Ever struggled to explain the twisting and turning plot of Shakespeare’s classic play to younger students? If so then this resources can help you. Terry Deary has condensed the plot into a twenty-five verse poem called “The Ballad of Big Mac”. Students study the poem over two lessons, analysing the plot and language techniques in the poem. Having identified Deary’s use of pathetic fallacy, students are guided and supported to create their own witch and introduce him or her using pathetic fallacy. After peer-assessing each other’s work, students study an extract from “Doomspell” by Cliff McNish in which he introduces his witch, Dragwena. Students are then encouraged to re-draft and improve their descriptions using all the techniques which they have been taught in the two texts. Designed with less able students in mind, this folder of work would also suit primary school children. The folder includes. Copy of poem with numbered verses so students can be allocated a verse to practice reading/performing to class. A seven-page student workbook with a two comprehension cloze exercises on the poem and guided activities. Teacher answers to cloze exercises. Copy of extract from “Doomspell”. This resource could also be used as an introduction to my other lesson available on this website called “The Witches Spell”.

This twenty-six slide powerpoint contains two lessons on Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18. In the first lesson, students get to grips with the archaic vocabulary by translating the sonnet into modern English. They can then focus on the meaning and the extended metaphor of the weather. In the second lesson, students are taught the key structural elements of the Shakespearian sonnet form. They then have a go at writing their own love sonnet. For inspiration, Benjamin Zephaniah’s poem “I Love Me Mudder” is included, which they could turn into sonnet form. They are given three-step guidance to writing a sonnet and then time to reflect on the process and Shakespeare’s achievement of writing 154 sonnets in total. Included in folder are: Copy of sonnet with glossary of archaic vocabulary. Copy of Benjamin Zephaniah’s “I Love Me Mudder” 26 slide powerpoint with starters.

This fifty slide powerpoint on Sherlock Holmes could be used as background to the study of a Conan Doyle text; as part of a crime writing scheme of learning; or as a one off lesson to get students to create their own detective character. The folder includes: A powerpoint with brainstorming activity on different fictional detectives; a ten question quiz on the character traits of Sherlock Holmes; historical background information about how Conan Doyle created Holmes and his popularity. A worksheet to support students to create their own detective. Follow-up comprehension questions to consolidated the learning for homework.

Using the poem “Nettles” by Vernon Scannell, students analyse the effect of the extended metaphor of military imagery to describe the nettles before engaging with the theme of the poem. In the second lesson, students learn how to create extended metaphors themselves with an example comparing school to a prison. Students are given several choices and lots of support to then choose a vehicle for their own extended metaphor. Folder includes: A worksheet to identify meanings of military imagery words before reading. Copy of poem. 25 slide powerpoint.

Help your students to learn their homophones with fun activities. Two worksheets packed full of sentences and activities to help them learn the differences, followed by a powerpoint with varied activities, such as creating a homophones educational poster; a quiz; plus a list of pairs of homophones for students to create a worksheet themselves for their classmates. Over three lessons worth of material.

Two lessons on using antithesis inspired by John F Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address. The lesson sequences is as follows: Lesson 1 Students brainstorm what one thing they would change in the world if they had the power. Context to JFK inaugural speech. Identification of persuasive devices in speech. Explanation of antithesis. Identification of antithesis. Consideration of effect of antithesis. Worksheet writing frame to encourage students to use antithesis. Peer marking - What went well and Even better if. Lesson 2 Re-consideration of starter from lesson 1. Students write a speech on the topic of their choice using persuasive devices and the antithesis they created from the previous lesson. Folder includes 21 slide powerpoint; extract of speech and worksheet writing frame to create antithesis.

Two lessons using the opening of 1984 to introduce students to the features of dystopian fiction with a particular emphasis on Orwell’s use of pathetic fallacy in the introduction. The lesson sequence is as follows: Lesson 1 Starter on what students think makes a perfect world. Explanation of origin of term dystopia. Examples of dystopian fiction for children. Overview of 1984 without spoilers. Analysis of techniques used in opening to establish the dystopian atmosphere of the novel. Zoom in on Orwell’s use of pathetic fallacy. Students identify examples. Answers on slide. Discussion regarding living in this kind of world. Lesson 2 Students return to their original thoughts on what makes a perfect world. Narrative writing in preparation for AQA GCSE English Paper One Narrative Writing. Choice of writing a story about a perfect world or writing a story inspired by a picture of the Earth. Both with focus on using pathetic fallacy and sensory description. Folder includes 24 slide powerpoint and copy of extract of opening. Students are quite rightly fascinated by this amazing novel.

