I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
I am an experienced English teacher and Literacy Coordinator. All of my resources are organised, engaging, ready to teach and designed to save you - the teacher - your valuable time!
Please have a look at all of my resources - at least 20% of which are free.
Engaging and ready to teach one hour lesson (ppt and worksheet) to introduce students to ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson requires students to infer what themes they think the novel will cover and then guides them through independent analysis of some key quotes by Bruno at the start of the novel. This lesson is easy to differentiate for different abilities.
This resource includes a Powerpoint presentation and a worksheet.
Students have the opportunity to practise inference considering connotations of words, and they also practise analysis by zooming in on specific quotes from chapter 1. This lesson is easy to differentiate for different abilities.
Learning Objective: Develop inference skills to make predictions about The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Infer basic details about Bruno.
Silver: Add creative details to your inferences.
Gold: Independently choose a quote from the text from which you can infer details about Bruno.
Lesson Overview:
Do It Now: What can you infer from the title?
Starter: Mind map based on front covers.
Activity 1: Think – pair – share based on the inferences they have made.
Activity 2: Reading and response with worksheet
Peer assessment
Plenary: How would you describe Bruno in 3 words?
More Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop.
Two engaging and ready to teach lessons to introduce students to context to prepare them to study the main themes in ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne.
Lesson overviews, printing instructions and worksheets are all included.
This resource includes a Powerpoint presentation for 2 one-hour lessons (although in the past I have spread this over more lessons if required). For research, students can either use devices to access the Internet, but if this is not available I have included a pdf document which includes 16 sources that students can use for their research in class.
The topics included in this lesson are:
Auschwitz
The Jewish ghettos
The Final Solution
Hitler and anti-Semitism
The night of broken glass
LESSON ONE Learning Objective: Identify strong sources of information to complete research about the Holocaust.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Identify a reliable source of information about my topic.
Silver: Write down my research in my own words.
Gold: Find multiple reliable sources of information.
Teaching activities:
Do it now: Students complete first column of KWL grid about the Holocaust
Starter: Think, pair, share: discussion of what makes a reliable source.
Activity 1: How do we take effective notes?
Activity 2: Research and completing scaffolding notes sheet.
Peer assessment
Plenary: Students complete the L section of their KWL grid.
LESSON TWO Learning Objective: Identify the most important points in your research and present these to your classmates.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: Identify the key vocabulary in the research I have completed.
Silver: Take brief and clear notes on other topics of information.
Gold: Make links between different knowledge and ideas.
Teaching activities:
Do it now: Recall – what are reliable and unreliable sources of information?
Starter: Review and summarise your research from last lesson.
Activity 1: Use your research to create an informative poster with only 10 words on it.
Activity 2: Carousel activity for students to share their information with each other.
Plenary: Highlight the three most important facts that you learned this lesson.
More Freebies:
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A scheme of work for teaching the entire novel is available for free here.
If you find this lesson useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop.
A detailed lesson to give students an overview of CIE 0500 language paper 2 - directed writing and composition. The paper gives an overview of what assessment objectives are covered in the exam and ideas of what the questions look like. Students will critically consider how to organise their timing in th exam.
Learning Objective: Understand the format and types of questions on language paper 2
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the types of questions and mark scheme for Language Paper 2.
Students will consider how to allocate their time in this exam to ensure they have enough time to plan their answers and check their SPAG.
Lesson Overview:
Do it now: Think pair share – what are the differences between paper 1 and paper 2?
Starter: Overview of the two papers.
Task one: Timings for the exam.
Task two: Consolidation quiz (on scrap paper or mini whiteboards)
Task three: Fit the key information on a postcard.
Reflection: Personally, which do you think you will find more challenging – section A or section B? Why? What can you do to help you to prepare?
More Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
Free marking templates for CIE 0500 here.
If you find this lesson helpful, have a look at my CIE 0500 Language Paper 1 bundle here or the Language Paper 2 bundle here. If you’re interested in both, there is a combined bundle here which is cheaper than buying them separately.
Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop. **
A GCSE/IGCSE revision quiz on the social and historical context of Of Mice and Men as assessment preparation.
The rounds included in the full quiz are:
Context
Setting, Structure and Symbols
Literary Devices
Descriptions - Name the Character
Animals
Character Names and First Lines
George and Lennie
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapters Five and Six
If you find this useful, please leave a review and consider purchasing the full 100 question quiz with 12 rounds or this Of Mice and Men revision bundle (more free resources in there too!)
A detailed homework/online learning resource for students to learn about the context of Of Mice and Men. Students work through four sources (videos and articles) and then answer questions on them. The answers are provided as a separate PDF.
