This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make detailed and precise interpretations of the character of Abel Magwitch in Great Expectations, through developing a deep understanding of the key features of the 19th Century criminal justice system. In particular, students learn about how criminals were perceived and treated in Victorian society, and link this knowledge to Abel Magwitch’s introduction, development, and demise in the novel. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Understanding key contextual information about the 19th Century criminal justice system; - Reading extracts about Abel Magwitch in ‘Great Expectations’ and identifying the features of the 19th Century justice system within the text; - Analysing how Dickens presents his views about the treatment of criminals through the character of Abel Magwitch in the text; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Extracts about Abel Magwitch; - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. All documents are attached as Word and PDF in case formatting differs on your computer. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to mixed ability year 10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to to make precise interpretations regarding the characters of Charlie and Tommo in Private Peaceful. In particular, students analyse how the relationship between the two characters is introduced and then developed throughout the novel. They also make key inferences about the similarities and differences between the brothers. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Comparing and contrasting the characteristics of the two brothers; - Comprehending how the brothers’ relationship is introduced by Morpugo in the opening chapters; - Tracking and analysing how their relationship develops over the course of the novel; - Creating character profiles for both brothers, using a (provided) template and the information that they have gathered over the course of the lesson; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Character Profile Templates (Word and PDF); - Relationship Development Graph Template (Word and PDF); - Extracts from Private Peaceful; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 7 and 8 classes, however colleagues have used them for between years 3 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that students will need internet or library access to complete the research introduction task. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to understand the language features used by Michael Morpurgo to depict the horrors of war in Private Peaceful. In particular, students analyse the effectiveness of his similes, metaphors and personification (amongst other devices) before creating their own descriptive device-filled writing! The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining and exemplifying range of different descriptive techniques; - Identifying the descriptive language techniques in use in an extract from Private Peaceful (the section in which Tommo and his comrades are gassed); - Analysing the effectiveness of Morpurgo’s descriptive language, considering the effect on the reader; - Creating their own descriptive passages, using each of the descriptive language devices effectively; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Cards for the card-sorting activity; - Descriptive language essay template; - Extract from Private Peaceful; - Writing to describe helpsheet; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 7 and 8 classes, however colleagues have used them for between years 3 and 9 with minimal adaptations. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

Based on the popular game show ‘Pointless’, this resource is perfect for use as a whole lesson resource, enrichment option, or revision tool. Editable, so that you can change to any other topic or change questions. (I’ve also added a blank template so that you can make your own games from scratch). Containing almost 30 slides of sound clips, interesting tasks, and suitably challenging questions, this resource is effective at both promoting engagement and enhancing learning. There are several full rounds of questions to build or revisit knowledge of characters, plot, and themes in ‘Private Peaceful.’ Round 1. The characters in Private Peaceful Round 2. Quotations from the text Round 3. Settings and Objects Round 4. Themes in Private Peaceful The nature of this game ensures that the resource can challenge students of all levels. A blank template has also been added, so that you can create your own games!

