A powerpoint covering a range of SPaG topics with appropriate activities for practice. Suitable for KS2-KS3, although I've also used them with lower ability GCSE re-sit groups as starters.

A quick match-up activity that encourages learners to work with subject terminology relating to poetry and other texts. The full list of terms is here: Allegory Allusion Ambiguity/Ambiguous Analogy Cliché Connotation/Connote Contrast Denotation/Denote Euphemism Hyperbole Irony Metaphor Oxymoron Personification Pun Paradox Simile

This lesson is based on the regular Guardian feature ‘A Letter to…’. I have found that it generates some very emotive and well-written pieces, even from the slightly more disengaged. Students read an example, highlighting the areas of strength, before composing a list of their own success criteria. The writing task is to produce their own ‘letter they always wanted to write’ with an opportunity for peer assessment later. The peer assessment is based broadly on the mark scheme for AQA 8700/2 Question 5, but can be adapted for different boards. This file was last saved in Office 2016.

A knowledge organiser for AQA Paper 1, Question 4 aimed at students on the borderline between grades 3 and 4. The WAGOLLs are based on a short extract from Frankenstein. Full colour and black and white copies included.

A knowledge organiser for AQA Paper 1, Question 4 aimed at students working towards Grade 3. Full colour and black and white copies included.

A series of powerpoints to teach Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men'. Suitable for KS3 and KS4.

Following on from this introduction to unseen poetry: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/unseen-poetry-lesson-1-12130945 This is the fourth lesson in the series. It focuses on Benjamin Zephaniah’s ‘The London Breed’ and is aimed at middle-ability learners. It includes: Do Now Task: A multiple- choice quiz on London Answers slide Revising terms relating to meter in poetry (see list below) Link to Zephaniah reciting his poem Introduction to iambic tetrameter Identifying iambic tetrameter in ‘The London Breed’ paired/group task (teacher answers included) Learning Review Estimated time: 1 hour This lesson can stand alone but assumes some pre-teaching or understanding of the following concepts: vowel syllable stressed syllable foot trochee iamb meter iambic pentameter trochaic tetrameter

A set of three differentiated lessons on formal letter writing for AQA English Language, Paper 2, Question 5. They are not lessons in series. You will download formal letter writing for higher, middle and lower ability learners. Each PPT comes with a WAGOLL in response to a specimen task on banning computer games for the under 18s. Each lesson covers: A general knowledge starter on aspects of the UK postal system Paper 2, Question 5, Key Points A sample question - learners identify the PAF The features of formal and informal language The layout of a formal letter A WAGOLL for a different task with exploratory questions Paragraph-writing task for peer assessment Review The task in question is on the topic of legalising marijuana/cannabis. This is planned as homework.

A straightforward lesson on the homophones there, they’re and their. It is part of the lower ability skills series and follows on from this lesson on ending sentence correctly: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/lower-ability-ks3-ending-sentences-12066805 It could stand alone but assumes some knowledge of when to use a full stop. This lesson includes: A starter (see cover image) with feedback slide What is a homophone? Homophone identification challenge The differece between there, they’re and their There, they’re and their worksheet Learning Review

Following on from this introduction to unseen poetry: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/unseen-poetry-lesson-1-12130945 This is the next lesson in the series. It covers: Revision of aspects of the AQA 8702 English Literature GCSE (NB. references to ‘An Inspector Calls’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’). Feedback slide What is meant by ‘poetic methods’? The Literature Assessment Objectives 4 tasks on worksheets in relation to poetic methods (teacher answers included). These are to be carried out in conjunction with the Methods Mat, which you may choose to print back-to-back and laminate. Feedback slides Learning Review

A lesson aimed at KS4 pupils that focuses mainly on comprehension and inference-making. The text is a 19th century letter describing entry into the Wolstanton & Burslem Union Workhouse at Chell. Please feel free to use either as a remote learning task or literacy for students coming into school during this difficult time.

An article-based lesson aimed at KS4 pupils that gives an insight into life before the NHS in England. Please feel free to use either as a remote learning task or literacy for students coming into school during this difficult time.

These are two comprehension-focused worksheets based on 19th century non-fiction texts. The first extract is from ‘The Dictionary of Daily Wants’ and gives advice on selecting an appropriate apprenticeship. The second extract is entitled ‘The Dreadful Life and Confession of a Boy Aged Twelve Years, Who was Condemned to Die at last Old Bailey Sessions’. Please feel free to use as a remote-learning task or as an activity for those coming into school at this difficult time.

An article-based worksheet aimed at KS4 pupils that gives an insight into child labour in the Industrial Revolution. This could work as a remote learning task for students studying A Christmas Carol at GCSE.

A 30-slide PowerPoint that provides a guide to the historical context of 'An Inspector Calls'. Accompanying the presentation are 3 worksheets comprising of 26 short-answer comprehension questions that relate closely to the information presented. It is potentially useful for revision sessions or as pre-reading of the play. Suitable for middle-upper ability learners.

I’ve endeavoured to create a mark scheme for the Power and Conflict poetry with indicative content, similar to the Language papers for AQA 8700/1 + 2. I’m not an examiner for this course so would be grateful for any constructive feedback.

Three essays on the function of Scrooge in ‘A Christmas Carol’ with accompanying tasks. Could be used as a cover lesson for those who have read the novella and would benefit from some revision. The essays have not been graded but are simply aimed at higher ability, middle ability and lower ability students.

A lesson that follows on from this introduction to speech writing for KS3: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-introduction-to-speech-writing-for-ks3-12049010 This is a speech-writing lesson based on the issue of arming teachers, similar to the US. It includes: Starter - learners examine four related images and say how they are similar and different A keywords match-up task with extension A link to a relevant article which serves as useful research/pre-reading A summary of the main arguments and some key statistics about gun crime in the US versus the UK Sample GCSE question (AQA-style) WAGOLL Writing time Peer assessment and review This lesson is aimed at lower-middle ability learners and should take about two hours. If you like this lesson, please consider other lessons in the KS3 speech writing series, as and when they are published. For example: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/ks3-speech-writing-the-plastics-debate-12058293 UPDATE: Corrections made to Teacher/Pupil Keywords sheets.

A four-week, fully-resourced unit of work on Roald Dahl’s ‘The Twits’. There are 12 powerpoints, each intended to last about an hour each. Each lesson is aimed at low ability Year 7 students but could be appropriate to a Year 5-6 group. It was designed as an end-of-year unit of work to be used by cover staff. Please note that the novel ‘The Twits’ is not included and will need to be obtained separately.

A lesson on ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Starter multiple choice question Context sheet and storyboard activity Suggested annotations for lower ability learners Discussion: how is this a power and/or conflict poem? Article writing task