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 to cover chapter sixteen of ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne. This lesson teaches students the features of an obituary and then requires them to write an obituary about Grandmother.
Learning Objective: Write an obituary for Grandmother.
Learning Outcomes:
Bronze: List the features of an obituary.
Silver: Apply these features in writing an obituary.
Gold: Creatively infer details about Grandmother.
Lesson Outline:
Do It Now: What is an obituary? What are the steps for writing an effective one?
Starter: Reading focus on Grandmother.
Activity 1: What are the features of an obituary? Paired work.
Activity 2: Planning and writing an obituary.
Peer assessment
Plenary: How do you think Father feels about the death of his Mother?
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.
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. .
Leave a review and choose any other resource of up to the same value for free from my shop.
This one-hour lesson focuses on independent analysis of Macbeth or Lady Macbeth using the STEAL framework (Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, Looks). Perfect for students studying Act 2, Scene 2, this lesson promotes deep understanding through a structured approach to character analysis.
This resource includes:
A fully editable PowerPoint with step-by-step teacher instructions, ready for immediate download and use.
Learning Objective: Complete STEAL analysis on Macbeth or Lady Macbeth.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will read and summarise Act 2 Scene 2.
Students will answer questions to check their understanding and inference of the scene.
Students will use the STEAL framework to analyse either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth in detail.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: How would you describe the end of act 2 scene 1? How would the audience be feeling?
Starter: Read act 2 scene 2 and discuss questions
Activity 1: Independent STEAL analysis of either Macbeth or Lady Macbeth
Activity 2: Carousel to peer assess each other’s work
Plenary: What did you learn about the characters from your analysis?
For more Macbeth resources, check out our Macbeth Bundle (some freebies in there too).
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A detailed and engaging one hour lesson to support students in their analysis of Judy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play by Simon Stephens) for Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1. This lesson supports students in considering how Judy changes throughout the play and how this affects her relationship with Christopher.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach Powerpoint with all teacher and printing instructions included.
If you find this resource helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.
A detailed and engaging one hour lesson to support students in their analysis of Judy in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play by Simon Stephens) for Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1. This lesson supports students in analysing Judy’s letters to Christopher and considering the relationship between Judy and Christopher.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach Powerpoint with all teacher and printing instructions included.
If you find this resource helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.
A detailed and engaging one hour lesson to support students in their analysis of Christopher in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time (play by Simon Stephens) for Edexcel English Literature IGCSE 4ET1. This lesson supports students to analyse the scene in the train station with many competing voices with the focus of considering how the writer creates a feeling of empathy for him.
This resources contains a slide which has the text from this scene moving and zooming around to create an immersive effect of how it would feel to be Christopher.
This resource contains a ready-to-teach Powerpoint with all teacher instructions included.
If you find this resource helpful, please leave a review and have a look at other resources available in my shop.
This comprehensive, ready-to-teach Macbeth lesson focuses on how Shakespeare uses structure to create tension, specifically in Act 5. Ideal for Key Stage 3 or Key Stage 4 students studying Macbeth, this resource includes a PowerPoint, two worksheets, and a structured lesson plan designed to deepen students’ understanding of dramatic tension and structural analysis.
Learning Objective: Analyse how Shakespeare uses structure to build tension in Act 5.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will read and understand Act 5 Scenes 1-5 of Macbeth.
Students will analyse how Shakespeare builds tension in these scenes.
Students will apply Freytag’s Pyramid to the plot of Macbeth so far.
Students will discuss the imagery in Macbeth’s soliloquy.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Check understanding of Freytag’s pyramid.
Starter: Students complete Freytag’s pyramid worksheet for Macbeth so far.
Activity 1: Read and discuss Act 5 Scene 1 focusing on the change in Lady Macbeth.
Activity 2: Read Scenes 2-5 and complete worksheet to show how Shakespeare builds tension in each scene.
Activity 3: Brief analysis of Macbeth’s soliloquy.
Plenary: Students add any further examples of rising action to their Freytag’s Pyramid worksheet.
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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A detailed and ready-to-teach lesson to support students in their analysis of Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth. This engaging, interactive lesson allows students to act, analyse, and discuss this critical moment in Macbeth. This is great for key stage 4 students studying the play for GCSE/IGCSE or for key stage 3 students too.
