This free 18-lesson unit of work overview takes students through Shakespeare’s Macbeth while building essential skills for GCSE/IGCSE, including language and structure analysis, understanding context, and exploring character development. Ideal for Key Stage 4 or advanced Key Stage 3 students. Unit Aims: • Students will be guided through the reading of the entire play of Macbeth. • Students will understand the social context of the play and make links between the context and the events in the play. • Students will be able to describe the character development of the main characters. • Students will be able to discuss the structure of the play. • Students will revise language and structural techniques and will closely analyse the language in key scenes. This unit of work covers skills required for GCSE/IGCSE; however, it is suitable for teaching to Key Stage 4 or older Key Stage 3 students. For all 18 lessons, a learning objective, learning outcomes, lesson overview and key vocabulary are provided. There are also links to purchase the accompanying PowerPoints and resources if you would prefer not to make them yourself. These resources are also available to purchase as a bundle here. Free Resources and More: Free Worksheet: Download a free worksheet on Lady Macbeth’s persuasive techniques in Act 1 Scene 7. Free Homework Menu: Download a free homework menu to accompany the unit. Bundle Offer: Consider purchasing the Macbeth Bundle, which includes comprehensive resources to take you through the entire play. Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.

This 50-question Macbeth quiz is designed for key stage 3 and 4 students, covering all key areas of the play—from characters and famous quotes to symbols, language techniques, structure, and social context. Ideal for teachers aiming to assess comprehension, reinforce learning, or prepare students for exams, this quiz is both thorough and accessible. This also works really well for students revising for their GCSE or IGCSE exams. This quiz not only assesses comprehension but also encourages critical thinking. It highlights key themes, character motivations, and the societal backdrop that shaped the play. Plus, the answer key saves you time, making it easy to review answers with students or provide instant feedback What’s Included in This Macbeth Quiz Resource: 5 Unique Rounds of Questions: Characters: Analyse major figures like Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Duncan, and the Witches. Quotes: Identify missing words, understand famous lines, and connect quotes to characters. Symbols: Explore symbols such as blood, light, darkness, and the supernatural. Language & Structure: Test knowledge of Shakespeare’s language and structural techniques. Social Context: Contextual questions on the historical, social, and political background of Jacobean England. Why Choose This Resource? Engagement for All Levels: With a range of question difficulties, this quiz suits both beginner and advanced students, making it perfect for mixed-ability classrooms. 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.

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.

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. Leave a review and select another resource of equal value for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.

A detailed and ready-to-teach lesson designed to take students through Macbeth Act 4 Scenes 2 and 3. Students will consider how Lady Macduff is the antithesis to Lady Macbeth and consider the theme of loyalty in the play. This resource is perfect for teachers looking for in-depth Macbeth lesson plans that foster critical thinking and analysis. Learning Objective: Analyse Act 4 Scenes 2 and 3 of Macbeth Learning Outcomes: Students will read and understand Act 4 Scenes 2 and 3. Students will understand how Lady Macduff is the antithesis to Lady Macbeth and that she represents the innocent people affected by Macbeth’s tyranny. Students will complete a quiz to check their understanding of these scenes. Lesson Outline: Do it now: Write down as many adjectives as you can think of to describe Lady Macbeth. Starter: Introduce Frayer Model of the noun ‘antithesis’ and introduce how Lady Macduff is the antithesis of Lady Macbeth. Activity 1: Read Act 4 Scene 2 and students answer comprehension questions on the scene. Activity 2: Students complete questions exploring how loyalty is presented in Act 4 Scene 2. Activity 3: Reading and discussion of Act 4 Scene 3. Plenary: Recall quiz on content from the lesson. 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.

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. Leave a review and select another resource of equal value for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.