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to understand the key features of the historical context of World War I, in order to gain a clearer of understanding of Michael Morpurgo’s Private Peaceful. In particular, students learn about the horrific ordeal faced by young soldiers in WWI, and then relate their understanding of historical context to different plot features throughout the text. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Researching and understanding key information about World War I, including enlistment, life in the trenches, and accusations of cowardice; - Linking the key features of context to sections of the text, including descriptions of Tommo’s trench and Charlie’s arrest; - Reading selected extracts from the text, in order to link ideas regarding context and text together; - Creating their own propaganda posters, detailing what war was really like for young soldiers; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts; Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Research Template - Links to WWI worksheet (and answer sheet for teachers); - Comprehensive lesson plan. PDFs are included, and Word versions are in the zip file. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 7 and 8 classes, however colleagues have used them for between years 3 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that students will need internet or library access to complete the research introduction task. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson helps students to understand the key characters and relationships in the secret annex in Anne Frank’s Diary. Students explore extracts from the text, video evidence, and their own research findings, to demonstrate a clear understanding of each of the occupants’ key characteristics and traits, in addition to their relationships with Anne and one another. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: -Remembering each of the occupants of the house, and recalling what they know about them; - Reading and understanding extracts from Anne Frank's Diary, in which Anne describes each of the people in the house and explains what she thinks of them; - Watching and comprehending a powerful video of Otto Frank discussing his relationship with Anne; - Researching one inhabitant in more depth, using a helpful research template; - Writing an explanatory piece about the life of one of the inhabitants of the annex; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Research Template - Selected extracts - The Diary of Anne Frank; - Link to an engaging and informative video (you will need internet access to view); - Writing to Explain Helpsheet - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with a mixed-ability year 8 class, however colleagues have used them for between years 5 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that internet access/ use of research mechanisms is required for the introduction task and the model examples. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson helps students to demonstrate a clear understanding of the descriptive language used by Anne Frank in her ‘Diary of a Young Girl.’ Students explore how Anne uses techniques such as varied vocabulary, personification, and metaphors to describe scenes and events to the audience. Students also have a go at using their own imaginative language devices through their own diary entries. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: -Completing a card-sorting activity to define and exemplify each of the descriptive devices; - Reading and understanding extracts from a section of Anne Frank's Diary, in which Anne describes her fear during a bombing, and her anger with her fellow annex inhabitants; - Identifying and analysing Anne's use of language devices throughout the extract; - Writing their own language device-filled diary attempts, with support from a helpsheet and a model example; - Self assessing their own learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Anne's Language Devices Worksheet (and answer sheet); - Selected extracts - The Diary of Anne Frank; - Cards for sorting activity; - Writing to Describe Helpsheet; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with a mixed-ability year 8 class, however colleagues have used them for between years 5 and 9 with minimal adaptations. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson helps students to demonstrate a clear understanding of the setting in ‘The Diary of Anne Frank’ - The Secret Annex. Students explore the language used by Anne Frank in her description, explore the annex for themselves on a virtual tour, and then write imaginative and original descriptions based on what they have seen and read. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: -Empathising with the Frank family's situation by discussing the idea of displacement; - Reading and understanding extracts from the opening section of Anne Frank's Diary, in which Anne describes the annex; - Information gathering on each of the rooms in the annex through observing a virtual tour; - Linking information and using imaginative thoughts to produce detailed, original, and imaginative descriptions of rooms in the annex; - Self assessing their own learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Information Gathering Template; - Selected extracts - The Diary of Anne Frank; - Link to a virtual tour video (you will need internet access to view); - Writing to Describe Helpsheet; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with a mixed-ability year 8 class, however colleagues have used them for between years 5 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that internet access/ use of research mechanisms is required for the introduction task. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson helps students to understand the key features of the social and historical context of Anne Frank’s Diary, through learning about The Holocaust and Nazi-occupied Europe in the 1940s. Furthermore, students learn to identify and analyse features of context within specific sections of Anne Frank’s Diary - making appropriate links between text and context. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: -Understanding the key features of the Holocaust through watching and comprehending an informative (and age-appropriate) video; - Reading and understanding extracts from the opening section of Anne Frank’s Diary; - Linking their understanding of social and historical context to what they read in the text; - Analysing how the horrors of the Holocaust are evident through Anne’s account of her family’s experiences; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Linking Text to Context Worksheet (and answer sheet); - Selected extracts - The Diary of Anne Frank; - Link to an engaging and informative video (you will need internet access to view); - Essay Template - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with a mixed-ability year 8 class, however colleagues have used them for between years 5 and 9 with minimal adaptations. Please note that internet access/ use of research mechanisms is required for the introduction task. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men.’ Teachers have found them particularly useful in exam revision, comprehension tasks, or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the KS4 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework - this makes the tasks suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and for teachers there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They also relate to key extracts, characters, and themes from the story, ensuring that students gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: - ‘Context: The Great Depression’ - to aid students with ‘Drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context and the literary tradition to which it belongs, to inform evaluation;’ - ‘Steinbeck’s Description’ - to aid students with ‘Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;’ - ‘Curley’s Wife’ - to aid students with ‘Seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence;’ - ‘Editing the Text’ - to aid students with ‘Making an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 30 pages in length!) I’ve also added it as a PDF in case the formatting differs on your computer. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included).