Coach your students through discussion and note-taking for the themes of any novel, short story or play, and then instruct them in the creation of a hex diagram by matching the sides, drawing links between the themes and explaining their reasons.
Allow more able students to work independently on the hexagon diagram pieces.
Includes two differentiated versions - one with headings for three quotations, characters, context and symbolism for the theme, and one with subheadings in each of these areas.
VERSION 1 SIDES:
Characters
Context
Symbolism
Quotations x3
VERSION 2 SIDES:
Characters
Main characters
Secondary characters
Tertiary characters
Context
Historical context
Social context
Symbolism
Symbol
Meaning
Quotations x3
Who said it?
When?
This resource includes US letter and UK A4 size versions.
Four reading comprehension questions focused on setting for any novel, poem or extract.
Use this list of differentiated questions as ideas for lessons, or print and hand out all questions and determine which students should complete.
Use the worksheet version of each question as note-making activities or visual guides.
The four questions explore: gathering evidence for inferring the setting, changes in the setting, details and features of the setting, and evaluating the importance of a setting.
Perfect for literature stations, lit circles, or homework tasks.
Create an interactive decoration for your classroom by asking your students to fill out one of these strips as a record of their reading.
Each strip includes space for the title and author of the book, and the name of the student who finished the book as well as the date they finished it.
Simply add the book loop to the chain or garland and watch your class’s collective book log grow!
Five styles of ‘link’ are provided in this pack: library shelf, comic books, pages, white with color text, and white with black text for printing on colored paper.
This pack of five activities about Romeo’s use of language in Act 1.1 of Romeo and Juliet can be used individually or as a set to build understanding.
Assess Romeo’s character and motives, analyse his language, read closely into his use of oxymoron, translate his speech into current slang, and write a letter of advice from Benvolio or an Agony Advisor.
US and UK document sizes and terminology provided.
This pack of four activities about Capulet and Paris in Act 1.2 of Romeo and Juliet can be used individually or as a set to build understanding.
Assess Capulet’s use of creative and persuasive language in Act 1.2 of the play.
Consider Paris’ character and motives, and create his dating profile based on what you know.
US and UK document sizes and terminology provided.
14 grammar posters for your English classroom - simple black and white styles which are easy to print on colour paper, or keep it monochrome.
Gen Z slang used on all posters as examples of nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs and more!
One version features sketch images to accompany the slang, and the other is text-only. 28 posters in all!
This fun descriptive writing task includes everything you need to support your less able students and stretch your gifted ones.
First, students explore ideas for describing a turkey, pumpkin or pumpkin pie as individuals, or in pairs or as a class, using the visual prompts on the first sheet.
Some students might wish to express some of their ideas through color as well as words.
Next, share the differentiated word bank of sensory words to support and stretch your students as needed.
Included are banks for sight, sound, smell and touch - taste is not included, but you could always do this as a separate bank or as another collaboration project. There is also a vocabulary bank for verbs, and space in each section for students to add ideas of their own.
The outcome will be interesting and vivid descriptions of the humble turkey or pumpkin pie. Enjoy!
No-Prep Group Work - a set of desk placemats to encourage groups to discuss and share information about quotations, themes and context linked to individual characters from JB Priestley’s 1940s play.
This can either be an oracy task alone, or discussion alongside the creation of a revision map on A4 or A3 paper.
Includes a double-sided ‘ThoughtPad’ sheet for students to log ideas along the way, plus a Seven Deadly Sins bonus task for those who finish early.
Includes 8 characters, multiple tasks per sheet, and works well with 4-8 groups of students. Laminate for multiple use!
This editable pack of three activities about Romeo’s use of language in Acts 1.4 and 1.5 of Romeo and Juliet promotes close study of the play.
Assess Romeo’s emotions
Analyze his positive and negative language
Read closely into his use of themes and semantics
Categorize his speech
US and UK document sizes and terminology provided, plus fully editable Google Docs version.
A winter opinion writing activity that prompts your class to determine their preference before embarking on a webquest to find evidence and information to support their argument. Do your students prefer snow or rain? No mention of Christmas, Thanksgiving, or other festivities for a fully inclusive task!
ELEMENTS INCLUDE:
Guided mind map
Graphic organizers in favor of and arguing against rain and snow (2 differentiated levels; 1 includes suggested search terms)
Themed writing paper for the final written exposition or speech
US and UK document sizes and spelling
Editable Google Docs version
Mix and match the webquest worksheets according to the needs of your pupils!
Coach your students through writing an essay on the theme of commitment in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. This resource includes two guided practice booklets (one with space for full drafting, and one slimline version with instructions only) and editable versions of all warm-up tasks and worksheets.
Use as a preparation booklet over several lessons, or dip in and out for the tasks you need.
You will need to have watched or read the play prior to or during the use of this booklet, although quotations are provided.
