A lesson I made for my Y9 class which focuses on Sylvia Plath’s poem, ‘Mad Girl’s Love Song’, focuses on how people can become victims of relationships. The Unit this originates from is a People and Relationships Poetry SOW Can be used to practise English GCSE Poetry analysis skills, I taught to KS3 Y9, but can be adapted.

A fun lesson that I made for my Year 9 class whilst doing a scheme of learning on People and Relationships Poetry. It uses the song ‘Exile’ by Taylor Swift to teach perspectives in poetry, as well as to help sell the idea that modern poetry/songs wouldn’t be possible without the poets of the past! Can be used for unseen poetry for a bit of end of term fun at GCSE, half-term homework, or just general poetry lesson!

A comparative worksheet which focuses on the poem Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney and Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden. The focus of this lesson is on comparing poems, using unseen poetry skills. Great for GCSE, also good for KS3 Year 9 English.

A Scheme of Work (SOW) that I made for my KS3 Year 9 English class, it is focused on GCSE English Language Paper 2 Skills. It uses ‘relevant’ topics such as whether or not Barbie is a feminist masterpiece, whether or not guns should be banned in the US and also focuses on things such as compulsory voting (there is a whole lesson dedicated to the recent UK General Election of 2024 for this) and issues such as capital punishment. My class really got on quite well with this last year, you can easily adapt it too! Not all lessons have powerpoints, but most do.

A lesson which focuses on ‘Anthem for Doomed Youth’ by Wilfred Owen. I used this with my Year 8 class whilst doing a scheme of work around War Poetry

A worksheet for comparing the ideas and techniques explored in the poems ‘Valentine’ and ‘Quickdraw’ by Carol Ann Duffy. This can be used at GCSE for practising unseen poetry skills, or at KS3 for People and Relationships poetry schemes of work.

A lesson which explores the theme of inequality in the Hunger Games, no printing needed. Purely thematic lesson!

A worksheet which can be used when doing dystopian literature or when studying The Hunger Games. Students are to design their own Tribute/character. They can then use the character in a writing assessment!

FREE FIRST LESSON - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13149689 FREE SECOND LESSON - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13152951 A whole unit of lessons (ten lessons - although some lessons may take longer!) which uses Bill Bryson’s Travelogue/Travel Writing style as inspiration to write an English Language GCSE Paper 1 Section B style response! The focus of these lessons is to help students write engaging travelogues inspired by Bill Bryson’s style. The lessons emphasise the use of humor, vivid descriptions, character observations, cultural engagement, and personal reflections to create compelling travel narratives. Students are guided through drafting, editing, and refining their work with practical exercises, planning tools, and peer feedback to enhance their storytelling. I have previously uploaded an earlier version of this SOW, but it was made when I was teaching the class I made it for once a week, so I have heavily edited it, expanded it and made it much more substantial! Travel Writing Scheme of Work which can be used for Mixed ability Y7 and Y8 groups, or a lower ability Y9. Could even be adapted for GCSE or “flip”/step-up lower ability KS4 English groups.

FREE - First Lesson from Bill Bryson Travel Writing SOW! This lesson focuses on Bill Bryson, an introduction to who he is, what his writing is all about as well as an introduction to travelogues… LINK TO FULL UNIT - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-sow-bill-bryson-inspired-travel-writing-scheme-of-work-13149043 Description of Unit: A whole unit of lessons (ten lessons - although some lessons may take longer!) which uses Bill Bryson’s Travelogue/Travel Writing style as inspiration to write an English Language GCSE Paper 1 Section B style response! The focus of these lessons is to help students write engaging travelogues inspired by Bill Bryson’s style. The lessons emphasise the use of humor, vivid descriptions, character observations, cultural engagement, and personal reflections to create compelling travel narratives. Students are guided through drafting, editing, and refining their work with practical exercises, planning tools, and peer feedback to enhance their storytelling. I have previously uploaded an earlier version of this SOW, but it was made when I was teaching the class I made it for once a week, so I have heavily edited it, expanded it and made it much more substantial! Travel Writing Scheme of Work which can be used for Mixed ability Y7 and Y8 groups, or a lower ability Y9. Could even be adapted for GCSE or “flip”/step-up lower ability KS4 English groups.

