Sometimes, the specimen papers just aren't all that interesting... In light of a recent unit I uploaded on Section B of the English Language Paper 1, I decided to create Section A of the paper. The theme for the Unit is "Worlds Unlike Our Own," so focuses on the fantasy genre. This stand-alone can be printed to help aid in the teaching and practice Section A of Paper 1, and uses an extract from Sanderson's novel, "The Way of Kings" to do so. It's a pretty good introduction as far as interesting novel openings go, and the fantasy genre is often fairly enticing for youths! If you like this sample paper and would like more class materials based on this theme, check out the corresponding unit on teaching English Language, Paper 1: Section B!

Sometimes, the specimen papers are just a little bland... This Language Paper 1 mock uses an extract from Dean Koontz's thriller, Velocity, and very quickly takes the reader from the mundane to a shocking event. With a touch of the bizarre, this mock should give even apathetic students something to pique their interest. Also available in my shop (that particularly compliments this mock) is creative writing package that focuses on creating mood and atmosphere. Check it out! Enjoy :)

Sometimes, the specimen papers are just a little bland... This is a practice English Language Paper 1, both sections A and B. The theme of the questions come from the horror genre, where Section A uses an extract from Stephen King's novel, Salem's Lot; section B uses a thriller picture prompt to creatively write a narrative or description. Available in my shop are creative writing resource units that build the skills necessary to be successful in Section B of this paper, such as the "Worlds Unlike Our Own" unit. If you give any of these resources a try, leave a reply!

Featured are several examples of poetry that are fairly easy to grasp, as they follow rigid structures and rhyme schemes: villanelles, haikus, sonnets, and limericks. Instead of analyzing poems, this gives students the opportunity to create their own and become familiar with structure, form, and rhyme. This is a great opportunity to create a poem a day and by the end, students are able to put together their own little poetry anthology. Additionally, there is a small section on found poetry, for which you will need an old book to cut up. Particularly, this is a nice way to finish up an intense unit of analyzing poems, as it gives all the room in the world for creativity.

While this unit was made with a GCSE focus, it is highly adaptable since it includes a range of creative writing activities and exercises to help develop written communication - with a flare! From first sentences to understanding how to pick out the fine details that allow for encompassing descriptions, the unit begins by looking at the overall assessment and then works towards it using the aforementioned methods and more. Resources mentioned in the PPT are included, but mostly all content comes straight from the continuous PPT. There are definitely some exciting and involved activities, but this is why I found this unit so successful again and again - and well worth the effort of setting up! You'll work your students' technical skills in punctuation and vocabulary just as much as their imaginations will be invoked.

Sometimes, the specimen papers are just a little bland... This is a practice English Language Paper 1, both sections A and B. The theme of the questions come from the fantasy genre, where Section A uses an extract from Brandon Sanderson's novel, The Way of Kings; section B uses a fantasy picture prompt to creatively write a narrative or description. Previously, I posted just Section A, so that's available as a stand-alone if you want it. Additionally, I have a full set of lessons, handouts, and activities to help guide students towards success on Section B of English Language, Paper 1 available in my shop.

Using the GCSE theme of Power and Conflict, this entire Unit contains continuous PowerPoints for 9 NEW GCSE poems, including: Kamikaze, Tissue Paper, War Photographer, Storm on the Island, and Exposure. All handouts, lyrics, and sample essays for high, middle, and low attainment mentioned in the PPT are included for reference and use. The unit uses backwards design to show - from the beginning - the intended outcome, and then proceeds to take you through lessons for each poem. An outline giving instructions on how to use each slide of the PowerPoint is now included. Remember to always check the notes box of the slides, as clarification on activities, links to clips, etc. is often found there. However, should you experience confusion using this resource, reference the, "How to Use the GCSE Poetry PowerPoint" guide for assistance.

Specifically designed for Level 3 ESL, this mini unit takes English Language Learners through the steps of creating a business proposal. Using Dragon's Den, Shark Tank, and figures like Steve Jobs, we look at what makes a successful product pitch - and presentation, to boot. An additional item you may want to include that isn't in this PPT is creating a catchy advertisement (I like to draw mine on the board as we brainstorm together a class and decide the elements needed as we go... it's useful to look at ads and pick out features, first). There is heavy emphasis on vocabulary, presentation skills, and evaluating for effectiveness. Included is a rubric (based on the Ontario curriculum) that is easily adapted to suit your curriculum outcomes, if desired.

Sometimes, we just need to get the basics in order before anything else can happen. That's exactly how I felt when I made this quick PowerPoint on how to structure an essay - using the idea of building a hamburger. It's visual, and makes something which can be kind of dull a little more exciting to watch and follow. This lesson is very adaptable, as it isn't topic-specific. Enjoy!

I've used this resource in English class and Social Science classes alike among high school students. In English, it's a great way to highlight the difference between implicit and explicit messages in order to teach them about inference; in social sciences, though, I use it to scrutinize the effectiveness of ads while unpicking the strategies and subliminal messaging of marketers and companies.

