A 124-slide PowerPoint that provides the full text of ‘Macbeth’, Act One, translated and annotated. The PPT uses layered text boxes with translations appearing first in blue, followed by analysis and critical commentary in different colours. The annotations include: AO3 detailed contextual background information and its relationship with the text (e.g. features of Greek tragedy, biblical allusions, cultural expectations of women, fear of witches etc.) Analysis of writer’s methods Analysis of effects of structural devices. There are a series of comprehension and analysis activities to work through and the PPT will indicate when these should be undertaken. With the appropriate school licence, this could be uploaded onto a network and accessed by students for revision. NB: on the cover image, the translations may be hidden under additional text boxes. However, they do exist! UPDATE: Guide to Meter replaced with more straightforward explanation.

An 89-slide PowerPoint that provides the full text of ‘Macbeth’, Act Two, translated and annotated. The PPT uses layered text boxes with translations appearing first in blue, followed by analysis and critical commentary in different colours. The annotations include: AO3 detailed contextual background information and its relationship with the text (e.g. features of Greek tragedy, biblical allusions, cultural expectations of women, fear of witches etc.) Analysis of writer’s methods Analysis of effects of structural devices There are a series of comprehension and analysis activities to work through and the PPT will indicate when these should be undertaken. With the appropriate school licence, this could be uploaded onto a network and accessed by students for revision. NB: on the cover image, the translations may be hidden under additional text boxes. However, they do exist!

A 115-slide PowerPoint that provides the full text of ‘Macbeth’, Act Four, translated and annotated. The PPT uses layered text boxes with translations appearing first in blue, followed by analysis and critical commentary in different colours. The annotations include: AO3 detailed contextual background information and its relationship with the text (e.g. features of Greek tragedy, biblical allusions, cultural expectations of women, fear of witches etc.) Analysis of writer’s methods Analysis of effects of structural devices There are a series of comprehension and analysis activities to work through and the PPT will indicate when these should be undertaken. With the appropriate school licence, this could be uploaded onto a network and accessed by students for revision. NB: on the cover image, the translations may be hidden under additional text boxes. However, they do exist!

A PowerPoint that demonstrates the structure of GCSE Language Paper 2, Section A (AQA 8700/2) and the skills that examiners are looking for. Source A is an article entitled ‘London’s Pauper Children’ in which Charles Dickens describes his visit to the Norwood Pauper School in the summer of 1850. Source B is a ‘Guardian’ article about Ian Mikardo School in London’s east end, published in 2014. Link provided on slide. This PowerPoint covers Section A only but there are sample answers included for each question, 1-4. If you can obtain a copy of the 8700/2 mark scheme, you may wish to encourage learners to mark the sample responses. Appropriate for middle-upper ability learners.

A PPT that teaches Owen’s ‘Exposure’. Aimed at middle-upper ability GCSE. There is a dictionary activity to begin with, followed by some contextual background and then an annotated copy of the poem. The PPT concludes with tasks for group work.

A highly simplifed re-writing of Act Two of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in modern English. There are 5 pages at font size 14. Written for a Year 9 nurture group.

An hour lesson that provides an introduction to the plot of ‘Macbeth’. Learners examine a range of sources that provide an insight into what happens in the play and its socio-historical context. The sources cover: A 19th Century poster advertising a production of the play Shakespeare’s Twitter feed A diary entry by Lady Macbeth A diary entry by Macbeth A letter from Malcolm to Donalbain, from England. For additional challenge, learners can attempt to link their inferences about the play to a range of quotations illustrating key ideas. After feedback, learners write a summary of the plot. There are three levels of challenge here, with the ‘gold’ challenge encouraging the use of higher level discourse markers. The lesson culminates in a plenary in which learners write one thing they have learnt about the play on a post-it note. This lesson is aimed at middle-upper ability learners.

This crossword is based on the extract from novel that begins, ‘It was a dreary night of November’ down to ‘…black and comfortless sky’. Suitable for middle-ability KS3.

