In this lesson students are asked to explore how a writer can write in vivid detail and create tension. It would ideal to use as part of a KS3 unit on autobiography. The lesson starts by asking students to write down what they know about Jessica Ennis. Other suggested starter tasks include listing synonyms for the word ‘victorious’. There is a slide with explains who Ennis is and why she is famous as well as a link to an online video narrated by her. There’s also a list of synonyms that they may wish to use later in the lesson. There is a group task for students to do after reading the extract from her autobiography where they are given 4 questions on the board and a challenge task. All questions are linked to the GCSE reading skills AO1, 2, 3 where they have to think about language, structure and the readers’ reactions. Students are then asked to colour code where in the article Jessica uses particular devices in order to create tension (emotive words, feelings, senses, metaphors). The extract has been pasted on some slides with the devices already shaded in for you so it’s quick and easy to go through with the class. There is some space around the text if you want to annotate it. The plenary asks students to write a paragraph describing their own victorious sporting achievement in an interesting way, using the key descriptive skills. There is a slide to set up a peer assessment. This lesson, as my other lessons do, includes: Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson Handouts of extracts/text Differentiated tasks Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities (‘Talk for Writing’)

In this lesson students are asked to explain how Shakespeare builds tension before, during and after the discovery of King Duncan's body. The lesson starts by asking students to identify clues in the 'Porter's scene' that something evil is occurring in the castle. Students are then asked to explore how the different characters react to the news of Duncan's death (a link is provided to Patrick Stewart's performance). The lesson ends with an opportunity to respond independently by writing an essay paragraph. All lessons in this series include: - Links to online videos (see 'notes' under Powerpoint slides) - Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson - Differentiated tasks - Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities ('Talk for Writing') - Handouts of scenes or a selection of quotes from scenes studied - Alternating opportunities for self and peer assessment - Essay writing prompts to allow students to write about the scene - References to the AQA English Literature mark scheme for Paper 1, particularly to the demands for attaining a grade 5 - what is considered a 'good pass' for the qualification. It's suggested that you download the whole series to appreciate the full learning journey.

In this lesson students are asked to consider how Shakespeare exposes Macbeth’s loss of control. The lesson starts by asking students to identify where in the play so far the theme of the supernatural has been explored. Students are then asked to read the scene where Macbeth alone sees Banquo's ghost and reacts wildly in front of his guests (a link is provided to Patrick Stewart's performance). In groups they are then asked to consider key questions about how his behaviour builds tension and how it reflects his loss of control. The lesson ends with an opportunity to respond independently by writing an essay paragraph. All lessons in this series include: - Links to online videos (see 'notes' under powerpoint slides) - Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson - Differentiated tasks - Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities ('Talk for Writing') - Handouts of scenes or a selection of quotes from scenes studied - Alternating opportunities for self and peer assessment - Essay writing prompts to allow students to write about the scene - References to the AQA English Literature mark scheme for Paper 1, particularly to the demands for attaining a grade 5 - what is considered a 'good pass' for the qualification. It's suggested that you download the whole series to appreciate the full learning journey.

An oldie but a goodie! This is still an interesting poem to explore with classes who you feel would benefit from studying the themes of conflict, prejudice and racism. This could be a lesson within a unit on conflict poetry in year 9 or may be used as a chance to explore an 'unseen' poetry which is not in your GCSE class's anthology of Literature exam poems. The poem, if you don't know it, describes a South African's feelings whilst walking through a familiar community that was devastated by the effects of the Apartheid in South Africa. The lesson begins by asking students to define the concept of segregation and then teases out any facts they may already know about the Apartheid regime. There are images and some facts for them to consider. They are then introduced to the 'WPSLOMP' method of analysing poetry as well as being asked to colour code devices the poet uses for effect (metaphor, simile, peaceful and violent imagery). The lesson ends with a chance for students to write independent essay paragraphs with a generic success criteria which can be adapted for your course. There are 3 options on how to approach essay writing: 'layers of meaning', PEA, or the 'reading ladder' which follow the same idea. Attached is; - A blank copy of the poem with a word box for tricky words - A handout of Apartheid images - Essay PEA styles sentence starters writing frames for weaker students - A worksheet with a range of tasks on it along with the poem (good cover work?) - A storyboard template - A powerpoint with the lesson clearly outlined

This is perfect as an end of term treat! This is a powerpoint containing 42 challenging questions about the play as a whole as well as the answers to them which are to be found at the end of the presentation. I have asked the class to get into groups/houses and then asked them to write their answers on a piece of paper. They can swap their answers with another group and at the end, the answers are revealed question by question so you can see which areas they struggled with. This is ideal for a higher set because there are some sneakier questions but this can easily be adapted. It should take up the best part of an hour's lesson.