Lesson Series: Exploring ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ by Edgar Allan Poe Learning Objectives: Understand how Edgar Allan Poe explores Gothic literature, the concept of madness, and macabre themes in “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Lesson 1: Introduction to Gothic Literature and "The Tell-Tale Heart" Discuss and write down initial thoughts on how “The Tell-Tale Heart” might fit into the Gothic genre based on these features. Lesson 2: The Concept of Madness in "The Tell-Tale Heart" Number key events in the story to arrange the plot in chronological order. Using these events, create a “Madness Progression” graph, plotting the narrator’s descent into madness on a scale of 1 to 10. Lesson 3: Symbolism and Atmosphere in "The Tell-Tale Heart" Students create a movie poster that captures the story’s themes, focusing on madness, obsession, and Gothic elements. Encourage use of dark colours, shadowy figures, and symbolic imagery (like the eye or heart) to convey the atmosphere.

This engaging lesson invites students to step into the role of investigators to unravel one of literature’s greatest mysteries: the death of Edgar Allan Poe. Through interactive activities such as evidence analysis, video viewing, and crafting newspaper reports, students explore historical theories ranging from alcohol poisoning and illness to political foul play, delving into the macabre intrigue surrounding Poe’s final days. The lesson encourages critical thinking, historical analysis, and creative writing, culminating in a student-led newspaper piece mimicking 19th-century journalistic style. By merging Gothic literary elements with historical detective work, students gain a deeper appreciation of Poe’s enduring influence and mysterious legacy. Buy this lesson for a memorable, thought-provoking exploration into the enigma of Poe’s death! For teachers who love a bit of True Crime…I taught this after my Y8 class had finished reading “The Raven” in-between teaching them “The Tell-Tale Heart” as a one-off bit of fun…

This dynamic lesson on travel writing focuses on honing students’ observational skills and crafting engaging anecdotes, inspired by the style of celebrated travel writer Bill Bryson. Through interactive tasks, students learn to notice and describe overlooked details, bringing scenes to life with sensory-rich descriptions and humour. The lesson emphasises Bryson’s techniques, including self-deprecating humor and observational storytelling, helping students craft their own memorable anecdotes. By weaving together observation, humor, and personal reflection, students develop their creative writing abilities while learning to make travel narratives vivid, relatable, and impactful. This captivating lesson is perfect for sparking a love for storytelling and enhancing descriptive writing skills. Buy this lesson to transform your students into engaging travel writers! FREE - First Lesson from Bill Bryson Travel Writing SOW! - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13149689 FREE -Second Lesson from Bill Bryson Travel Writing SOW! - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13152951 This lesson focuses on Bill Bryson, an introduction to who he is, what his writing is all about as well as an introduction to travelogues… LINK TO FULL UNIT - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-sow-bill-bryson-inspired-travel-writing-scheme-of-work-13149043 Description of Unit: A whole unit of lessons (ten lessons - although some lessons may take longer!) which uses Bill Bryson’s Travelogue/Travel Writing style as inspiration to write an English Language GCSE Paper 1 Section B style response!

This captivating two-day lesson on Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” guides students through an in-depth exploration of the poem’s context, symbolism, and mood shifts. On the first day, students engage with the dark background that influenced Poe’s writing, gaining insight into the haunting atmosphere and themes of loss, loneliness, and madness. They analyse the arrival of the mysterious raven and its symbolic perch on the bust of Pallas. On the second day, students dive into the text’s biblical and symbolic references, such as “Is there balm in Gilead?”, exploring how these deepen the poem’s emotional impact. They practice analytical skills through PEE paragraphs, tracking the narrator’s changing moods to understand how Poe crafts suspense and despair. Buy this lesson to immerse students in Gothic literature and teach them to master mood analysis through one of Poe’s finest works! SEE ALSO: TRUE CRIME: Solving the Mystery of Edgar Allan Poe’s Death - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13152942 The “Tell-Tale Heart” Lessons: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13152809

FREE - First Lesson from Bill Bryson Travel Writing SOW! - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13149689 FREE -Second Lesson from Bill Bryson Travel Writing SOW! - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/resource-13152951 This lesson focuses on Bill Bryson, an introduction to who he is, what his writing is all about as well as an introduction to travelogues… LINK TO FULL UNIT - https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/-sow-bill-bryson-inspired-travel-writing-scheme-of-work-13149043 Description of Unit: A whole unit of lessons (ten lessons - although some lessons may take longer!) which uses Bill Bryson’s Travelogue/Travel Writing style as inspiration to write an English Language GCSE Paper 1 Section B style response! The focus of this lesson is on SENSORY LANGUAGE, how to use it and how Bryson uses it…