Five lessons on Alfred Noyes’ romantic and ghostly poem “The Highwayman”. The lesson sequence is as follows; Lesson 1: Background information on highwaymen. Class questions on plot to clarify understanding and worksheet cloze exercise to consolidate understanding. Lesson 2: Similes in poem with worksheet and then opportunity for students to create their own similes. Lesson 3: Metaphors in poem with worksheet and then opportunity for students to create their own metaphors. Lesson 4: Sound effects: Worksheet on alliteration, onomatopoeia,rhythm and rhyme. Activities for students to create alliteration poem and brainstorm more onomatopoeic words. Lesson 5: Discussion of key themes - loyalty, betrayal, death and love. Students plan a story on one of these themes as final assessment. Links to AQA GCSE English Paper One Section B: Write a story. 56 slide powerpoint and six worksheets in folder with copy of poem.

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.

Three lessons using an extract from Bill Bryson’s “Notes from a Big Country” on the theme of junk food. The lesson sequence is as follows: With a worksheet of devices, students learn the techniques that writers can use to create humour. They then identify these devices in the extract. The second lesson is transactional writing where students write an article to persuade their class mates to eat healthily in timed GCSE exam practice conditions. The third lesson is a feedback lesson after the articles have been marked. The folder includes a WAGOLL from a real GCSE student and exercises to help students make their conclusions more powerful.

This forty-four slide powerpoint on “The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson contains four lessons covering the four sections of the poem and a final writing assessment task. The folder includes: Powerpoint with four lessons, using paintings by Sir John Waterhouse and others to inspire and engage students. A storyboard of the setting in Part 1. Comprehension questions on Part 2. Image of Sir Lancelot to analyse his presentation in Part 3. Opportunities to explore the themes and symbolic meaning of the poem. Two worksheets to support the task of writing about the lady and the events in the poem from the point of view of Sir Lancelot. These resources will help your students to fully engage with Lord Tennyson’s beautiful, magical and mysterious poem.

This Powerpoint prepares students for AQA and Eduqas English GCSE creative writing by guiding them through an example of a successful story under the title: “Write about a thrilling experience”. The lesson is structured as follows: Students think of the most exciting thing that has ever happened to them. They begin to plan using either the 5-part story structure or the 3-part story structure, depending on their ability. (Differentiated slides). Slides present the WAGOLL with effective writing techniques highlighted. (Sentence variety; sophisticated vocabulary; appeal to the senses etc) Students attempt four of the identified techniques themselves. Students write their story in exam conditions. Success criteria slide as a reminder. Using WAGOLLS is a great way to get students to understand the exam requirements.

Introductory lesson on “Remains” with worksheet to storyboard the incident so that students can visualise what happened, followed by exercise to explode the key quotations about how the soldier feels. Accompanied by a powerpoint, extra comprehension questions and further exploration ideas.

Starter activity on the homophones allowed and aloud. Afer the explanation, students fill in the correct word in ten sentences, followed by answers, so students mark their own work.

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.

A twenty question quiz on spelling words ending in “ible” or “able”. Students are given some guidelines and a look/cover/spell/check worksheet to learn the spelling before the quiz. All answers provided on the powerpoint, so students can mark their own work. A consolidation worksheet is included to complete at home or in class.

These spelling activities are divided into four rounds. In Round 1 students have to guess if the word ends in “tion” or “sion” from the pronunciation and the clue. In Round 2 students have to choose the correct spelling from a choice of two. In Round 3 students are introduced to the “cian” ending and have to guess the profession from the clue. Round 4 is twenty-two clues to words ending in either “tion”,“sion” or “cian”. Cartoon graphics add interest and help second language speakers. All answers are provided on the slides, so students mark their own work. A worksheet is included for consolidation in class or at home. Approximately 100 slides in total.

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.

Glaciers are so important in the formation of landscape. This powerpoint explains how glaciers are formed and how they can create crevasses and moraines. It then zooms in on the case study of Hob Moor in York, which was formed by a glacier 15000 years ago. Students then have to create a storyboard of ten different stages to show the development of how the current moor was formed from an ancient glacier. Students will enjoy bringing geography to life and making it real.

Learning Roman numerals gives the brain a good workout and makes us think about the world in a different way. After the explanation of the addition and subtraction principles, this 90 slide powerpoint contains three rounds. Firstly, students work out the Roman numeral equivalent of every day numbers. Next students write the every day number from Roman numerals. Finally students add two Roman numerals together. All answers provided for this forty-six question quiz, so students can mark their own work. Aimed at middle ability students.