These comprehensive checklists have been created to aid school leaders when performing learning walks with a particular focus e.g. questioning, differentiation, etc. Clearly structured and organised, they present a central idea surrounded by a breakdown of a number of its key components. For the user, this layout provides a simple reference list of each of the desirable skills, categorised appropriately. The checklists also provide an alternative to regular feedback methods, which often focus too heavily on the standard or ‘judgement’, as opposed to being a developmental tool. Alternatively, these are really handy for teachers looking to develop their practice in the key teaching areas listed below. Included in the pack are checklists for: -Questioning -Differentiation -Utilising Resources (including support staff) -Engagement -Building Literacy Skills -Planning and Expectations -Building Learning Power -A blank template for you to design your own based upon your own focus Note: The checklists offer a range of desirable strategies that teachers should look to implement over time - it would be damaging to expect teachers to utilise each of these strategies in every lesson! Many Thanks

This engaging and interesting lesson aims to improve students’ knowledge of the final events of the novel (the killing of Lennie by his best friend, George) in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. It also aims to build their skills in retrieving information from texts, understanding the writer’s ideas and opinions, and making precise and confident interpretations about texts. The lesson uses a range of tasks, that require students to use their visual and interpersonal skills. It follows this learning journey: - Reading, and interpreting the ending of the text; - Inferring the hidden meanings in the final section of the text; - Identifying the options available to George, and evaluating the pros and cons for each of them; - Arguing a viewpoint either justifying or condemning George’s actions; - Evaluating each others’ argumentative attempts. The resource includes a comprehensive and visually engaging PowerPoint presentation, a worksheet to evaluate George’s reasoning, an abstract from the text, a help-sheet for writing to analyse, and a lesson plan/ teacher guidance sheet. All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation. You can choose to buy this resource alone, or as part of the ‘Of Mice and Men - All Lessons and Scheme’ bundle, which contains seven full lessons, resources, teachers notes, and PowerPoint presentations, plus a Pointless Of Mice and Men game, for just £5!

In this engaging and comprehensive lesson, students are introduced to the third pillar of Islam - Zakah. Children learn through collating their collective prior knowledge, watching an interesting video (hyperlinked) and answering comprehension questions about Zakah. They then develop their understanding by learning about why Muslims give Zakah and how it benefits others, before comparing these ideas with their own personal views on generosity and charity. The lesson is tried and tested, and is easy for teachers and students to follow. It contains a comprehensive 18-slide Powerpoint which offers a step-by-step guide throughout the lesson. Challenge activities are provided in order to enrich learning for higher-attaining learners. In the past, I have used this lesson with children in upper Key Stage 2 (years 5 and 6). The key learning is aligned with regional expectations for RE, and also the content prescribed by most diocese regions. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide.

In this engaging and comprehensive lesson, students are introduced to the fifth pillar of Islam - Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the city of Makkah. Children learn through collating their collective prior knowledge, understanding where Makkah is and why it is holy, learning key facts about the rules and process of Hajj and demonstrating their understanding through various tasks, including explaining the process of Hajj through a storyboarding template. They also consider their own personal spirituality, discussing concepts such as perseverance and respect. The lesson is tried and tested, and is easy for teachers and students to follow. It contains a comprehensive 17-slide Powerpoint which offers a step-by-step guide throughout the lesson. A reading about the Hajj process is also provided, in addition to the template for the main activity (in both Word and PDF). In the past, I have used this lesson with children in upper Key Stage 2 (years 5 and 6). The key learning is aligned with regional expectations for RE, and also the content prescribed by most diocese regions. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide.

This fun and original assembly aims to assist children in understanding the value of being compassionate, through: Understanding what compassion is, and recognising why it is important; Looking at examples of behaviour that is compassionate and not compassionate (including through role play activities and videos), and noting its effect on people in need; Learning strategies to demonstrate compassion in their own lives. This assembly is tried and tested, and has always been really well received in the past. The slides are visually engaging and well-presented, and the subject matter is tailored to the interests and needs of young people. For example, there are references to scenarios and dilemmas that they themselves might find themselves in (for example how they might act towards those in need both within and out of school) in order to help them to make the right choices in their own lives. The session also includes a fun role-play task, a beautiful, thought-provoking video about the importance of compassion, and various discussion activities regarding how to show compassion in different areas of their own lives. No further resources are required, everything that you need to present the assembly is included. The slides are fairly self-explanatory, but I’ve included guidance notes to assist the speaker. Hope that you find this useful!

