Explanatory writing lesson on the topic of celebrities being useless. First, teaching the concept of establishing your point of view on a topic, before looking at what is meant by ‘writing to explain’. Updated March 2022 The lesson moves on to look at how to plan an effective piece of writing in this style, before providing a high grade exemplar for pupils to analyse and reference to the mark scheme. Suitable for high ability year 9s, or years 10-11. Originally written for AQA, but suited to other exam boards (with a few tweaks).

This resource contains a PPT of 21 slides/ approx 4 lessons working through AQA’s English Language paper 2 question 4. This question is widely regarded as one of the most challenging in all of the GCSE papers. The scheme was designed for a high ability year 9 group, but would also be suitable for years 10 or 11 in preparation for their exams. All required resources are attached, including 2 pairings of suitable texts that the PPT lessons refer to. There are comparisons drawn between non-fiction texts from Dickens/ Bryson (travel) and a modern news article focused on child labour in McDonalds / a Victorian transcript from a chimney sweep, similar to material pupils might encounter in their actual examination. The lessons guide students through the comparative question and how to approach it, simplifying it down to 3 key questions. The PPT also contains some high mark exemplar paragraphs to guide learning. Updated March 2022

Approximately 10 lessons worth of lessons tied together on the theme of Romantic poetry, updated March 2022. Originally written for a high ability year 9 group, but would also be suitable for years 10 or 11. 7 full PPTs covering 5 poems. A great introduction to unseen skills but also developing comparing! The scheme contains lots of challenge and stretch and covers the following aspects of poetry: Introduction to Romantic poetry - themes and ideas Analysing unseen poetry skills Key Romantic poets, contextual info Love’s Philosophy Bright Star The School Boy Chimney Sweeper Daffodils How to compare poems for an exam High grade exemplar responses (paragraphs/ more extended pieces) This scheme is an ideal way to provide students with a broader understanding of some of the more difficult poetry they might encounter and to familiarise them with the Romantic genre and movement in a more broad sense. NB: Two acronyms are used within this scheme: STRIVE and PEEZL. STRIVE reminds pupils of aspects of poetry to consider (subject, theme/ tone, rhyme/rhythm, imagery, vocab, effect) and PEEZL is a way to structure response paragraphs (point, evidence, explain effect, zoom into words, link to question).

This lesson was designed for a reluctant but capable year 9 group who told me they hated poetry, and only ever wrote in stilted rhymes when I asked them to create their own. It would form a good introduction to unseen poetry, encouraging pupils to interrogate and form their own opinions. It contains a PPT and a series of slightly unusual poems all sourced online, breaking down why people write poetry and why we should study it. It contains the message that poetry is all sorts of things, such as art, creative expression, freedom with words, political, protesting, fun and silly… etc. It contains opportunities to write their own poetry and investigate the work of others. There are 5 poems included where pupils interrogate and question what they mean, show, suggest, and why the writer might have written them - including Medusa by Carol Ann Duffy, Action Man by John Cooper-Clarke, Invictus by William Ernest Henley, Urban Affection by Emanuel Xavier and The Black Land by Joseph Warren Beach. NB - Some of these poems are aimed at more mature audiences, so the lesson is recommended for year 9 onwards.

A lesson examining Duffy’s poem Medusa. Suited to upper Ks3 or lower ks4; updated March 2022. Begins by introducing Medusa as a historical myth before looking at a crunched version of the poem to consider language out of context. Pupils then search for techniques in the poem and consider their effect. There is an opportunity for annotation and first impressions, followed by some suggested annotations written on the poem. Finally there is a writing frame, a quote hunt and a more lighthearted task where they create a dating profile for Duffy’s character. Great as an introduction for approaching unseen poems or as part of a wider poetic study in preparation for GCSE Literature.

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

A complete lesson looking at the character of Havisham - the poem written about her by Carol Ann Duffy, supported by an extract from Great Expectations featuring the character. Great as a cross over for pupils studying Dickens, Victorian literature and for refining unseen poetry / annotation and analysis skills. Updated March 2022. The files include a PPT, on which there is a copy of the poem, the extract and an image of Havisham from a film version of the story. There are also some analysis questions to guide study of the poem itself and some notes for class feedback on the annotations (an annotated poem). Excellent to broaden students’ understanding of literature, poetry and Dickens.

A lesson PPT to introduce pupils to the play ���An Inspector Calls’. The lesson is designed as a paired or group discussion around a series of objects found in an anonymous dead girl’s home (Eva Smith) the night she died. As detectives, pupils must piece together what might have happened to the dead girl. Updated January 2022! This experiential lesson enables pupils to interrogate each object practising skills of inference and deduction. It also exercises their close reading skills as some of the objects require careful inspection. The lesson then develops to look at themes of the play and how these relate to the CSI task, but also the title of the play and its significance. The resource document contains various images building up a crime scene for Eva. Including things such as a home pregnancy test, a bottle of bleach, a cigar, a letter etc. Resource document is available as a PDF and a Publisher file.