This detailed and ready-to-teach one-hour lesson guides students through Act 3, Scenes 5 & 6 of Macbeth. Perfect for developing inference and prediction skills, this resource is ideal for GCSE/IGCSE students and key stage 3 students. Learning Objective: Develop inference and prediction skills when reading Macbeth Act 3 Scenes 5 & 6 Learning Outcomes: Students will be introduced to the character of Hecate and understand her plans to meddle with Macbeth. Students will complete comprehension questions on Act 3 Scene 5. Students will find key quotes from Act 3 Scene 6. Using the knowledge they have gained, students will make predictions about what will happen next in the play. Lesson Outline: Do it now: Wordsearch of character names in Macbeth. Starter: Students design the set and character of Hecate to create maximum fear in the audience. Activity One: Read and discuss questions based on Act 3 Scene 5. Activity Two: Read a summary of Act 3 Scene 6. In pairs, students then read the scene and search for quotes which match the statements on the board. Activity Three: Students write their predictions for the end of the play. Plenary: Recall questions based on this lesson 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.

This comprehensive one-hour lesson is perfect for exploring the Banquo’s Ghost scene in Act 3, Scene 4 of Macbeth. Students will focus on key quotes and engage in close language analysis of this pivotal scene, making it ideal for Key Stage 3 and 4 learners. The lesson includes: Abridged version of the scene for easier understanding. Comprehension questions and group tasks to ‘explode’ quotes for detailed analysis. Learning Objective: Analyse Key Quotes in Banquo’s Ghost Scene. Learning Outcomes: Students will read and understand Act 3 Scene 3 and an abridged version of Act 3 Scene 4. Students will independently complete comprehension questions on Act 3 Scene 4 and share their ideas in a class discussion. Students will practise close analysis of language by ‘exploding’ key quotes from the scene. Lesson Outline: Do it now: Think – Pair – Share recall questions from previous scenes. Starter: Reading and discussion of Act 3 Scene 2. Activity One: Students perform Act 3 Scene 4. Activity Two: Students work in groups to ‘explode’ quotes from the scene and then carousel around to add to each other’s ideas. Then a discussion as a class. Plenary: Students vote on the question - Was Banquo’s Ghost a ‘real’ ghost that only Macbeth could see? Or was it just a hallucination showing how Macbeth’s mind is deteriorating? 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.

This engaging lesson explores Macbeth’s psychological descent in Act 3, Scenes 1 & 2. Students will analyse Macbeth’s increasing corruption and guilt, especially through key quotes like “full of scorpions is my mind.” This is ideal for students reading these scenes for GCSE/IGCSE or for key stage 3 students approaching the play. This Resource Includes A summary of Act 2, Scene 4 to discuss supernatural events. Abridged readings of Act 3, Scene 1 & 2. Comprehension questions and class discussions on Macbeth’s actions and moral descent. Learning Objective: Analyse Macbeth’s Evil Descent in Act 3 Scenes 1 & 2. Learning Outcomes: - Students will read a summary and discuss the strange events in Act 2 Scene 4. Students will independently and as a class explore Act 3 Scenes 1 and 2. Students will consider how Macbeth is changing psychologically and consider his abhorrent behaviour. Lesson Overview: Do it now: Recall task about what the students know about the Jacobean beliefs in witches and the supernatural. Starter: Students read summary of Act 2 Scene 4 and translate the Shakespearean English to work out the unnatural events that have been happening. Class discussion about what this means. Activity one: Read an abridged version of Act 3 Scene 1 (worksheet). Students complete comprehension questions followed by class discussion. Activity two: Class discussion on which is more evil: Macbeth killing the King or a friend. Activity three: Read and discuss abridged version of Act 3 Scene 2 and explore quote ‘full of scorpions is my mind’. Plenary: Summarise Act 3 Scenes 1 and 2 in 2 sentences and draw a picture to represent the scorpion quote. 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.

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. Leave a review and select another resource of equal value for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.