Looking mainly at the theme of power, this PowerPoint explores Macbeth as a character, the importance of stage directions and performance choices, Lady Macbeth's madness, and the concept of allegiance in the play. Since it works thematically more than chronologically, it would be useful to watch a version of Macbeth prior to beginning.

Although the novel, The Sign of Four, is AQA GCSE exam material, it doesn't have to be a boring topic in the classroom! This resource is designed to mesh creativity, academics, exam skills, and engaging activities into an enjoyable and exploratory experience of the 19th Century novel. *NOTE: This covers content and supporting materials for Chapters 1-4. More specifically, here is what this resource package includes (for Chapters 1-4): - a guide on how to use this resource - a PowerPoint of 101 slides for the lessons included - an intro to the literature paper and route of study - three vocabulary lessons - teaching Victorian context - a lesson on, "Lamb to the Slaughter" to explore the mystery genre - the skill of comparing and contrasting - going beyond PEE - identifying and using pathetic fallacy for effect - evaluating the effectiveness of openings and how an author hook's a reader Savvy with teaching the content but can't beat dry vocab? Check out the 4 vocabulary lessons that are available in my shop that will jazz up teaching vocabulary from The Sign of Four!

Trying to jazz up vocabulary lessons can sometimes leave you scratching your head. However, there is no question that students enjoy learning new words and are interested in doing so - not to mention that it's integral to their understanding of a text. Included in this package is: 1) a comprehensive PowerPoint of 4 vocabulary lessons covering 40 vocabulary words from the novel, presented through interesting activities that include creative writing, group competition, peer evaluation, and other tasks that will make your students truly think about the definition and use of their newfound words! 2) an introduction on how to use this resource 3) a list of the vocabulary for reference 4) a student and teacher copy (of answers) of worksheets Three of these vocabulary lessons are from Part 1 of my SOW on the novel, The Sign of Four. The fourth vocabulary lesson included here is NOT included elsewhere and was specifically designed for this resource. So, if you have the teaching content down pat for the meat of the novel and just need a way to spice up teaching the vocabulary, then this resource is definitely for you! It would also function wonderfully when it comes to reviewing the novel and developing higher vocabulary come GCSEs.

My Year 11s found the English Language exam articles to be fairly dull, so were having a hard time even practicing for the real deal. I used the same style of questions they would see, but with articles that centred on the theme of zombies and the apocalypse. While the questions remain the same, the content is a little more exciting for them; question 5+6 - which are the creative responses - allow them a little more imagination, too. Answer booklet not included (I just got them to write in their books or on paper).

There are two rounds included in this PowerPoint, but one "round" will usually take up a period. Students need mini whiteboards (or something to write on), a dictionary or two, and to come up with a team name. Once done, the games can begin! There are five or so literacy activities per round that focus on topics such as: punctuation, homophones, vocabulary, etc. I used this mostly with Year 7 students and lower level Year 8s. I made it knowing I had a smart board to use, but for things like the class word search which are meant to be interactive, I've just used a projector before on a whiteboard, too.

Within this creative writing unit is a continuous PowerPoint that works on developing the skills students will need to be successful creative writers, using utopias as a vehicle to do so. Specific lesson outcomes look at: what utopias are and examples, writing and identifying phenomenal first sentences, letter writing, utopia-specific vocabulary, and activities that train students to notice and express detail in creative writing. An activity sheet used for one of the lessons is also included.

This PowerPoint contains a preparatory assessment on the character of Candy in 'Of Mice and Men.' Students are shown what they will work towards, and then the class is structured to help them get there. Mainly, the focus is on close reading, being able to collect useful and relevant quotes, inference, and writing simple PEE paragraphs. The handout mentioned in the PPT is also included.

Romeo and Juliet is explored in this unit alongside the poems, "My Last Duchess," "A Women to Her Lover," and "Sonnet 130" for the purpose of writing the literature paper. Even if you are not a GCSE teacher, this unit still comprehensively covers topics and themes surrounding relationships, love, and mistreatment within the two, and offers an opportunity to write comparatively on several pieces of literature. Using backward design, the unit begins by looking at ideal partners, looks at the outcome of the unit, then goes into Shakespearian context before delving into the film and close readings of particular sections afterwards. All of the handouts and activities mentioned in the continuous PPT are included; the only additional item you will need is the film (I opted for the Baz Luhrmann edition).

Given the new GCSE specifications, this unit is designed to tap into 19th century literature; specifically, by E.A. Poe. Made with a backwards design approach, the continuous PowerPoint begins with the intended outcome, and leads students through various lessons that will prepare them for success on the final assessment. All handouts and activities have been included, and focus on: context and Poe's strange life, the use and importance of foreshadowing as a technique, the effect of punctuation, story-specific vocabulary, and structuring an essay response using multiple PEE paragraphs.

This continuous PowerPoint allows you to use an old paper as an example to teach each question of the English Language GCSE exam. There are real examples included - plus the actual mark given - so you can exam a top-mark response, and less-than-exemplary response to compare the two. It isn't the most exciting material, but I made it for a top-set class of students who requested this kind of help. It was useful to not go through the entire PPT at once, but to do a question a week to break it up. The insert referenced in the PPT is included.