The four contextual topics covered are:
John Steinbeck
The Great Depression
Racism
The American Dream
I have an Of Mice and Men resources bundle available here. . I have a whole range of Of Mice and Men revision resources available in the shop and a range of revision videos on my YouTube channel (this is linked to in my shop).
Leave a review and choose any other resource, of up to the same value, for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A simple start of year activity that requires students to write an acrostic poem to describe themselves. This worksheet is very versatile and could be used as a lesson or homework activity in an English or PSHE lesson. It could be used for key stages 2 or 3.
It is included as a pdf for easy printing and as a word document in case you would like to edit it.
For other English, PSHE and Media activities, see my Like An Expert shop.
A complete scheme of work with activities to cover every chapter of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’. The unit starts by introducing students to the context of the Holocaust, Auschwitz and Nazi Germany. It then moves on to covering reading, writing and oracy skills whilst moving through the novel.
This is designed for key stage 3. Key vocabulary per lesson and assessment ideas are also included alongside learning objectives and differentiated learning outcomes.
Peer assessment
Plenary: What do you think made Bruno feel “cold and unsafe” in the new house?
More Freebies:
Two pre-reading lessons to introduce students to the context of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
A lesson on chapter 1 of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is available for free here.
If you find this scheme of work useful, please consider purchasing this ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ Bundle or have a look at other resources available in my shop. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
Enhance your students’ analytical skills with this comprehensive lesson on Macbeth, designed to deepen their understanding of Shakespeare’s use of tension, dramatic irony, and paradox. This 90-minute lesson (or two one-hour lessons) guides students through key segments of Act 1 Scenes 3 and 4, helping them unpick the Bard’s meaning with structured support and discussion prompts. Ideal for Key Stages 3 and 4, this lesson is perfect for exploring how Macbeth’s ambition begins to consume him as the witches’ prophecies unfold.
Resource Highlights:
27 Fully-Prepared Slides: All the resources you need for a complete, engaging lesson.
In-Depth Literary Analysis: Focuses on Shakespeare’s use of tension, dramatic irony, and the impact of the witches’ prophecies.
Teacher Support: Detailed discussion questions and provided answers ensure you can guide students effectively.
Learning Outcomes:
Comprehensive Understanding: Students will read and interpret key scenes from Acts 3 and 4.
Collaborative Analysis: Encourages group discussions and class engagement to deepen analysis.
Focused Literary Device Exploration: Students will learn to identify and explain the effect of literary devices such as dramatic irony and paradox.
Lesson Breakdown:
Do It Now: A quick 90-second recall on Jacobean beliefs in witches to set the context.
Starter: Introduce key literary terms, followed by a guided reading and discussion of Act 3, Scene 1, leading to a 100-word student summary.
Activity One: Delve into Act 3, Scene 4 with student-led discussions and summary writing.
Plenary: Students reflect on how Shakespeare builds tension, using key vocabulary to articulate their thoughts.
Why Choose This Resource?
Designed for Confidence-Building: Helps students feel secure in their analysis of complex texts.
Ready to Use: Download and start teaching immediately with no prep required.
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This free worksheet is designed to deepen students’ understanding of Act 1, Scene 7, where Lady Macbeth persuades Macbeth to commit murder.
Perfect for in-class activities or homework, this resource helps students analyse persuasive devices such as rhetorical questions, emotive language, flattery, hyperbole, and direct address used by Lady Macbeth to manipulate Macbeth.
Students will then apply these techniques through one of five creative tasks, encouraging them to craft their own persuasive speeches. This Macbeth worksheet is ideal for key stage 3 and key stage 4 students studying Shakespeare and works across various ability levels.
Have a look at our other resources in our LikeAnExpert shop.**
This bundle includes everything you need to start a Word Root of the Week programme in school for explicit vocabulary building.
This bundle includes:
An Excel yearly plan outlining which word root should be taught each week of the school year.
Assembly slides or bulletin board posters for each of the 36 word roots. These are a great resource for displaying in assemblies or at the start of lessons to embed vocabulary.
36 lesson starters to explicitly teach and embed the understanding of each word root.
If you would also like two full CPD sessions for staff in addition to the resources above, have a look at this Whole-School Literacy Resources Bundle.
If you have any questions about how to use these, please don’t hesitate to email likeanexpertresources@gmail.com.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free, of up to the same value, from the LikeAnExpert shop.
This Valentine’s Day English Lesson is aimed at key stage 3 and key stage 4. In the lesson, students will learn about the history of Valentine’s Day, consider Shakespeare’s sonnets and iambic pentameter, and then write their own Shakespearean sonnet.
