'The Secret River' resource bundle

Ten resources on 'The Secret River' to help students prepare for their IGCSE English Literature exam (some resources are double lessons).

I appreciate all constructive criticism, so I hope you are able to take time to review this scheme.

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Character analysis:
Using the medium of Twitter, this lesson allows students to chart Thornhill's development over 'The Secret River'. This can be done over the course of reading the novel or at the end, and can be used as a helpful revision activity.

Differentiation for this task includes the extent to which quotes are used for tweets, assigning characters other than Thornhill, and scaffolding key events to signpost students towards. In addition, homework tasks can be set for students to create a Twitter page for less major characters.

Files in this resource:
Character analysis - PowerPoint of lesson
Twitter Template - Word document of Twitter template - this activity can then be completed by hand or electronically.

Social hierarchy:
A two-part lesson that explores the theme social hierarchy in 'The Green River' by Kate Grenville, specifically focusing students on an extended extract to analyse. To help prepare students for IGCSE English Literature Paper 1, the lesson begins reviewing the exam outline, assessment objectives and qualities of an A-grade student. The main body of the lesson is analysing a section of the novel, leading up to the 'green slippers' incident, with students working individually, in pairs, and finally in a group to prepare a mini-presentation. The final part of the lesson moves towards creating a plan for the exam question.

Whilst the extract for this question is considerably longer than what students will face in the exam, it will provide useful practice on how to closely analyse an extract for this type of question, whilst also providing detail revision notes and familiarising students with the context of this scene. In addition, the question asks students to make links with other parts of the novel, again helping to develop their overall knowledge of the text and therefore helping them prepare for the essay-based question.

Files in this resource:
Social hierarchy - PowerPoint
Social hierarchy extract - Word document

Thornhill and Sal:
This lesson allows students to explore the importance of Thornhill and Sal's relationship in Kate Grenville's, 'The Secret River'. With opportunity to work individually or in groups, the lesson encourages students to find pivotal moments in the novel that reflect the importance of their relationship. The lesson allows students to build on their knowledge across the entire novel, leading to a practise exam question to answer at the end.

It is anticipated that this lesson will cover more than one hour to allow for the essay writing, subsequently providing a useful assessment piece for the unit. References to AOs and the mark scheme are taken from the current IGCSE specification.

Collarbone's death:
Focusing on Collarbone's execution, this lesson allows students to work in groups to annotate an extract, similar in length to what would be expected in the IGCSE English Literature paper. With key questions, students prepare a mini-presentation that the rest of the class use to take notes for, in preparation for a mock exam question.

Further pair work is involved with planning a response and peer assessment for the plenary. This lesson could then be continued in a second session with students completing their essay response, or this could be written for homework. The lesson also reminds students of AOs and skills to demonstrate for a top level answer.

Files in this resource:
Collarbone's death - PowerPoint of lesson
Collarbone's death extract - Word document of extract

Hope:
This two-part lesson allows students to explore the theme of hope in the novel, 'The Secret River'. Building up to answering a practice exam question (lesson 2), the lesson begins evaluating the importance of hope. Students then analyse a selected quote in detail which will not only act as a useful revision aid, but also become an essay plan.

In the second lesson, students feedback their mind-map ideas which could be used for a classroom display. There are reminders on AOs and how to achieve high marks, to help direct students with their response.

Mr Middleton:
Exploring the character of Mr Middleton and his relationship with Thornhill, this lesson looks at three short passages, encouraging students to consider how Grenville presents this relationship and the influence it has on Thornhill. The lesson moves to an analysis of how Grenville presents Mr Middleton's death and what changes this signifies for Thornhill. The essay-style question for this lesson focuses on foreshadowing and Mr Middleton's death.

Setting:
Exploring setting in 'The Secret River', this resource allows students to consider language techniques and how setting is important to the development of the story. Likely to cover two lessons, students work in groups to annotate six different extracts from the novel. It is recommended that the teacher creates a booklet of these settings to allow students to have a comprehensive set of notes and annotations which will be useful for revision purposes. Each extract has line numbers to help with discussions and there is a range to allow access for different abilities.

Files in this resource:
Setting - PowerPoint of the lesson
Starter task - Word document
6x extracts for the main focus of the lesson - Word documents

The Prologue:
This lesson encourages students to explore the significance of the Prologue. Beginning with an analysis of the extract, students consider how the Prologue foreshadows later events in the novel. The lesson works towards pair planning an essay question which is then developed with further pair work. The question could then be completed as an assessment or Homework task.

Files in this resources:
Strangers - PowerPoint of lesson
Strangers - Word document of Prologue

Essay Round Robin:
A lesson that allows group work and collaboration, with hopefully little teacher input! Ideal for classes revising 'The Secret River', this lesson allows students to tackle four different exam questions independently before having whole-class feedback. The lesson could be rolled over into a second session to allow for a detailed review of each question and could also be developed to use as an assessment piece.

Files in this resource:
Essay round robin - PowerPoint of the lesson
Essay questions - Word document of the four essay questions to print for each essay "station"

Racial differences:
Completing hierarchy pyramids to start, students consider how racial differences influence society in 'The Secret River'. Two hierarchy pyramids are completed: the first has no parameters and therefore encourages students to consider what they base their pyramids on; the second is wholly based on race, therefore leading towards the planning of an essay question. Characters are provided for both tasks.

The lesson develops towards paired planning of an essay question, using the AOs as a rough checklist to ensure students are demonstrating the key skills required. This is also used to shape the plenary.

This lesson could be continued to a second session with the option of paired writing or a formal assessment.

Files in this resource:
Racial differences: PowerPoint of the lesson
Hierarchy pyramid 1: Word document for Starter task
Hierarchy pyramid 2: Word document for development task