About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
A lesson looking at comparing poetry and unseen poetry skills, designed for AQA Literature. This lesson is for higher ability pupils who have ideally looked at the poems previously (Bright Star and Love’s Philosophy), though this is not essential. (A Romantic poetry unit is also available for sale, covering these poems in depth).
The lesson PPT gears pupils toward planning to compare the poems, before showing a list of comparative points, generating potential questions, discussing exam and planning techniques and honing annotation skills. It then moves to a 2 paragraph typed comparative essay that models a top grade response to a given question.
Great as wider literature poetic study in preparation for exams.
Updated Jan 2022
Includes a full 155 slide scheme for the majority of the whole play, aimed at high ability pupils (suitable for years 10 and 11); and a light touch introductory unit (4 lessons) suitable for years 9-11 using RSC techniques to introduce the play.
Updated Feb 2022 to include extra handouts and an updated scheme!
Also includes 4 further handouts for student use. Please see individual files for more information on what is include in each.
Please see the original listing of the Macbeth scheme for a full break down of acts and scenes covered.
Priced separately at £11.50
This resource contains 15 venn diagrams designed for practise of comparing poetry for AQA English Literature, power and conflict cluster. Each page has a question at the top (as pictured), covering every poem in the cluster.
An excellent way to promote independent work and revision of poetry, this way of comparing has been tried and tested by both myself and my department. Venn diagrams can be blown up to A3 to encourage group work, or used in circulation around the room so pupils can build on each others’ ideas.
This resource includes a full lesson on Rumen’s poem ‘Emigree’ for the AQA English literature power and conflict cluster. Pupils should approach the poem from zero prior knowledge for this lesson to be most effective. It could potentially span 2 lessons and includes a 10 slide PPT as follows:
discussion of dictatorships and what this entails
approaching the poem cold from a pupil-centred stance (their interpretation)
guided analysis on key aspects (starting with positive and negative imagery)
guided analysis through key themes
investigation of the title and its significance
links to key videos to boost analysis
creative writing crossover piece
Updated Jan 2022
This resource is a full lesson, updated March 2022, on Beatrice Garland’s poem ‘Kamikaze’, part of the AQA English Literature conflict and power cluster for GCSE. It could however also be used as a lesson for any exam board, looking at poetry.
The PPT is 15 slides and could potentially be 2 full lessons with the amount of content included. It works through the following aspects:
-Intro to the term ‘Kamikaze’ and its history
a look at a Kamikaze pilots oath
considering elements of British culture that others may find strange
a light look at the poem to develop analysis skills
deconstructing the narrative perspective - plotting a family tree of the people included
investigating language and structure in more depth (with hints to help pupils)
a look at the themes of conflict, power and death in the poem
a possible comparison at the end
This resource contains a full lesson on My Last Duchess, focused on the Gothic elements of the story, originally created as a Halloween themed lesson. Ideally pupils should complete the lesson having never seen the poem before.
Included is a 7 slide PPT working through the following:
Gothic conventions in literature
Piecing together the story of the poem through images
Student task highlighting ambiguity and Gothic features
Focus on 5 aspects for language analysis
a critically focused discussion at the end about whether the duchess is art or a possession
There is also a bonus PPT included for another way to approach the poem, leaving out the Gothic literature slant and including a few extra activities on structure, event ordering and the Duke’s temperament.
Updated Jan 2022.
This resource includes an 8 slide PPT (full lesson) on how to write effective introductions and conclusions, with a focus on AQA’s poetry element of the examination. The examples used are from the power and conflict cluster (Remains) and could be used as a way to teach unseen poetry intros/ conclusions or comparative poetry intros and conclusions - the PPT is flexible and allows for both.
The PPT covers the following aspects:
example introductions and discussion of their effectiveness
a formula for writing a strong intro
a practice task for writing a main body essay paragraph focused on the question provided
an exemplar main body paragraph using PEEZL and an opportunity for pupils to link to another poem
A summary of what a good conclusion entails
an exemplar conclusion
This resource is a full lesson on Shelley’s ‘Ozymandias’, part of the AQA power and conflict poem cluster for the GCSE examination. It is designed to help pupils be more independent with their poetry analysis rather than teacher dictated notes and explores the poem from a standpoint of no prior knowledge.
