AQA GCSE English Language Exam Preparation - Paper 1, Section A (97-slide editable PowerPoint teaching resource with 12 worksheets) AQA GCSE English Language Exam Preparation - Paper 1, Section A is designed to help students prepare for Section A of Paper 1 of the AQA GCSE English Language Exam. Contents include: An introduction to the exam and the AO1, AO2 and AO4 assessment objectives An example GCSE paper with an extract from ‘The Monkey’s Paw’ Exam questions with prompts and marks Example / model answers for all questions How to manage time effectively A detailed exploration of the key skills required to answer exam questions 1, 2, 3 and 4 successfully Revising how to retrieve information (Q1), how to analyse (Q2 and Q3) and how to evaluate (Q4) Looking at mark schemes and finding out what examiners are looking for in Paper 1, Section A.

The Alphabet EYFS English Literacy Teaching Resource This EYFS teaching resource introduces children to each letter of the alphabet. As each letter is introduced children are encouraged to think of words beginning with that letter and examples are given. It also includes 26 worksheets to consolidate understanding. ‘The Alphabet’ is a colourful and animated EYFS English teaching PowerPoint presentation ideal to use when introducing the alphabet to pre-school children. ‘The Alphabet’ is fully editable so you have the freedom to adapt the resource to each class you teach.

Neutral Tones - AQA This two-lesson mini-unit explores Thomas Hardy’s ‘Neutral Tones’ in detail. Designed to teach pupils studying the poem at GCSE with the AQA exam board, this resource analyses the poem in depth and explains how to write an essay comparing it to another poem. The resource is made up of a 64-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 8 worksheets. The two lessons contain the following: Lesson One Making predictions – From the title alone, what do you think the poem is about? Context – Learning the importance of context. How knowledge of context helps us understand the poem in detail. Here we explore Hardy, his world view and his literary influences. First Contact – An initial reading of the poem with a glossary included and comprehension questions with answers to assess understanding. Exploring Meaning – Analysing the poem in detail. Exploring key quotes and discussing them with comprehensive questions that delve deeper. Model answers are provided. Essay Writing – An essay question task to assess initial understanding. Includes a model answer and peer assessment opportunities. Lesson Two Themes – Analysing the poem’s themes: love, loss, memory and emotional trauma. Language – Exploring Hardy’s use of language, poetic techniques and the semantic field. Includes an exploration of imagery and a line-by-line annotation of the poem and questions with detailed answers. Structure and Form – How Hardy uses the lyric form, perspective, punctuation, rhyme, rhythm, and enjambment and how he organises the stanzas and uses a cyclical structure. The GCSE Exam – How to write a comparison essay with model responses. Comparing ‘Neutral Tones’ with ‘When We Two Parted’ and ‘Winter Swans’. To preview the full resource (view all slides and worksheets), click on the images.

The Farmer’s Bride by Charlotte Mew (18-slide editable PowerPoint-based teaching resource with 3 worksheets) This lesson (aimed at GCSE students) explores ‘The Farmer’s Bride’, by Charlotte Mew. The lesson begins with a differentiated ‘Do Now’ activity which encourages students to consider what the poem might be about by looking at a series of relevant images. Following this, students explore contextual information relating to the poet Charlotte Mew. For the main activity, learners complete a differentiated, double-sided worksheet that enables them to explore Mew’s use of form and language in the depiction of the farmer’s marriage. The lesson concludes with a brief learning review that asks students to write a tweet summarising the poem. Suggested answers are provided for all tasks.

Dingbat Deductions 3 Dingbats 3 follows on where the original Dingbats and Dingbats 2 resources left off with more fun dingbats for pupils to puzzle over. Dingbats are a fun way of developing deduction skills and language/word focus – key reading skills. Dingbats 3 includes 20 more dingbats with two accompanying worksheets and all slides are editable to suit your requirements.

