Year 8 or 9 lesson. Discussion and questions based on Chapter 1 and 2. Pupils are asked to identify if the characters are animals or humans and consider the language used to describe them? In groups, pupils discuss Old Major’s speech and then go on to create character profiles. The lesson ends with pupils using the idea of the 10 commandments to agree on a list of seven ‘school rules’ – to present to the class with explanations.

A lesson based on John Agard’s Checking out Me History. Encourages pupils to consider what identity means and to analyse the use of metaphor in the poem. Pupils complete PEE paragraphs to show understanding.

The PPT introduces Pupils to the play Oleanna starting with images and make predictions. The PPT includes a summary of the play and a brief outline of speech theory. Pupils apply these theories to annotating a section of the play.

A PPT as a starting point to discuss and study John Keats: Selected Poems (Penguin Classics) (9780140424478)

A PPT as a starting point to discuss and study John Keats: Selected Poems (Penguin Classics) (9780140424478)

Pupils discuss the painting ‘In the Night Cafe’ by Vincent Van Gogh, as mentioned in the opening stage directions to the scene. They then go on the look at the 1947, Thomas Hart Benton painting based on the scene from the film version of the play. Annotating both images to find links to the characters, themes and setting. The PPT details presents pupils with information about the characters and symbols in this scene, for discussion and text annotation. Pupils are given an extract to analyse the stage directions to prompt discussion of William’s unusual descriptive use of the technique. The lesson ends with pupils completing a written task.

Read/act Scene 1 then use this PPT to walk pupils through an annotation of the scene. Includes discussion questions and finishes with pupils writing about how Williams’ presents the contrast between Stanley and Blanche is Scene 1. There is a epigraph worksheet somewhere on Tes that works well with this lesson.

A look at Aristotelian tragedy and how this fits with A Streetcar Named Desire. Discussion of Scene 5 and pupil task on how Blanche can be seen as a predator. Introduction to Irony, dramatic irony and other dramatic terms. Finishes with an independent written task for pupils.

A discussion of illusion versus reality in Scenes 7&8 of A Streetcar Named Desire. Starts with listening to Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘It’s Only a Paper Moon’ and pupils annotating the song lyrics in relation to Blanche and illusion. Pupils go on to write a detailed paragraph comparing the song to Blanche and explaining how it illustrates her emotional state. Pupils read Scene 8 and answer True/False questions about race and class before discussing this in greater detail.

A PPT exploring the use of sound in A Streetcar Named desire, specifically Scene 4. The lesson includes questions for discussion and independent written responses. The lesson also explores Fretag’s pyramid and how Williams’ 11scene play can fit this structure.

Year 12 Lesson on Scenes 10&11. Pupils read both scenes and annotate selected quotations with guided questions. Class discuss a critical interpretation making notes before completing a ‘quote quest’ for animal imagery. Individuals write a detailed response to William’s use of animal imagery in the play. Finish with questions on Scene 11 and the whole play.

An introduction to Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire. The PPT presentation includes context and biographical information for pupils to copy key notes. The presentation also introduces the main themes of the play and a description of the characters and their relation to Freud’s Id, Ego and superego. Included is an essay for discussion and a copy of Williams’ poem ‘Lament for the Moths’ to encourage pupils to explore William’s intentions for the play.

Read Scene 9. PPT an outline of the assessment requirements for Eduqas Component 2 AS English Literature. Critical perspectives of Stanley - used to encourage discussion of class/race in Streetcar. An introduction to introductions :-) pupils have a go at writing their own. Pupils annotate the scene in their copies and then use an outline to create possible exam questions.

A Year 12 presentation on literary theory. An introduction to the main theories and detailed information on colonalism, post-colonialism and feminism. Lots of areas for discussion, pupils record key information. I provide pupils with a handout of Conventry Patmore’s poem ‘The Angel in the House’ - wikipedia, this is used for some ‘unseen’ poetry analysis and then to prompt class discussion on Victorian ideals. I also give pupils a copy of 'An extinct Angel’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - as this is a ‘talk back’ to Patmore’s poem it goes well with the study of Rhys’s response to Jane Eyre.

A PPT presentation detailing the story of Beowulf. Includes detailed contextual information, discussion of language variation and a fun task of creating Kennings.

Year 12 lesson on Jean Rhys’ Wide Sargasso Sea. The lesson includes examples of different front covers to discuss and analyse, detailed information on the novel’s title and biographical context. Pupils are asked to complete Cornell notes from the information - examples provided for reference. In groups pupils complete further research to be presented to the class.

Introduction to William Blake, specifically Songs of Innocence and Experience. The presentation provides biographical contextual information before asking pupils to consider what the title means. Focusing on the quote ‘Being the two contrary states of the human soul’ the PPT explores Blake’s influences: IndustrIal Age, Romanticism, Science, Religion and Revolution.

Year 7 lesson activity, guiding pupils through writing their own mythological story. I normally use this after studying Greek Myths or Myths and Legends. Pupils are asked to select a natural phenomenon and consider how this would have been explained in Ancient Greece. Pupils select four components from a list, their challenge is to include these in their story within a limited word count. Pupils create neat booklets, these look great on a display.

The lesson objective is to understand why many young men like Tommo were so eager to go off to war. Pupils will identify the ways that men were persuaded to enlist in the army, and produce a piece of work which persuades people to join up for something. The lesson encourages analysis of War posters the Sergeant Major's speech and Jessie Pope's poem Who's for the Game?

Year 7 lesson - Pupils read the myth Persephone and the pomegranate seeds and then answer comprehension questions. The PPT invites them to consider what a monologue is - Taylor Swift recorded a ‘Monologue song’ I play this to pupils to give them the idea. The main task is to write a monologue for one of the characters in Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds Pupils need to imagine that they are that character and write an imagined extract from their autobiography explaining how their character felt about the situation. Volunteers read their responses to the class.