There is a 10 slide PPT which could potentially span 2 full lessons, working through the following aspects:
A news article on Rameses the Great and the discovery of his statue (possible lang paper 2 cross over work)
information on the etymology of ‘Ozymandias’
a picture puzzle for students to consider what the story of the poem may be
background information on the real Ozymandias
discussion of statements about the poem’s message
finding evidence to support opinions
analysis using STRIVE (pupil led)
group task on specific language/ structure techniques
link to a video with detailed poem analysis if required
This resource includes 2 full lessons in a 15 slide PPT on Duffy’s poem ‘Salome’ , comparing to ‘Clown Punk’ (NB there is another package available where a lesson on ‘Clown Punk’ is also included). It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their AQA GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice.
The lesson approaches the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills before progressing on to drawing comparisons under an exam style question. This lesson should not be taught to lower years due to the suggestive content of the poem.
The PPT includes:
oracy task retelling the story of Salome in pairs
guided reading of the poem with key questions
discussion of key questions and themes
Group analysis task with a worksheet provided, breaking down the poem into 4 sections with guiding questions
A brief intro to comparing poems
A Venn diagram comparison with exam style question to be completed by pupils
Possible answers to the Venn diagram question and sentence stems to direct pupils
A strategy for responding to the unseen comparison question (PEEZL) with further guidance to assist pupils in writing their own comparison
An extract from an example response (focused on Salome) with opportunities to either extend or use as a model
This resource includes 2 full lessons in a 15 slide PPT on AQA’s unseen poetry element. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as revision, an introduction or practice. The lesson approaches the poems as unseen texts, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills and focusing on 2 short and relatively simple poems.
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the unseen poetry aspect
10 possible steps for looking at an unseen poem
Focus on the poem ‘The Handbag’
Pupil task writing a question for the poem
Focus on the poem ‘My Parents Kept me from Children who were Rough’
Looking at an exam style question on this poem with suggested points to include in a response
Brief reference to the mark scheme
This resource includes a full lesson (possibly 2) on Shakespeare’s poem ‘Sonnet 18’. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice. The lesson approaches the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through images
Brief contextual info to aid understanding
More in-depth discussion through key questions
Pupil-centred annotation task with brief guidance info
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own contrasts poem - including scaffolded planning sheet if required)
This resource includes a full lesson on Amitage’s poem ‘Hitcher’, updated March 2022. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice. The lesson approaches the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through an image
A creative writing task of a 100-200 word story, based around key vocabulary from the poem
guided annotation through a suggested question (as per unseen poetry in the exam)
collated, suggested annotations for the poem, on the PPT
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own poem from a different viewpoint- including scaffolded gap fill if required)
This resource includes 1-2 lessons on Amitage’s poem ‘About His Person’, updated March 2022.
It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice. The lesson approaches the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through an image
Pupil task to write a suitable question for the poem
guided annotation through a suggested question (as per unseen poetry in the exam)
suggested annotations included on the PPT
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own poem in a similar style, about themselves)
This resource includes a full lesson on Poe’s poem ‘The Raven’, shortened and edited to enable teaching of it in 1 lesson. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as practice.
There are 2 lessons in total which approach the poem as an unseen text, helping pupils develop poetic analysis skills (for AQA, but would work for any exam board); before moving into a creative writing cross-over task where pupils write their own Gothic story opening (as per English language paper 1 on the AQA spec).
The PPT includes:
Introduction to the poem through an image
Introduction to the Gothic genre and recap of what it means through key images and features
A video reading of The Raven if required
guided light touch annotation through hints and an exam style question (optional paragraph writing task)
A creative writing task of a 100-200 word story, based around key vocabulary from the poem
Creative writing cross over (where pupils write their own Gothic story opening, using the poem and images as inspiration. Guided planning an peer assessment).
This resource includes a full lesson on creating a poem featuring a character, using their own voice. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as light-hearted practice.
The lesson utilises Medusa (Duffy) as a starting point, before getting pupils to create their own poem in the voice of a character of their choice.