Follower by Seamus Heaney This two-lesson mini-unit of work explores Seamus Heaney’s ‘Follower’ in detail. Designed to teach pupils studying the AQA GCSE English Literature Love and Relationships Anthology, this resource analyses the poem in depth and explains how to write a comparative essay in the exam. The resource is made up of a 72-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 10 worksheets. The two lessons contain the following: Lesson One Making predictions – From the title alone, what do you think the poem is about? Context – Learning the importance of context. How knowledge of context helps us understand the poem in detail. Here we explore Heaney and the disappearing world of traditional Irish rural life First Contact – An initial reading of the poem with a glossary included and comprehension questions with answers to assess understanding. Exploring Meaning – Analysing the poem in detail. Exploring key quotes and discussing them with comprehensive questions that delve deeper. Model answers are provided. Essay Writing – An essay question task to assess initial understanding. Includes a model answer and peer assessment opportunities. Lesson Two Themes – Analysing the poem’s themes: parent/child relationships, youth, age and time, agricultural traditions and identity. Language – Exploring Heaney’s use of language and poetic techniques. A line-by-line annotation of the poem and questions with detailed answers. Structure and Form – How Heaney uses the lyric form, perspective, punctuation, rhyme, rhythm, and enjambment and how he organises the stanzas and uses a cyclical structure. The GCSE Exam – How to write a comparison essay with model responses. Comparing ‘Follower’ with ‘Climbing My Grandfather’, ‘Mother, Any Distance’ and ‘Eden Rock’.

Free Verse Poetry – Year 5/6 English - Poetry This UKS2 English resource introduces free verse poetry to Year 5/6 children. First, it provides an example poem and explains how to identify a free verse poem before presenting a structure to enable the whole class to write a free verse poem as a group. The three differentiated worksheets (Gold, Silver and Bronze) give all learners an opportunity to write their own free verse poem independently with an appropriate level of support.

‘Sonnet 29 - I Think of Thee’ contains a comprehensive 28-slide PowerPoint-based GCSE teaching resource with 8 accompanying worksheets. This two-lesson mini unit, aimed at middle-ability GCSE learners, enables students to explore ‘Sonnet 29’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning in detail. The first lesson introduces students to the sonnet form and explores key terms that they will need in order to analyse ‘Sonnet 29’. After a differentiated ‘Do Now’ activity, students undertake tasks that cover the concept of syllables, feet and metre, and the difference between the Petrarchan and English sonnet form. The lesson concludes with a brief ‘true or false’ activity as a learning review. In the second lesson, students apply what they have learnt to an analysis of Browning’s sonnet. After a similarly differentiated ‘Do Now task’, they work in pairs to explore ‘Sonnet 29’, considering how both language and structural methods shape meaning in the poem. At the end of the lesson, students fill in an ‘exit ticket’ that will help teachers to gauge how confident their students feel in their understanding of ‘Sonnet 29’. Suggested answers are provided for all tasks.

Tanka Poetry - Year 7 Designed for low ability Year 7, this tanka teaching resource is a fun and engaging way of studying and writing poetry. The lesson begins with an example tanka and an explanation of the ‘rules’ of tanka poetry. Learners are then provided with scaffolding to help them construct a group tanka. The differentiated worksheets (higher, medium and lower) then provide learners with an opportunity to write an individual tanka with appropriate support.

Cinquain Poetry - Year 7 Designed for low ability Year 7, this cinquain teaching resource is a fun and engaging way of studying and writing poetry. The lesson begins with an example cinquain and an explanation of the ‘rules’ of cinquain poetry. Learners are then provided with scaffolding to help them construct a group poem. The differentiated worksheets (higher, medium and lower) then provide learners with an opportunity to write individual cinquains with appropriate support.

Before You Were Mine by Carol Ann Duffy This engaging GCSE teaching resource explores Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Before You Were Mine’ (AQA GCSE English Literature Love and Relationships Anthology) in detail. The resource is made up of a 22-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 4 worksheets. Contents include: Do Now Task – Life in the 1950s and parent / child relationships. Making Predictions – Using the title ‘Before You Were Mine’, what do you think the poem is about? Context – Learning about Carol and Duffy, the 1950s and Marilyn Monroe. Exploring Meaning – Analysing the poem, exploring and discussing key quotes in detail. Themes – Considering the themes of love, parenting, responsibility, youth and the role of women in society. Language – Exploring Duffy’s word choices and use of imagery. Structure and Form – How Duffy arranges the poem on the page, the use of enjambment and how the past and the present are presented. Essay Writing – An extended answer question (How does Duffy present motherhood in ‘Before You Were Mine’?) to assess understanding. Includes example answers. Peer assessment opportunities.

