Booklet to accompany study of Of Mice and Men (OMAM), considering the differences between dialect, accent and standard English. Can be used as part of a SOW on the text, but has also been successfully set as cover work too.

A lesson introducing the context for Seamus Heaney’s ‘Storm on the Island’, one of the poems in the AQA Power and Conflict poetry anthology. This has been planned for use in a Yr 9 bottom set, but could be easily adapted. It includes a link to a 5 min video that explains ‘The Troubles’ as well as clear presentation slides that explains a (brief!) history of Ireland. The lesson was planned to be taught after the class had had an initial lesson or two, unpicking the key themes, ideas and imagery within the poem, with this lesson highlighting the importance and significance of context in shaping our understanding. In a nutshell, the lesson follows the lines of: what is context; here’s some context; apply the context to the poem; what’s our understanding now.

Included is a storyboard of the poem, with some instructions on how you could use for Yr 11 revision: pupils to put them in order, from memory see if they can write a quotation from the poem for each of the images, pupils then to check back with the actual poem and add any quotations where needed, then begin to identify and analyse language. I have also used the story board to teach first time round, especially with lower ability pupils to help them visualise the poem better. Also included, is a storyboard image sort & language identifying task which is an A3 sheet. It consists of a copy of the poem, with space for the images to be sorted and stuck in and a table which gets pupils to identify key language techniques in the poem. The table can easily be adapted to add more advanced level techniques for idenitification, but as it currently stands is suitable for low to mid ability.

A lesson exploring the characterisation of Mrs Lyons, in comparison to Mrs Johnstone at the start of the play.

A lesson introducing pathos exploring how we are lead to feel sympathy for Mrs Johnstone at the start of Blood Brothers.

A complete lesson giving a comprehensive contextual background in preparation for studying the play Blood Brothers by Willy Russell. This would work for KS3 or KS4 first time study of the play or revision. Ares covered: Willy Russell Liverpool City Liverpool Culture Marilyn Monroe The Play Housing

A lesson exploring the theme of crime and violence in the play, exploring the context of high unemployment in the 1980’s and Thatcherite Britain.

A lesson reviewing the events of Blood Brothers (post-reading) and exploring Russell’s intentions for the play.