This treasure hunt activity is a great way for you and your students to check their understanding of how to use different punctuation marks and simple, compound and complex sentences. For this treasure hunt, each student starts of at a station with a question. Their task is to find the next card with the correct answer. That card will give them the next question. They will know that they have completed the task with the correct answers once they are taken back to their original station. You can either arrange these cards on clearly-identifiable desks around the room or you can hide them. The latter works particularly well as a fun end-of-term activity. This works well for Key Stage 3, but Key Stage 4 students have also enjoyed it as a fun activity to practise writing skills for their GCSE revision. 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 PowerPoint with accompanying printable worksheets for students to explore the context of Shakespeare’s Macbeth before embarking on their reading of the play. This lesson prompts students to dive deep into the historical and cultural backdrop of the play while honing critical skills like summarising, analysis, and collaboration. The lesson includes a thorough exploration of Macbeth’s context, including the reign of King James I, the Gunpowder Plot, witchcraft and the supernatural, family life, and gender roles. Through teacher modelling, students learn effective summary writing techniques, equipping them with the tools to distill complex information into concise and impactful summaries. They then put this into practice by using one of the worksheets to summarise information on their given topic. Students then engage in a carousel activity, where they delve into each of the context topics, learning from their peers, and collaboratively constructing their understanding. Learning Objective: Summarise contextual information about British society in the Jacobean period. Learning Outcomes: Students will read and comprehend new information and life in Jacobean times. Students will summarise this information in their own words. Students will clearly articulate what they have learned to your classmates. Lesson Outline: Do it now: Students think – pair – share about the importance of understanding a text’s context. Starter: Walkthrough of how to write an effective summary using an example text about James I. Activity 1: Students write their own summary of one of the contextual topics (King James I and the Gunpowder plot, Witchcraft, Family Life and Gender – these are differentiated by ability as shown by notes on PPT slide). Students spend 15 minutes creating their summary and then self-assess. Activity 2: Summary carousel – students move around the classroom sharing their summaries and taking notes on the various topics. Plenary: Mini whiteboard questions on the topic from this lesson. Leave a review and choose any other resource, of up to the same value, for free 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.

One academic year’s worth of Word Root of the Week lesson starters (36 weeks). Each starter prompts students to explore and practise using a root word in more detail to explicitly build in teaching vocabulary over the year. Each week has a starter that lasts between 5-15 minutes. There are 165 slides in total. If you wish to purchase further resources to support your Word Root of the Week programme, have a look at these word root slides for displaying in assembly. or a complete bundle of resources. These words correspond with this free Excel file which provides a yearly plan with 36 word roots and example words. Leave a review and choose any other resource for free, of up to the same value, from the LikeAnExpert shop.

A spreadsheet plan for an 36 weeks of explicitly teaching word roots. This spreadsheet allocates each week a word root and gives examples of three words that contain this root and are used across a range of subjects across the school. This can support you to explicitly teach students a word root per week to unlock thousands of words for your students. Have a look at this bundle of resources for embedding Word Root of the Week in your school. Related Resources * Word Root of the Week assembly/form time slides for the whole academic year. * Staff CPD on Whole-School Reading Strategies * A bundle of whole-school literacy resources including this CPD, CPD on Reading Strategies and resources for implementing a Word Root of the Week in your school. Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop.

A 15 lesson scheme of work designed to support students through the entire play of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. This is aimed at high-ability key stage 3 (it was originally designed for a high ability year 9 class), but it would be easily adapted for key stage 4. It contains a range of tasks that have been modelled on GCSE literature tasks. All of the lessons are available to download - some of them are free. Resources for the lessons on the scheme of work: Click here for a bundle of all the lessons to take you through the play plus a quiz, knowledge organiser and character revision posters. 1) A 40 Question Shakespeare Quiz 2) Introduction to Characters and Themes in The Merchant of Venice 3) Act 1 Scene 1 (Antonio and Bassanio) 4) Portia’s Choice in Act 1 Scene 2 (FREE) 5) Shakespeare’s Portrayal of Shylock in Act 1 Scene 3 6) Jessica’s Character in Act 2 Scenes 1-3 7) The Casket Test in Act 2 Scene 7 8) Shylock’s Portrayal in Act 2 Scene 8 9) Prince Arragon in Act 2 Scene 9 10) Interpretations of Shylock in Act 3 Scene 1 11) Dramatic Irony in the Casket Scene in Act 3 Scene 2 12) Independently Interpreting Shakespeare Using Act 3 Scenes 3-5 13) Act 4: The Courtroom Scene 14) Evaluate the Ending of the Play in Act 5 15) A 35-Question Quiz on the Play with Answers Included 16) A knowledge organiser with key information for studying the play. 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. Please leave a review as I value all the feedback I receive, and have a look at other resources available in my shop.

