; rhyme; puns etc). In the second round they are given ten new brands and they have to come up with slogans themselves. Finally, if you want to take it further, they choose one of the brands and slogans and turn it into a full-blown advertising campaign. A great way to launch them into several lessons worth of work!

Remind your students of the danger of fireworks at the same time as teaching them how to write a persuasive speech to warn others of the danger of fireworks. Folder includes: Two-sided information leaflet on fireworks with background and history. Comprehension activity worksheet. Planning advice sheet. Sentence starter advice sheet. Powerpoint with starter, answers to comprehension and a reminder of DAFOREST techniques. Keep it relevant with this engaging resource.

Teach your students the importance of using positive adjectives when selling a product through the medium of travel writing. Using two texts - one on the Algarve in Portugal and the other on Dubai, students learn how effective positive adjectives are through two fill-in-the-blank exercises. All answers are given on the powerpoint and all cloze exercises are on word documents. Finally, students use their new-found knowledge to sell their hometown using positive adjectives.

With this thirty-two slide Powerpoint, your students are introduced to the language techniques used to advertise and sell ice lollies. They then create their own ice lolly and design an advertising poster to sell it. Lots of examples to stimulate students’ imaginations and the work can be extended into creating a script for a TV advert.

More than four lessons worth of material on this 80 slide Powerpoint on William Blake’s deceptively simple, yet brilliant poem ‘London’. A full lesson on historical context, plus two further lessons on language and sound effects. A final lesson on how to write a contemporary pastiche of the poem with a template included. Five worksheets are included on this poet’s masterpiece.