In this lesson students are asked to explore how Roald Dahl describes his childhood in chapter 1 of his autobiography, Boy. It would ideal to use as part of a KS3 unit. The lesson starts by asking students to read the preface and respond to it in pairs. There is a group task for students to do after reading the chapter where they are given 4 questions on the board and a challenge task. All questions are linked to the GCSE reading skills AO1, 2, 3 where they have to think about language, structure and the readers’ reactions. There are slides with the text on for teachers to annotate on a smart board as well as a map to show the area in Wales in which Dahl grew up. The plenary asks students to discuss anecdotes about members of their own family which links to the text. This lesson, as my other Literature lessons do, includes: Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson Handouts of extracts/text Differentiated tasks Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities (‘Talk for Writing’)

This lesson asks students to explore the character of Macbeth across the play by commenting on the significance of quotes (A01,2, 3). It refers to the success criteria of the AQA English Literature GCSE but can be adapted for your course. The lesson starts by asking students to summarize him as a character using adjectives and then to narrow down his appearances into 5 'top' moments in order to remind them of the wider picture. Slides reminding them of these follow as well as a list of links to online videos of some of these key scenes. Since there's not always time in lessons, perhaps they can be given to students to watch as homework. Attached is a 'quote explosion' sheet of quotes that he says or that others say about him. Students can stick these across a page in their exercise book and annotate what they show about him as a character and pick out any imagery (symbolism, metaphor, antithesis, apostrophe etc). It could also be blown up to A3 size (great for displays!) A copy of this is on a slide in the Powerpoint for the teacher / students to also annotate on the board when the class gathers their ideas together. Next there is a list of 'challenge/extension' tasks which explore Macbeth as a tragic hero. A list of qualities expected in tragic protagonists is listed and students can discuss how Shakespeare used this formula to enrich the plot. The lesson ends with a chance for students to write independent essay paragraphs with AQA's exam success criteria but this can be adapted for your course. There are 3 options on how to approach essay writing: 'layers of meaning', PEA, or the 'reading ladder' which follow the same idea. There is then an opportunity to self or peer assess according to the key skills. As with all my lessons, there are 'Talk for Writing' activities and Challenge tasks for more able students. Please see my other lessons on Macbeth which explain his state of mind in more detail.

Attached are some resources for students to use in groups in order to make a magazine. This would be perfect for year 7 and 8 since from this age students need to be encouraged to read a wide range of non fiction texts in preparation for GCSE and magazines are a good place to start. I would suggest that you provide piles of different types of magazines for them inspect and scrutinize such as ones based on music, fashion, teen girl, cars, football/sport and gaming. Within their groups, students can assign roles and each student can plan and design their own page. Since I can't share images of front covers or pages from real magazines, I have left boxes on some of these planning sheets blank so that students can stick their own in to demonstrate their decision making. I have made these resources into PDFs so that the text boxes don't shift. The resources attached include: - Magazine Planning Sheet (a sheet to record their group's initial decisions) - Front Cover Analysis Sheets (provides space to stick examples and thinking prompts) - A suggested questionnaire for students to distribute or an exemplar which students can build on - Design a Contents Page - a planning resource - Design a Front Cover - a planning resource - Design a Letters or Problem Page - a planning resource - Design a Product Review - a planning resource - Page Templates - boxed sections to place text and images - Planning an Advert - a planning resource - Spellings - suggested spelling lists which can be adapted - Write a Feature Article - a planning resource.