**Learning Objective: **Analyse Act 4 Scene 1 of Macbeth
Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the key events and themes in Act 4, Scene 1.
Students will analyse Shakespeare’s use of language and imagery.
Students will discuss the significance of the witches and their prophecies in Macbeth’s downfall.
Students will explore how Macbeth’s character evolves in this scene.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Think – Pair – Share on ‘what role do the witches play in Macbeth’s choices?’
Starter: A summary of the scene and content about its significance followed by three recall questions.
Activity One: Students perform the scene staging the scene and acting to evoke maximum fear in the audience followed by a discussion on what the apparitions represent.
Activity Two: Students complete a worksheet analysing the language in the scene. Discuss ideas afterwards.
Plenary: Write a three-sentence summary of the scene including the themes that are evident in it.
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 lesson unlocks the complexities of the ending of* Macbeth*. This resource focuses on the play’s powerful conclusion, helping students grasp how key themes are resolved and the characters’ journeys culminate. This is designed for Key Stage 4 or for Key Stage 3 as they develop the skills needed for GCSE/IGCSE English Literature.
Learning Objective: Understand the ending of Macbeth and how key themes are resolved.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will comprehend the events of Act 5, Scenes 6–9.
Students will analyse Macbeth’s character arc and how Shakespeare uses this resolution to comment on unchecked ambition.
Students will evaluate the play’s ending by discussing themes, the role of prophecy, and the moral implications of Macbeth’s downfall.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Students summarise the key characters journeys in the play in one sentence each.
Starter: Discussion questions anticipating the ending.
Activity One: Read Act 5 Scenes 6 to 9 and write a brief summary of each as you go.
Activity Two: Students complete comprehension and analysis worksheet followed by discussion of answers.
Activity Three: Class discussion of the moral message of the play.
Plenary: In one sentence, share your main takeaway from today’s lesson. Go round the class so that students can share their ideas.
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.
Leave a review and select another resource of equal value for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.
Marking templates to have on hand when giving students feedback on work for Language Paper 1 for CIE 0500.
I keep a stack printed out so that every time the students take an example question, they can stick these into their books for quick, clear and efficient marking.
More Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper Two here.
Free scheme of work overview for teaching the CIE 0500 syllabus 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. **
1 hour resourced and differentiated lesson which clearly outlines to students how they should write a strong point, evidence, explain answer with an example provided and then gives them the opportunity to write an answer as a pair and then individually.
All teacher instructions provided including printing instructions (although printing is minimal).
This lesson includes:
*Do it now task
*Explanation of PEE (point evidence explain) including a model answer)
*Dracula extract
*Peer assessment slide including the differentiated learning outcomes.
This lesson is immediately ready to teach! It would be suitable for lower ability learners in key stage 3 or key stage 4.
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This bundle contains resources to help students to develop their understanding of horror conventions and their close reading of texts.
These lessons are all fully differentiated, resourced and ready to teach. All teacher instructions and answers (if required) are included. 'Do it now' activities, differentiated learning outcomes and opportunities for peer assessment are all included.
This bundle includes:
* A lesson on the features of gothic horror description.
* A lesson in which students learn how to write their own gothic horror description.
*A lesson for lower ability learners to teach them how to write a point, evidence, explain answer about 'Dracula'.
* A lesson in which students independently analyse the beginning of 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allan Poe.
* An independent close reading lesson which can be used multiple times with different texts (could be used with any challenging horror text).
* A horror writing knowledge organiser
* A horror writing homework menu
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A detailed and engaging homework menu to be used alongside teaching Macbeth. This menu structures homework tasks, but also gives students creative freedom to pursue their own interests.
I tend to set one homework per fortnight to ensure that students have sufficient time to produce something of high quality. The deadlines can be set by the teacher to allow more or less time for certain tasks. This has worked exceptionally well with my classes who produced some outstanding homework.
It is provided as a pdf for easy printing.
Please have a look at some of the other resources in my LikeAnExpert shop.
Fully resourced 1 hour lesson in which students learn how to punctuate dialogue correctly, edit a piece of dialogue and then construct their own.
Easily adaptable for KS3 and KS4.