This worksheet can be used at either KS3 or KS4 to enable students to plan a short story according to Freytag’s Pyramid. NB. I have used the term ‘initial situation’ instead of exposition. An alternative, older version of this worksheet should be available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/short-story-planning-flow-chart-11747165

A straightforward lesson that follows on from: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/lower-ability-ks3-what-is-a-sentence-12053604 It includes: A starter in which learners identify the missing features of a range of sentences. These features are categorised as either ‘missing subject’, ‘missing verb’ or ‘missing verb or more’. There is also the option of ‘no errors’. Slides 1-2 contain the sentence ready for correction, so it would help to have access to an interactive board. An introduction to simple, compound and complex sentences. Learners read an example of each type and see if they can work out how they are different. A guide sheet that explains the nature of simple, compound and complex sentences. Learners then identify whether sentences A-J are either simple, compound or complex and have a go at writing their own complex sentences, choosing from a list of subordinating conjunctions. The lesson concludes with a game involving five different pictures. The impetus is on learners to come up with a sentence in relation to each picture, with a simple sentence being worth 1 point and a complex sentence being worth 3. The instruction is, ‘Look at the picture, think of a sentence, raise your hand.’ This lesson should take about an hour and is aimed at lower-middle ability learners. It could be used as a cover lesson.

A lesson for lower ability KS3. It covers: A short punctuation starter Paired discussion: what is the difference between a sentence and a group of words? What is a subject and a verb? Learners then read and identify ten statements and identify the sentences. Making simple sentences interesting using adverbs and adjectives. Learners use a table of words to create a range of sentences with suggested structures (increasing difficulty). Review Estimated time: 1 hour. NB: These lessons increase in demand through the series.

The fourth in the creative writing series for lower ability KS3. It includes: Identify the personification, simile and metaphors in a passage of fiction (links to previous lesson) Feedback from starter slide What are adverbs and adjectives? Identifying adverbs and adjectives in a range of sentences, with extension task. Re-writing sentences using more ambitious adverb and adjective choices (list provided) Review

A straightforward introduction to creative writing for lower ability KS3 learners. It provides: A starter (see cover image) An introduction to using language descriptively. Learners read two sentences, A and B. B incorporates personification whereas A is simple ‘telling’. Learners say which one they prefer and why. An introduction to descriptive writing techniques using the acronym MRS SOAP. Learners match the technique to the letter in the acronym. Learners go on to create a structured poster that lists the letters of the acronym, what they mean and one example. Two extension tasks. Review.

The sixth in the KS3 Basic Literacy Series. It includes: A starter based on the homophones there, their and they’re, effectively revising the material covered in the previous lesson. What is an inference + several examples A series of photos as a basis for whole class discussion on the inferences that can be made from different visual cues. A worksheet: read ten short extracts and make inferences from them, with extension task Review This lesson can stand alone but it assumes some pre-teaching of there, their and they’re.

A useful learning mat that provides a guide to writing detailed paragraphs in English Literature. Works as a display or a teaching tool for learners who struggle to write in depth.

An introduction to formal letter writing, with different coloured tasks suited to different abilities. There are three example letters accompanying this powerpoint. Suitable for use with mid-upper KS3 groups.

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

A sample essay in response to an AQA 8700, Paper 2, Question 5-style task. There is a teacher copy and a student copy. The latter is littered with deliberate errors for learners to identify and correct. It is aimed at middle-upper ability groups and the question could be adapted to be relevant to other boards. It could be used as a homework activity or a lesson starter to draw attention to the need for checking for spelling, punctuation and grammar.

A series of seven tasks promoting revision of Act One of 'Macbeth'. It includes: 1) Place the following events from Act One in order, numbering them from 1-12 2) In relation to Act One, suggest the significance of the following images: a crown, a baby, a sun, a pig, a serpent and a bell. (images provided) 3) Match the quotation to the speaker and then its significance. 4) Read Lady Macbeth's soliloquy (Act 1, 5) and complete the following tasks - identify the missing words - explain what is meant by the phrases in bold - identify the techniques that Shakespeare has used in the words/phrases that have been underlined. Suggest why Shakespeare may have used them. What do they bring to the play? 5) By the end of Act One, identify 2-3 things we have learnt about: - Duncan -Lady Macbeth - Banquo - Lady Macbeth 6) Complete the following table in relation to the 3 Witches (students should identify the scenes in which they appear, what we learn about them and whether Shakespeare presents them as good, evil or both. 7) Read this extract from Act One, Scene 5. How does Shakespeare present the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth? There is an answer sheet included which could be presented on an interactive whiteboard so that sample answers can be annotated/scrutinised against the literature mark scheme (this is available on the AQA website). The exemplar responses are aimed at middle-upper attaining students. These tasks could be set as homework to promote revision of some of the key moments in Act One.