This lesson asks students to explore the character of Lady Macbeth across the play by commenting on the significance of quotes (A01,2, 3). It refers to the success criteria of the AQA English Literature GCSE but can be adapted for your course. The lesson starts by asking students to summarise her as a character using adjectives and then to respond to images portraying her actions in key scenes. They are then to narrow down her appearances into 5 'top' moments in order to remind them of the wider picture. Slides reminding them of these follow. Attached is a 'quote explosion' sheet of quotes that she says or that others say about her. Students can stick these across a page in their exercise book and annotate what they show about her as a character and pick out any imagery (symbolism, metaphor, antithesis, apostrophe etc). It could also be blown up to A3 size (great for displays!) A copy of this is on a slide in the Powerpoint for the teacher / students to also annotate on the board when the class gathers their ideas together. The lesson ends with a chance for students to write independent essay paragraphs with AQA's exam success criteria but this can be adapted for your course. There are 3 options on how to approach essay writing: 'layers of meaning', PEA, or the 'reading ladder' which follow the same idea. There is then an opportunity to self or peer assess according to the key skills. As with all my lessons, there are 'Talk for Writing' activities and Challenge tasks for more able students. Please see my other lessons on Lady Macbeth which explain her role within key scenes in more detail - one of which has an exemplar essay which students can annotate to improve their performance in the exam.

In this lesson students are asked to explore how Roald Dahl describes his childhood in chapter 3 of his autobiography, Boy. It would ideal to use as part of a KS3 unit. The lesson starts by asking students to discuss their favourite sweets with a partner and they are then to read the chapter. There is a handout attached which is a template of a sweet jar which they can stick in their books and label with the quotes they find about Dahl’s favourite sweets mentioned in the text. The plenary asks students to write a descriptive paragraph about their favourite sweets using key skills, using Dahl’s writing as inspiration. The key skills which are mention fit into the ‘MASSIVEOP’ acrostic. There is a handout for this also attached. This lesson, as my other Literature lessons do, includes: Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson Differentiated tasks (challenge tasks in red) Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities (‘Talk for Writing’)

In this lesson students are asked to explain how Shakespeare builds tension on stage when we hear of Duncan’s murder. Initially the concept of tension is explored, then students are asked to identify where it is built in pairs. The questions posed in the central group work task centre around Shakespeare's stage craft and how news of his death is revealed to the crowd. Key dramatic devices such as elision and stichomythia are introduced and there is an opportunity for students to respond independently by writing an essay paragraph. All lessons in this series include: - Links to online videos (see 'notes' under Powerpoint slides) - Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson - Differentiated tasks - Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities ('Talk for Writing') - Handouts of scenes or a selection of quotes from scenes studied - Alternating opportunities for self and peer assessment - Essay writing prompts to allow students to write about the scene - References to the AQA English Literature mark scheme for Paper 1, particularly to the demands for attaining a grade 5 - what is considered a 'good pass' for the qualification. It's suggested that you download the whole series to appreciate the full learning journey.

In this lesson students are asked to explore how Macbeth is portrayed as a tyrant by his enemies. The lesson starts by presenting students with a list of traditional kingly qualities and asking them to rank how Macbeth has met these so far in the play. Students are then asked to read the scene where Malcolm tests Macduff so that he may have confidence in him as an ally against Macbeth. In groups they are to then consider key questions about the effect of Macduff learning of his family's assassination on stage and how this will then effect the plot moving forward. The lesson ends with an opportunity to respond independently by writing an essay paragraph. All lessons in this series include: - Links to online videos (see 'notes' under Powerpoint slides) - Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson - Differentiated tasks - Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities ('Talk for Writing') - Handouts of scenes or a selection of quotes from scenes studied - Alternating opportunities for self and peer assessment - Essay writing prompts to allow students to write about the scene - References to the AQA English Literature mark scheme for Paper 1, particularly to the demands for attaining a grade 5 - what is considered a 'good pass' for the qualification. It's suggested that you download the whole series to appreciate the full learning journey.

This is a lesson introducing students to the idea of the narrative hook, in other words how to write a killer first line or so to 'hook' the reader in. I put this lesson together for a year 9 scheme of work which referred to the AQA English Language marking criteria (A05+6) but the success criteria can be adapted beyond a level 3 so that it's more demanding for a year 10/11 class. The lesson starts with asking students what a narrative hook is and then to brainstorm in pairs different approaches that can be used to draw readers into a story. There are 3 'taster' first lines to show on the board where students can note questions that they have to illustrate the point. Then there is a handout of quotes which they can match to hooks in trios/groups/pairs and discuss. These can be lined up on their desks or pasted straight in. Of course, the 'answers' are provided on a separate teacher copy and the powerpoint itself (a few debatable ones are thrown in the exercise to encourage students to justify choices). Students are then given 2 scenarios to write about (gothic/horror genre based) demonstrating the use of a chosen narrative hook. A chance to self/peer assess follows to end the lesson where there is a success criteria box to refer to.