If you found this helpful, you might also like:
Guided Practice | Literature Essay Frame
Romeo and Juliet | Quick Revision Bookmarks | 2 Characters & Play
Romeo and Juliet | The Prologue
Literature Analysis | Sentence Starters | PEEL Structure
Marking and Feedback Stickers | Punctuation and Grammar | 23 Common Errors
A bright, engaging grid-style frame to guide and support pupils in planning 5 paragraphs for a well-rounded essay. This resource is easy to use in a very mixed ability class, ranging from the students needing significant support to the MAT, and all pupils in between…
Each row represents a paragraph, and each column represents a layer of understanding which boosts their understanding of a quotation or point. Simply use the pre-populated guide questions, or insert your own to tailor the essay focus to your needs.
Both aspirational and differentiated - make achieving easy!
If you found this helpful, you might also like:
Oracy Mats | Speaking and Listening | Prompts and Sentence Starters
Accuracy Passport | Improve Punctuation and Grammar | Literacy
Marking and Feedback Stickers | Punctuation and Grammar | 23 Common Errors
Literary Symbols Mat | Motifs Cheat Sheet | GCSE Support
Poetry Analysis Mat | Content and Structure Cheat Sheet | GCSE Support
Literature Analysis | Sentence Starters | PEEL Structure
Aimed at Secondary level, this resource includes six punctuation mats for general writing support. They come in both colour and black and white PDFs. Best stuck in exercise books or to desks as tools for improving students’ written work.
Each mat covers…
Full stop
Single and paired commas
Omissive and possessive apostrophes
Ellipsis
Semi colon
Paragraphs
Aimed at Primary level, this resource includes six grammar mats for general writing support. There are four fun color versions, one minimalist color and one black and white version.
These work best stuck in exercise books or to desks as tools for improving students’ written work.
Each mat covers…
Capital letters
They’re/There/Their
You’re/Your
To/Too/Two
Here/Hear
Connectives
Improving vocabulary
A fun, imaginative task for secondary level. Students use or find quotations about Atticus Finch from the early chapters of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, building a picture through the eyes of Maycombe residents.
Students draw an image of the character, using the quotations, then annotate their drawings to show close attention to detail.
This product includes…
Sheet with 16 quotations provided
Sheet with 16 quotations and space for additional ideas
Sheet with empty spaces for students to find their own quotations
…and each of the three sheets above come with three different centres: blank, gingerbread man outline and realistic outline. That’s nine formats for the same task!
If you found this helpful, you might also like:
Guided Practice | Literature Essay Frame
To Kill a Mockingbird | Boo Radley Character Sketch
To Kill a Mockingbird | Calpurnia Character Sketch
To Kill a Mockingbird | Miss Maudie Character Sketch
To Kill a Mockingbird | Atticus Finch’s Closing Speech | Analysis of Persuasive Devices
Literature Analysis | Sentence Starters | PEEL Structure
Marking and Feedback Stickers | Punctuation and Grammar | 23 Common Errors
A fun, imaginative task for secondary level. Students use or find quotations about Calpurnia from the early chapters of the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, building a picture through the eyes of Maycombe residents.
Students draw an image of the character, using the quotations, then annotate their drawings to show close attention to detail.
This product includes…
Sheet with 16 quotations provided
Sheet with 16 quotations and space for additional ideas
Sheet with empty spaces for students to find their own quotations
…and each of the three sheets above come with three different centres: blank, gingerbread man outline and realistic outline. That’s nine formats for the same task!
Decorate your classroom with this pack of nine posters showing nine different reading strategies. Each poster has the name of the strategy, a description, and visual prompts. The strategies are…
Reading back and forth
Close reading
Empathising
Inferring
Predicting
Questioning
Scanning
Skimming
Visualising
These posters come in both US letter and UK A4 size documents, and there are black and white versions for printing onto plain or colour paper, and versions with a pop of colour in the borders.
Learn about your students by asking them to design themselves as a video game character. As well as asking students to draw themselves as a character, they are also asked to outline the name, color scheme, skills, powers, travel method and mission for their character. For older or more able students, this can be followed up with a ‘why’ explanation to encourage discussion and reasoning.
This pack includes…
US and UK document sizes
US and UK spellings
PDF versions
PNG versions for you to use in your own lesson planning
To gather quick responses from your students about any chapter from any novel or text, simply print and hand out this single sheet. It is provided in A3 size for larger sheet printing, but it can be resized to UK A4 or US letter size for smaller sheets. Editable Word version included for you to adapt or differentiate the sheet for your students.
This one-pager asks for…
Novel name
Chapter name or number
Character links or connections
Favorite quotation
Three personal reactions
Map of setting
Questions raised
Predictions for later in the text
Reaction to the chapter ending
US and UK spellings are provided
Engage your class with a pre-reading task by presenting the climax or outcome of the plot as a crime scene. Use this editable Word template to organise the victims, statements, evidence locker timeline, and any other information you wish to include. Add or remove sections to suit the text or your students.
This starting task allows students to work in groups to work out the plot before you read the text; it also gives you a chance to flip the classroom and get them to engage themselves. It is adaptable so that you can plan for the task to last fifteen minutes or a whole lesson. You choose!
Please note: This template is not for commercial use.