A 35 question quiz on The Merchant of Venice! This quiz has four rounds: characters, quotes, the casket tests and literary techniques. Many questions are multiple choice to scaffold learners and the quiz includes a range of more accessible and more challenging questions. More Merchant of Venice Resources: A complete bundle of resources for The Merchant of Venice which includes lessons to take you through the entire play, a quiz, knowledge organiser and revision posters. . This bundle includes: 1) A 40 Question Shakespeare Quiz 2) Introduction to Characters and Themes in The Merchant of Venice 3) Act 1 Scene 1 (Antonio and Bassanio) 4) Portia’s Choice in Act 1 Scene 2 (FREE) 5) Shakespeare’s Portrayal of Shylock in Act 1 Scene 3 6) Jessica’s Character in Act 2 Scenes 1-3 7) The Casket Test in Act 2 Scene 7 8) Shylock’s Portrayal in Act 2 Scene 8 9) Prince Arragon in Act 2 Scene 9 10) Interpretations of Shylock in Act 3 Scene 1 11) Dramatic Irony in the Casket Scene in Act 3 Scene 2 12) Independently Interpreting Shakespeare Using Act 3 Scenes 3-5 13) Act 4: The Courtroom Scene 14) Evaluate the Ending of the Play in Act 5 15) A 35-Question Quiz on the Play with Answers Included 16) A knowledge organiser with key information for studying the play. Merchant of Venice 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. Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.

A detailed lesson on Act 5 of The Merchant of Venice in which students are introduced to Freytag’s Pyramid so that they understand how the falling action leads to a resolution at the end of the play. They then consider which characters do or do not have a happy ending and write a review of the play. Learning Objective: Evaluate the experience of different characters at the end of the play. Learning Outcomes: Students will be introduced to Freytag’s Pyramid and understand how the action falls towards the end of the play. Students will read and discuss a summary of Act 5 scene 1. Students will evaluate the experience of different characters at the ending of the play. Students will write a review of the play. Lesson Outline: Do it now: Recall questions about Act 4 Starter: Introduction to Freytag’s Pyramid. Activity one: Read and discuss summary of Act 5. Activity two: Students complete a worksheet about whether the characters have a happy, sad or mixed ending. Students then swap and peer assess each other’s work. Plenary: Students write a review of the play. 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. Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.

In this lesson, students are guided through the court room scene in Act 4 Scene 1 of The Merchant of Venice. Students will consider the implications of justice and mercy and then consider how a Shakespearean audience would have viewed Shylock’s fate as compared to a modern one. Learning Objective: Compare and contrast how a Shakespearean audience and a modern audience would respond to the trial scene in Act 4. Learning Outcomes: Students will discuss the implications of justice and mercy in practice. Students will answer comprehension questions about Act 4 Scene 1. Students will compare the response of a Shakespearean audience with a modern audience to Shylock’s fate. Students will write a paragraph to address the question of to what extent do they feel pity for Shylock. Lesson Outline: Do it now: Students write their ideas on a post-it note examining a quote by the Duke about Shylock. Starter: Introduction to key vocabulary (justice and mercy) and discussion around them. Activity 1: Read and discuss a summary/extracts from Act 4 Scene 1. Questions are interspersed. Activity 2: Class discussion exercise. Students share their opinions on to the extent that feel sorry for Shylock followed by an outline of the contextual differences between a Shakespearean and a modern audience. Plenary: Students write a paragraph to answer this question: “Shylock is the true victim of The Merchant of Venice”. To what extent do you agree with this statement?” 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. Leave a review and choose any other resource for free from the LikeAnExpert shop.