This resource acts as an introduction to etymology: the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history. Attached are 2 table style handout sheets listing root words which originate from either Greek or Latin. They ask students to list words which use them and to investigate what they mean. This would be useful to do in a computer room or using dictionaries in pairs/groups. The powerpoint reveals the answers and of course can be adapted to add more. This would be useful for KS3 literacy classes or within learning support (learning roots of words can help with spellings).

In this lesson students are asked to explore how the narrator introduces her home and family. It would ideal to use as part of a KS3 unit on autobiography. The lesson starts by asking students to ‘think, pair, share’ about what a narrative voice is and how stories may be told. There is a slide with explains the different points of view. There is a group task for students to do after reading the extract where they are given 4 questions on the board and a challenge task. All questions are linked to the GCSE reading skills AO1, 2, 3 where they have to think about language, structure and the readers’ reactions. There are slides with the text on for teachers to annotate on a smart board. The plenary asks students to write a paragraph describing their home and family in an interesting way using the key descriptive skills. This lesson, as my other Literature lessons do, includes: Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson Handouts of extracts/text Differentiated tasks Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities (‘Talk for Writing’)

In this lesson students are asked to explore how a writer can write in vivid detail and create tension. It would ideal to use as part of a KS3 unit on autobiography. The lesson starts by asking students to read the information on the first slide about who Dame Ellen is and what she achieved. They are to list feelings words associated with her feat. There is a slide with illustrates her route and there’s a link to an online video about her journey. After students read the extract from her autobiography (which is attached), they are to consider in pairs how she starts in an interesting way. This first paragraph is on a slide which you can annotate with the class. After this stage they can consider two chosen quotes on the next slide where Ellen uses imagery in order to create an effect. This task is linked to the GCSE reading skills AO1, 2, 3 where they have to think about language, structure and the readers’ reactions. The whole extract has been pasted onto these slides and there is some space around the text if you want to annotate it when going over it with the class. The plenary asks students to consider what questions they would ask Ellen after reading this. There is a suggestion of a written activity where they can exercise some of skills discussed today. This lesson, as my other lessons do, includes: Starter tasks which introduce the main idea of the lesson Handouts of extracts/text Differentiated tasks Opportunities for pair and group talk within activities (‘Talk for Writing’)

This is a popular speaking and listening game which can also be used in other subjects other than English. How to play: One student stands in front of the board whilst each slide is projected (these show images and the ‘taboo’ words). They cannot turn around and look at what’s behind them. The rest of the class have to raise their hands and describe what’s behind them WITHOUT using any of the words listed. Their aim is to get the standing student to say the word at the top of the board. This game is based on the novel ‘The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. It’s a great way to revise the novel once you’ve finished it - many of the slides refer to key themes and moments in the story. There are 38 slides which can be adapted to suit your class’s ability. All images are taken from Open Clip Art.

This lessons asks students to plan how they could write convincingly in role, using persuasive techniques to develop their ideas whilst referring to their knowledge of the play Macbeth. The lesson is good writing practice for AQA English Language Paper 2, section B and of course the Literature Paper 1. Students would need to know the whole play in order to complete this task. The lesson starts by asking students to list persuasive devices (I have used the DAFOREST acrostic here but you could change to which ever you use). They are then asked, initially in pairs, to plan for the following task: Imagine you are Lady Macbeth. You have been put on trial for the involvement in King Duncan’s murder. You must convince the judge that you were not responsible for the murder… It was all your husband’s fault! There is a slide which suggests some ideas and a planning sheet to help them articulate their ideas using the devices discussed previously. This could be taught across two lessons (1 to plan and 1 to write it). There is an opportunity to either peer or self assess the plan or the written argument at the end of the lesson which refers to the exam's success criteria.

Use of the Apostrophe - a grid sheet

Online activities to stretch English Skills