Learning Questions:
What are the origins of Valentine’s Day?
How did Shakespeare write about love using the sonnet form?
How can I write my own sonnet (love poem)?
This works really well as a one-off English lesson to celebrate Valentine’s Day, whilst also keeping students focused on English-specific skills and knowledge.
Lesson Overview:
Do It Now: What would be the worst ever Valentine’s day gift someone could get?
Starter: Brief history of Valentine’s Day followed by think-pair-share and discussion.
Main task 1: Explanation of Shakespearean sonnet followed by students reading out lines of iambic pentameter.
Main task 2: Students look at an example sonnet and then write their own sonnet.
Share and celebrate student sonnets.
Plenary: Students choose five words to summarise what they’ve learned about the origins of Valentine’s Day.
I really hope you and your students enjoy this! Leave a review and choose any other resource, of up to the same value, for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
A detailed fully-resourced and ready to teach one hour lesson that supports students to analyse World War 1 propaganda posters using AFOREST devices and direct address.
After analysing posters as a class and in groups, students then create their own posters using AFOREST devices and direct address.
Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
This bundle includes:
2 lessons analysing Anthem for Doomed Youth
1 lesson analysing propaganda posters
A war poetry knowledge organiser
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A thorough revision quiz that covers all 30 of the Gillian Clark poems on the CIE AS level English Literature syllabus (9695).
This takes between one and two hours to complete. Round one asks students to identify the poem and the poetic techniques used in quotes from the poems. Round two asks them to identify poems with specific themes.
Poems covered:
Advent
Apples
Baby-sitting
Blaen Cwrt
Burning Nettles
Catrin
Climbing Cader Idris
Cold Knap Lake
Death of a Cat
Death of a Young Woman
February
Hare in July
Hearthstone
Icthyosaur
Journey
Lunchtime Lecture
Miracle on St David’s Day
My Box
Neighbours
Pipistrelle
Post Script
Ram
Scything
Seal
Stealing Peas
Sunday (‘From the mahogany…’)
Sunday (‘Getting up early…’)
The Lighthouse
Times Like These
White Roses
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An interactive advent calendar for use in English lessons or as literacy activities in form time. Each day links to a new literacy or English activity such as descriptive writing, comprehension questions, games or critical thinking exercises.
These work especially well as 10 minute starters for the beginning of your lessons.
Happy Christmas!
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A mini bundle containing my four most downloaded reading resources for secondary students!
This bundle contains:
A resuable lesson that embeds close reading skills. Just choose a text (fiction or non-fiction) and students work through the steps to improve their comprehension and analysis of it (although sample texts are also provided to get you started).
TES recommended book club discussion questions, which also work very well in English lessons.
A quiz made for World Book Day which quizzes students on a range of secondary age books.
A support mat/knowledge organiser for developing students’ independent textual analysis.
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This bundle contains three of my most popular English resources, which can be used multiple times and are easily adaptable to different classes.
The bundle contains:
A 40 question quiz on Shakespeare with questions on his plays, his life and the Globe Theatre.
A 40 question quiz on poetry - covering poetic forms, poetic techniques, famous poets and iconic lines of poetry.
A general knowledge reading quiz - great for World Book Day or for any literacy activities throughout the school year.
A 100 question quiz on Of Mice and Men
A 35 question quiz on The Merchant of Venice
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Fully resourced and ready-to-teach 1 hour lesson which leads students towards writing a poem about an everyday object using personification.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students. It is best suited to students who already know what personification is but need to practise using it effectively.
This lesson includes:
Explanation of personification
Differentiated learning outcomes
An extract from ‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman with questions for students to consider the effect of the personification.
Structured peer assessment.
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A collection of knowledge organisers about various topics that are commonly taught in secondary English Language and Literature. If you purchase this bundle, you will also be able to download any additional knowledge organisers that I add in the future.
This bundle includes knowledge organisers on the following topics:
Introduction to Poetry
Macbeth
Of Mice and Men
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play)
Unseen Poetry
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
The Merchant of Venice
Writing Skills (SPAG)
World War 1 Poetry
Cambridge IGCSE 0500 English Language
Romeo and Juliet
Horror Writing
Analytical writing
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Fully resourced and ready-to-teach 1 hour lesson which introduces students to sibilance and encourages them to question why writers use it and what its effect is. Students then write a poem using sibilance.
This lesson is aimed at KS3 and would be suitable for an introduction to poetry unit - but it could easily be adapted to younger or older students.
This lesson includes:
Differentiated learning outcomes
An extract from Harry Potter for students to discuss the use of sibilance
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