This resource includes a 42 slide PPT (updated Jan 2022) and 2 text extracts (one by Dickens) focused on the ENTIRE reading section of the AQA English language non-fiction paper 2. This sequence of lessons uses 2 texts about traffic collisions (included) and guides pupils through each question with a variety of in lesson activities and strategies to tackle this challenging paper. It covers questions 1 to 4. This resource was written originally for a high ability year 9 group, but is suitable for years 10 and 11. ‘The Crossing’ extract in particular is quite a challenging and lengthy read so is not as suited to lower ability pupils without some differentiation. The second extract is an account from Dickens about a train wreck he was involved in and is suitable for all abilities. The 42 slide PPT guides pupils through the following: inference and retrieval skills Q1 summary and synthesis Q2 An example of a summary for Q2 based on the Dickens text Comparing the 2 texts in terms of feelings Q2 Use of the acronym PEI (comparative point, evidence, inference) Mark schemes How to approach language analysis Q3 How to structure a Q3 response, using the acronym PEEZL (point, evidence, explain effect, zoom, link) Examples of a band 4 vs a band 2 response for Q3 How to compare writers’ POVs Q4 An examplar Q4 response A really great way to prepare pupils for the non-fiction English Language AQA GCSE paper 2.

A series of 22 slides, approx 4 introductory lessons to Macbeth, originally written for a high ability year 9 group, but suitable for years 10 or 11 as a light touch intro. Focuses on the first act of the play and uses some of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s interactive approaches. All extracts/ resources are included on the PPT. Covers: General characters and themes Macbeth and Banquo + their relationship Lady Macbeth + her persuasion Heroism Updated Feb 2022

2 fairly short non-fiction texts on the subject/theme of warehouses. The first text is taken from Dickens’ biographer and recounts his experience of working in a blacking warehouse. The second text is taken from a newspaper in 2017 and is written by a journalist who experienced working in an Amazon warehouse. Both extracts are relatively short and therefore usable in both KS3 and 4 for non-fiction comparison or as context for Victorian text study.

This resource contains a full lesson on Paper 1 question 4 for AQA English Language, which asks students to use evaluative skills looking at fiction. This is typically something they find challenging and so this lesson seeks to engage with this key idea and explore how students might evaluate their own ideas, through TV media to begin with, but then through the eyes of a fiction author. This lesson was planned for KS4 students and includes any necessary resources within the PPT. The lesson uses The Great British Bake Off to frame the idea of evaluation, before looking at a short extract from Delirium, by Lauren Oliver.

Mix and match key persuasive devices and their definitions. Including: Facts Statistics Emotive language Opinions Rule of three/triple Repetition Personal pronouns Imperative verbs Rhetorical questions Quotations Alliteration Hyperbole

Various non-fiction texts / sources on the theme of Florence Nightingale. A mix of modern and Victorian sources. Suitable for KS3 or KS4 for non-fiction study or contextual knowledge of the Victorian age. Available in PDF and as a Word doc. Includes: Extract from a biography of Nightingale Information from the Florence Nightingale Museum An Image from the Illustrated London news An image of a news article on Nightingale (small font) An extract from Nightingale’s notes on hospitals (image)

A collection of non-fiction texts around the theme of workhouses. Suitable for KS3 or KS4. Available as Word doc and PDF files. Can be reduced or used in their entirety for all year groups in comparative non-fiction study, as a stimulus for writing or to supplement Victorian fiction for cultural capital. Includes: An extract from the Order of the Poor Law Board (NB this is an image with small font so may require enlarging if it is to be used in its entirety) A small list of punishments given at a workhouse A Walk in A Workhouse, by Charles Dickens An advert for a porter at a workhouse A report on child labour

Includes various sources/ texts around the theme of Victorian London. Available in Word and PDF files. Suitable for KS3 or KS4 on the theme of non-fiction, or for contextual knowledge of Victorian times alongside teaching of Victorian texts, such as Christmas Carol or Jekyll and Hyde. Includes: A news report from a Victorian newspaper on Jack the Ripper A description of Whitechapel from the Palace Journal An extract from Dickens’ ‘Walk in a Workhouse’ An extract from Flors Tristan’s diary about her London travels

Includes various source texts around the theme of slavery. Some Victorian, some more modern to provide alternative viewpoints and experiences. Available in PDF and Word file formats. Most suitable for KS3 non-fiction study, but could be used for KS4. Includes: A pro-slavery letter (Victorian American) A biography of Philis Wheatley (Slave poet of colonial America) An Anti-slavery speech published 1832 (NB an image - very small font) A biography of Oladah Equiano (a free slave) 2 extracts from Equiano’s autobiography A short account from a slave ship captain A short account from a physician working on a slave ship

A very simple resource selecting key quotes focused around the theme of violence and conflict. 11 quotes in total, available as PDF or Word doc.

A booklet collating key scenes from Romeo and Juliet, edited to focus on the most important scenes and aspects. This booklet is suited for study at KS3, or low ability KS4. The text is confined to the left side of the page to allow for student annotation. There is cutting of dialogue to reduce the scenes down to a more manageable amount, without hampering flow. Key edited scenes included are: Prologue Act 1 scene 1 (Sampson and Gregory) Act 1 scene 5 (party) Act 3 scene 1 (Tyblat and Romeo brawl) Act 3 scene 5 (Romeo and Juliet wedding night and Lord Capulet fight) Act 5 scene 1 (the plan) Act 5 scene 3 (tomb)