This lesson includes:
- Full Powerpoint including teacher instructions
- Worksheet with extension work
- All activities including 'do it now' and plenary.
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This support mat/knowledge organiser is designed to help students in their independent literary textual analysis. It contains the following sections:
Annotation
Sentence starters for comparing/contrasting, introducing new information etc.
How to embed quotes within sentences
A checklist for outstanding analysis.
I use the checklist to help when giving students feedback (which is why they are coded by letters). I would then give students a specific letter to be their target for their next attempt.
I have included the file as a pdf for easy printing, and also as a ppt file so that you can edit it in line with your own teaching methods if you wish.
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Fully resourced and differentiated 1 hour lesson in which students close read an example horror extract and then write their own description of a setting.
Easily adaptable.
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A detailed knowledge organiser and homework menu to support students studying ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ by John Boyne
The knowledge organiser includes:
21 literary terms and their definitions of techniques analysed in the novel such as juxtaposition, foreboding, mondegreen etc…
10 contextual terms and their definitions such as Holocaust, Antisemitism, Aryan Race etc…
10 reading terms and their definitions such as scanning, skimming, synthesis etc…
The homework menu includes:
Four weeks worth of homework: for each week students are able to select the specifics of their task from a menu.
The options include research, informational writing, artistic and creative writing tasks.
This is suitable for any age group studying The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
If you find these resources useful, 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.
A scheme of work to introduce students to the entire syllabus of CIE 0500 IGCSE English Language. These lessons work well both to introduce the course or as revision before exams.
This scheme of work has 12 lessons and involves 2 assessments for papers 1 and 2. All of the resources required to teach this scheme of work are available in my shop and a number of them can be downloaded for free as I have listed below.
Freebies:
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper One here.
A free lesson giving an overview of CIE 0500 Language Paper Two here.
Free marking templates for CIE 0500 here. #
If you find this scheme of work 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 fully-resourced engaging English or Drama lesson which explores the narrative of act 1 scene 2 of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Portia’s choice of suitors. It also prompts students to consider the importance of exposition and spacing on stage when performing a play.
This lesson is ready to teach and easily adaptable. It develops both English and Drama skills.
Learning Objective: Explore the Scenario of Portia’s Choice in Act 1 Scene 2.
Learning Outcomes:
Students will consider how spacing and staging can be used to show character and setting.
-Students will understand Portia’s dilemma in act 1 scene 2.
Students will understand the features of a script and will put these into practice by writing their own.
Lesson Outline:
Do it now: Mind-map features of a script
Starter: Thinking about exposition, the students create freeze frames of different scenarios in large groups.
Activity 1: Summary of act 1 scene 2. Drama task where students act as Portia and her suitors.
Activity 2: Modelling of script layout and script-writing task in pairs.
Performances and peer assessment
More Resources for The Merchant of Venice
Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters.
Freebies:
For character revision posters for your classroom, click here.
For an English/Drama lesson based on Portia’s choice in Act 1 Scene 2, click here.
For a Scheme of Work overview for the unit, click here.
I am grateful for all reviews and feedback. If you found this helpful, have a look at the other resources in my LikeAnExpert shop.
Ready-to-teach and easily adaptable 1 hour lesson on complex sentences. This lesson teaches students how to write complex sentences and how to move the dependent clause to different parts of the sentence accurately.
This lesson was designed for key stage 3, but could easily be adapted for key stage 2 or key stage 4 depending on the ability!
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1 hour assessment to assess students' knowledge of punctuation and grammar. This writing assessment has 3 sections:
1) Punctuation and grammar (15 marks) - students answer questions defining different sentence types and writing specific types of sentences about topics. They also write sentences using dashes, brackets, colons and semi-colons.
2) Proofreading (20 marks) - students read a piece of writing in which 20 pieces of punctuation are missing and add them in.
3) Descriptive writing (20 marks) - students apply their knowledge by writing one paragraph to describe a beach scene.
Marking key and writing rubric is included for easy and quick marking. This test could be used at the beginning of a writing unit to find out gaps in knowledge or as an end of term assessment.
It was designed for key stage 3 but could be applicable to key stage 2 or key stage 4.
Included as a pdf for easy printing and as a word file in case you would prefer to edit the questions.
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