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through a reading of the opening chapter of Jasbinder Bilan’s ‘Asha and the Spirit Bird.’ The resource pack includes the extract and all of the activities for the session, which the class are guided through via a comprehensive PowerPoint presentation. The reading is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, prediction and summarising skills. It also contains a vocabulary check immediately after the extract is read to clarify any unfamiliar/ difficult language. The tasks are comprised of quick-check questions, solo thinking, pair/ group discussions and deeper thinking activities. The session is best suited for children in KS2. I originally used this with Year 3-4 children, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups. The session is also suitable for home/ remote learning.

In this engaging lesson, students develop their understanding of the roles of vicars. They consider their routines and actions, and how vicars live their daily lives. It is great as a standalone lesson, or as a part of a unit on ‘special ways of living.’ The learning is guided by a clear and colourful PowerPoint presentation, which guides students through the following step-by-step journey: -Thinking about the definition of a vicar (and how this differs from the more general definition of a priest; -Introducing children to the daily life of vicars, including discussing their many roles and responsibilities, through watching an interesting and age-appropriate video; -Answering questions to check their understanding of the roles of vicars; -Completing a storyboard (using a provided template) to show the daily routine of vicars; -Learning about the different clothes worn by vicars, before drawing and labelling a vicar in uniform; -Considering questions that they would ask to a vicar if they were given the opportunity (you could email these to your local vicar, or even better, invite them in for a Q and A session); -Self-reflecting on the extent to which they feel they have met the learning objectives. This resource pack includes the comprehensive PowerPoint presentation (15 slides) the template for the storyboard, and the hyperlink for the video explaining about the daily life of a vicar. There is everything that you need here to teach the lesson. In the past, I have used this lesson with children from across Key Stage 1 - the key learning is aligned with curriculum expectations for RE, and also the content prescribed by most diocese regions. All images are licensed for commercial use.

A Russian billionaire, Asman Veryrich, has approached you about setting up a new football club! This exciting, engaging investigation activity allows students to control the direction of their own learning, through speaking, listening, discussing, and reasoning. I initially created these resources to provide something interesting for the students to engage with for their English Speaking and Listening discussions, but it has since been used across Maths, Art and Design, and PSHE departments, as well as by form groups and holiday activity groups, to build teamwork and collaboration skills. Students get involved in all of the fun aspects of designing and setting up a new football club, including selecting a team of players, a manager, a stadium, and a training ground. They also design the team's club badge and football kits. They also need to use their skills of literacy to read and understand key evidence, and skills of numeracy to ensure that they keep their expenses within budget! What is more, groups can compete against one another to create the most successful team in the league, as all of the resources that they choose can help them to acquire valuable league table points! Included in this resource pack are: - Full PowerPoint lesson talking students through the process; - An 8 page team booklet, used to create their designs and calculate their budgets; - A pack of 96 player cards and 12 manager cards to select from (a combination of new and classic footballers are included, to ensure that this will never be outdated); - Budget and recording sheets to track their progress; - An A3 football pitch to strategise and select their team. Considering the time and effort that it took to create these resources, I think that they offer exceptional value. Whenever I have used this activity before, it has taken at least 3-4 lessons, including the introduction, design process, presentations, and evaluation. I originally have used this with mixed ability Year 9 and 10 groups, but colleagues have adapted it easily for students of all key stages. All images have been cited at the end of the PowerPoint presentation and are licensed for commercial use.