Narrative Poetry - Year 3/4 This lower KS2 teaching resource introduces narrative poetry in a fun and engaging way. It begins with an example and explains how to identify a narrative poem before providing scaffolding to help children construct one as a class. The second half of the lesson helps children write an individual narrative poem. Learners are given a supported approach through the differentiated ‘Gold’, ‘Silver’ and ‘Bronze’ worksheets.

When We Two Parted This two-lesson mini-unit of work explores Byron’s ‘When We Two Parted’ in detail. Designed to teach pupils studying the AQA GCSE English Literature Love and Relationships Anthology, this resource analyses the poem in depth and explains how to write a comparative essay in the exam. The resource is made up of a 71-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and eight worksheets. The two lessons contain the following: Lesson One Making predictions – From the title alone ‘When We Two Parted’, what do you think the poem is about? Context – Learning the importance of context. How knowledge of context helps us understand the poem in detail. Here we explore Lord Byron, the Byronic hero, the Romantic movement and the social and historical context – the age of revolution. First Contact – An initial reading of the poem with a glossary included. A 2022 retelling of the narrative in modern prose. Comprehension questions with answers to assess understanding. A general summary/synopsis of the poem. Exploring Meaning – Analysing the poem in more detail. Exploring key quotes and discussing them with comprehensive questions that delve deeper. Model answers are provided. Essay Writing – An essay question task to assess initial understanding. Includes model answers and peer assessment opportunities. Lesson Two Themes – Analysing the poem’s themes: love and the end of a love affair, secrecy, abandonment, disillusion, fidelity, separation and pain and suffering. Language – Exploring Byron’s use of archaic language, semantic fields and poetic techniques. A line by line annotation of the poem and comprehension questions with detailed answers. Structure and Form – How Byron uses the lyric form, perspective, punctuation, rhyme and enjambment and how he structures the stanzas and uses a cyclical narrative. The GCSE Exam – How to write a comparison essay with model responses. Comparing ‘When We Two Parted’ with ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ and ‘Neutral Tones’.

Cinquain Poetry - Year 3 / 4 This lower KS2 resource explores cinquain poetry in a fun and engaging way. It begins with an example and explains how to identify a cinquain before providing scaffolding to help children construct a class poem. The differentiated worksheets (higher, medium and lower) provide learners with an opportunity to write their own cinquains with an appropriate level of assistance.

Tanka Poetry – Year 3 / 4 This Year 3/4 resource introduces tanka poetry. First, it presents an example poem and explains how to identify a tanka before providing scaffolding to enable the whole class to write a collaborative poem. The three differentiated worksheets (Gold, Silver and Bronze) give all learners an opportunity to write their own tanka independently with the appropriate level of support for their needs.

Fronted Adverbials - Year 7 (KS3 Essential English Skills) (15-slide editable PowerPoint-based lesson with 4 worksheets) Our ‘KS3 Essential English Skills’ resources are designed to help Year 7 learners master key English skills that were not fully developed at KS2. This resource explains what fronted adverbials are and how to use them accurately in writing. The lesson provides a definition of fronted adverbials with examples before pupils explore them as a whole class. Learners then complete a range of activities to assess their understanding. The activities are differentiated - Bronze, Silver and Gold - to provide challenge for students of all abilities.

Causal Conjunctions - Year 7 Essential English Skills (13-slide editable PowerPoint and 3 differentiated worksheets) Our ‘Year 7 Essential English Skills’ resources are designed to help Year 7 learners master key English skills that were not fully developed at KS2. In this differentiated resource, teachers recap the concept of causal conjunctions, then allow pupils to practice using them in sentences. The resource begins with whole-group activities before letting learners attempt differentiated individual worksheets where they match sentences, choose appropriate causal conjunctions and write conjunction sentences of their own. The resource is differentiated (lower, middle and higher ability tasks) and fully editable. So you can use it as it is or adapt it for your needs.

Using Pronouns to Avoid Repetition - KS3: Essential English Skills Our ‘Year 7 Essential English Skills’ resources are designed to help Year 7 learners master key English skills which were not fully developed at KS2. ‘Using Pronouns to Avoid Repetition - KS3’ explains how to use pronouns effectively in written work. It recaps nouns and pronouns and contains whole group and individual activities designed to help children understand when and how to use pronouns to avoid repetition. The resource is differentiated (lower, middle and higher ability tasks) and fully editable giving you the freedom to use it as it is or adapt it for your needs.