The PPT includes:
Introduction to Medusa, by Duffy and discussion of her character
Intro to the creative task, providing suggested characters
Guided planning for the poem
A framework of sentence stems if required, and an exemplar poem in the voice of Homer Simpson
This bundle includes a range of poetic study with a lot of cross over to creative tasks, designed originally as a scheme for year 9 as an introduction to poetic study. Roughly 12-16 full lessons included.
The scheme aims to develop approaches to understanding and interpreting poetry in a pupil-centred way, without the teacher dictating notes. It builds analysis skills and aims to help pupils understand why people write poetry. It would form a great introduction to poetic analysis, or for developing unseen skills required for the AQA literature exams.
This bundle contains a whopping £18 worth of resources (when sold separately) and every lesson has been tried and tested. It also touches on creative writing and oracy, with built in tasks that springboard from the poems studied.
Poems included:
Medusa
Hitcher
Salome
Last Duchess
Clown Punk
About His Person
Sonnet 18
The Raven
Resistance (Armitage’s new Ukraine-Russia poem)
PLUS an introductory lesson looking at 4 other poems!
This resource is a Macbeth booklet including key scenes necessary for GCSE study. The booklet can be used flexibly, highlighting further scenes that can be omitted, should you wish to work with less of the text with a lower ability set.
The full play has been carefully edited, removing parts of dialogue not entirely necessary for GCSE pupil understanding, whilst maintaining the integrity and flow of the narrative. There is a cover page and the booklet totals 27 A4 pages, helpfully formatted into columns with a contents page for easy navigation.
The original text sits at 18121 words, whereas this edited version brings it down to 11754 - far more manageable with the time constraints of GCSE.
The scenes included are as follows:
Act 1 scene I: witches
Act 1 scene II: camp after battle **
Act 1 scene III: Macbeth and Duncan meet witches
Act 1 scene V: Lady Macbeth – the Raven
Act 1 scene VII: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth argue
Act 2 scene I: Macbeth and Duncan
Act 2 scene II: Lady Macbeth covers up
Act 2 scene III: Porter and discovery of Duncan **
Act 2 scene IV: Old man and Lennox **
Act 3 scene I: Banquo betrayed
Act 3 scene II: shielding Lady Macbeth
Act 3 scene IV: banquet and ghost
Act 4 scene I: Witches and Macbeth – prophecies
Act 4 scene II: Macduff’s castle
Act 4 scene III: Macduff meets Malcolm **
Act 5 scene I: Doctor tends to Lady Macbeth
Act 5 scene II: soldiers **
Act 5 scene III: Scotland is sick **
Act 5 scene IV: Birnam wood moves
Act 5 scene V: Young Siward **
Act 5 scene VI: The ending
** these scenes can also be omitted entirely for lower ability pupils.
This resource contains a 2 sided A4 key quote handout for pupils revising Macbeth.
The key quotes are organised into themes/ by character and starts with a rundown of key themes, context, characters and symbols before a brief outline of each act plot.
The themes/characters covered are:
appearance v reality
Lady Macbeth
Macduff
Hallucination
Cycles
Tragic hero
Guilt/ anxiety
Macbeth
Deception
Duncan
Banquo
Macbeth’s thoughts
Quotes have been carefully chosen so as not to be too lengthy and to match a range of questions
This bundle contains 3-4 lessons on Clown Punk and Salome, originally written as part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a range of poetry in preparation for GCSE.
It was written for AQA but could be tweaked for other boards. It contains full lessons on each poem, in a pupil-centred approach (encouraging students to explore the poetry for themselves rather than rely on teacher dictation of notes), which helps develop unseen poetry skills. It then moves on to compare the two poems to each other, exploring a possible approach to this. The PPT is flexible in that you can teach it as unseen comparison, or use it to help develop comparative skills for the anthology cluster.
When sold separately, these resources retail at £3.30
This resource is a 6 page document of key quotations for An Inspector Calls, divided into characters. Characters included are:
Sheila
Gerald
Eric
Mr Birling
Mrs Birling
Inspector
The quotes have been taken from the entire play and are mostly quite short to aid with revision and memory retention. There are around 15-20 quotes selected for each character.