This engaging, comprehensive lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of Jane Weir’s contemporary war poem ‘Poppies’ with particular focus upon the symbolism, language, and structure used within the poem. By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate their knowledge of the text analytically, through assured, appropriate, and sustained interpretations. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Defining what symbols are, and considering some popular examples (including poppies); - Securing contextual understanding of both the use of poppies, and Jane Weir the poet; - Reading and interpreting the poem, using a provided line-by-line analysis, and interactive group activities; - Developing their understanding through inferring and analysing key language and structural choices; - Analysing how the themes of loss and remembrance are conveyed through Weir's use of symbolism; - Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlinks to informative and engaging videos) - Copy of poem; - Deeper thinking worksheet (and teacher answer sheet); - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 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 clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning about the artist Yayoi Kusama, as a part of their art and design study. It contains comprehensive sections on: -Biography of the Artist; -Styles and Techniques; -Yayoi Kusama Timeline; -Significant Works; -Key Vocabulary; -How do I create art like Yayoi Kusama? This resource can be adapted for all ages, but was originally designed for KS2 and KS3 children. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make sustained and developed links between Stevenson’s novella ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ and its social and historical context. In particular, students learn about 19th Century attitudes towards scientific discoveries and religion, the duality of the mind, and the idea of civilisation vs. savagery. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Understanding key information about 19th Century through the creation of a timeline - plotting key events, inventions, and scientific discoveries; - Comprehending the key events of the text; - Learning about Robert Louis Stevenson and his key influences in writing the text; - Linking their understanding of context to the key elements of the text; - Analysing how Stevenson presents 19th Century attitudes towards religion, science, and ‘the savage.’ - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Cards for the timeline activity; - Links to context worksheet (and completed answer sheet for teachers); - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Links to an engaging video and further reading for advanced students (internet access needed for these); - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. These resources were originally taught to GCSE students, but with subtle adaptations they have also been used with KS3 and A Level Students. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This engaging and informative lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of the portrayal of women in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The lesson places a particular focus upon the perceived role and characteristics of women in the late 1700s, and compares this to the manner in which they are presented in the text. By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate an ability to argue whether they think Shelley’s portrayal of women challenges or recycles existing ideas of women living at the time. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Understanding the social and historical context of life for women in the late 1700s;’ - Making links between contextual understanding and what is noted from the text; - Reading and understanding key extracts from chapters 8, 22, and 23 - extracts that provide exposure to the female characters in the text; - Inferring, and interpreting the key events of the extracts, and considering the impression that is given of women by Shelley; - Arguing whether they feel that Shelley recycles or challenges the role of women at the time, using a purpose-made essay template; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including an animated Frankenstein’s monster to guide them through the lesson); - Inferring and interpreting worksheet (and a teacher answer sheet); - Extracts from Chapters 8, 22, and 23; - The role of women worksheet; - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 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 detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Kazuo Ishiguro’s ‘Never Let Me Go.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Chapter by Chapter Summary (with quotes); Main Characters; Themes; Ishiguro’s Language Devices; Influences on the Writer. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth.’ 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 play. Activities within the booklet include: - ‘Context: Shakespearean Britain’ - 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;’ - ‘Shakespeare’s Description’ - to aid students with ‘Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;’ - ‘Lady Macbeth’ - to aid students with ‘Seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence;’ - ‘Editing the Play’ - 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).

This engaging and thought-provoking triple-lesson resource aids students in developing a secure understanding of the chapters 1 to 3 of Katherine Rundell’s 'Rooftoppers.’ The comprehensive and colourful PowerPoint presentation enables students to understand the text through: -Making predictions; -Retrieving information; -Inferring and deducing hidden meanings. The sessions include a range of retrieval, vocabulary, inference, explanation and deeper thinking activities. A clear, colourful and comprehensive PowerPoint presentation guides students through the learning. The lesson also includes an answer key for the retrieval questions, and model answer ideas for the more detailed responses. There’s a lot here (22 slides in total) so I would recommend breaking into two or even three separate lessons. The lessons are suitable for students in either upper KS2 or lower KS3, depending upon the individual context of the school and students. I originally used them with year 5 and 6 children.

This engaging and informative lesson aims to improve students’ knowledge and understanding of the character of Crooks in Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men: His dreams, his loneliness, and how his plight is a product of living in 1930s America. The lesson also aims to improve students’ analytical skills, so that they can demonstrate sustained and sophisticated interpretations of the character. This pack includes the full lesson presentation, with tasks and key information, an extract from the text with close reading questions, a writing to analyse help-sheet, and full teacher guidance. The learning journey is clear and progressive, following a pathway of increasingly more difficult tasks, including: - An opening task to ascertain what is known about Crooks, and racism in 1930s America - An extract from the text that highlights some of his characteristics and his loneliness. - Questions to encourage students to infer and deduce hidden meanings, and understand Steinbeck’s message, - Joint creation of an analysis success criteria; - An opportunity to answer an exam style question based upon the character of Crooks; - A chance to peer assess against the success criteria. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the presentation. You can choose to buy this resource alone, or as part of the ‘Of Mice and Men - All Lessons and Scheme’ bundle, which contains seven full lessons, resources, teachers notes, and PowerPoint presentations, plus a Pointless Of Mice and Men game, for just £5!

In this engaging lesson, students are introduced to who Siddhartha Gautama was, and learn how he became the Buddha. They also begin to discuss the ‘Middle Way’, and consider how these ideas can be applied to modern life. The learning is guided by a clear and colourful PowerPoint presentation, which guides students through the following step-by-step journey: -Knowledge harvesting - gauging what children already know about the Buddha; -Watching a short video (hyperlinked) about the life of Siddhartha Gautama; -Explaining the key events in his life, using a storyboard template; -Discussing what is meant by the ‘Middle Way’, and how this helped Gautama to find enlightenment; -Thinking about how they can apply the ideas of the ‘Middle Way’ to their own lives; -Considering a deeper thinking extension question; -Completing a plenary to assess their understanding. This resource pack contains a comprehensive Powerpoint, alongside an eye-catching worksheet. In the past, I have used this lesson with children from across Key Stage 2 - the key learning is aligned with curriculum expectations for RE, and also the content prescribed by most diocese regions. All images are licensed for commercial use.