This interesting and highly stimulating lesson enables students to make clear and sustained links between Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge and the social and historical context of Italian American immigration in the early to mid-twentieth century. In particular, students engage analytically with Marco and Rodolpho’s arrival at the Carbone household, interpreting their key quotations about life in both Italy and America, and linking these to knowledge of real-life context. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Understand the key features of Italian immigration to America in the early to mid-twentieth century; - Understand the relevance of Arthur Miller’s life and influences upon elements of plot; - Create a timeline detailing contextual information regarding Italian immigration; - Read and understand the middle section of Act One, interpreting quotations which Marco and Rodolpho arrive and offer key information about life in Italy, and their hopes for America; - Understand cultural differences that lead to Eddie’s unease with Rodolpho; - Make clear and sustained links between the text and its social and historical context, by analysing the middle of Act One; -Peer assess each other’s learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;; - Paper copies and online links to the extract needed for the lesson (mid-section of Act One); - Timeline template; - Linking to context worksheet (including answer sheet for teachers); - A logically scaffolded essay template; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This interesting and highly-stimulating enables students to make clear and sustained inferences regarding the main characters and their relationships in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. In particular, students read between the lines in decoding the subtle cues suggestive of Eddie’s feelings towards Catherine in the opening stages of Act I. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Understand the key learning skill of inference; -Infer key meanings from short extracts of texts; - Read and understand the opening section of Act I, in which we are introduced to the Carbone family, and infer and interpret the key information provided regarding their relationships; - Demonstrate an understanding of Eddie’s hidden feelings for Catherine, and Beatrice’s knowledge of this; - Write an emotive diary entry from Beatrice’s viewpoint, using evidence from the text to demonstrate an understanding the key meanings from the act; -Peer assess each other’s learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;; - Paper copies and online links to the extract needed for the lesson (Beginning of Act I); - Inferences worksheet (including answer sheet for teachers); - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This interesting and highly-stimulating lesson enables students to demonstrate a developed, sustained understanding of the language devices utilised in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. In particular, students engage analytically with Miller’s use of language at the beginning of Act II, in which Eddie Carbone appears to lose control over his actions. Students examine how similes, rhetorical questions, imperative commands, and other language features serve to highlight his descent into desperation. The lesson follows a clear, logical, bite-size learning journey, which guides students towards differentiated learning objectives. Over the course of this journey, they become able to: - Define and provide examples for each of the relevant language devices; - Identify each of the language devices in short sentences, and begin to comment upon their effect; - Understand some of Miller’s intentions behind writing the play; - Critically engage with Miller’s use of language devices at the end of the Act Two, including the events leading up to Eddie’s call to the Immigration Office; -Peer assess each other’s learning attempts. This resource pack includes: - A visually engaging whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation;; - Paper copies and online links to the extract needed for the lesson (beginning section of Act Two); - Language Devices Cards; - Language Devices worksheet (including answer sheet for teachers); - A logically scaffolded essay template; - A detailed lesson plan, complete with what the teacher and students should aim to achieve at each stage of the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make precise interpretations of the character of Mr Edward Rochester in Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. In particular, students analyse how Rochester is introduced and then developed throughout the novel, with a particular focus upon his appearance, personality, attitudes, and behaviour towards others. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which students learn through: Reading selected extracts from the text about Rochester and answering comprehension questions about his characterisation; Plotting Rochester’s development at specific points in the novel; Considering Bronte’s intentions/messages in presenting Rochester as new type of Byronic Hero; Analysing the how Rochester is presented and developed over the course of the novel; Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; Diamond Nine Activity Template; Rochester’s development graph template; Selected extract (from chapter 12); Essay scaffold; 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 both younger and older (up to A Level) students. Worksheets are provided as word docs (so that you can edit) and PDFs (to protect formatting). 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 make precise and sustained interpretations regarding the portrayal of Arthur Kipps throughout Susan Hill’s The Woman in Black. In particular, students consider how Kipps is initially presented, and how his character is developed throughout the text. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: - Reading and understanding how Arthur’s character is introduced to the reader; - Understanding and comprehending the different events that Arthur experiences; - Considering how these different events shape and alter Arthur’s emotions and personality; - Analysing how Hill presents and develops Arthur’s character throughout the text; - Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; - Selected extracts from ‘The Woman in Black’ - Arthur Kipps stress graph; - 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 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 16-page resource booklet contains a wide range of challenging and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Percy Bysshe Shelley’s love and relationships poem ‘Love’s Philosophy.’ Teachers have found the activities particularly useful throughout teaching, or for exam revision or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the key English Literature assessment objectives - suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and it is clearly highlighted within each task regarding which assessment strands the task is designed to demonstrate. It is provided in both Word (to allow for easy editing) and PDF (to ensure for consistency of formatting between computers). Activities within the booklet include (amongst many others): ‘Analysing Context’ - helping students to ‘Show understanding of the relationships between texts and the contexts in which they were written.’ ‘Analysing Subject Matter, Language and Structure’ - to help students to ‘Analyse the language, form and structure used by a writer to create meanings and effects, using relevant subject terminology where appropriate.’ ‘Diary Entry’ - to help students to ‘Use a range of vocabulary and sentence structures for clarity, purpose and effect, with accurate spelling and punctuation. Make an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ ‘The Speaker’ - to help students to ‘Read, understand and respond to texts. Students should be able to: maintain a critical style and develop an informed personal response use textual references, including quotations, to support and illustrate interpretations.’

This lesson enables students to make precise interpretations of the final chapter of Philip Pullman’s ‘Northern Lights.’ They also learn how the different features of the endings (for example plot twists, dark moments, and unpredictable elements) combine to create endings that are engaging and effective. At the end of the lesson, they use this understanding to create their own alternate endings to the text. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: -Recapping the key events from earlier in the text, (in order to lay the foundations for understanding the ending); -Reading and comprehending the ending of the text, through reading chapter 23 and answering thoughtful comprehension questions; -Analysing the effectiveness of the ending, considering a range of techniques used by Pullman to structure his ending; -Creating their own alternate ending, using the agreed features of effective endings; Self assessing their learning attempts. Included is: Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; Extract from Chapter 23 of Northern Lights; Analysis template; Comprehensive lesson plan. All resources are provided in Word (for easy editing) and PDF (to ensure formatting remains fixed between different computers). There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 7/8 classes, however colleagues have used them for between years 5 and 10 with some adaptations. The PowerPoint is in the zipfile. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension of the opening chapter of Lara Williamson’s ‘The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair.’ It contains a link to the online chapter (on the first slide - also provided as PDF). This 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 years 2-4, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This engaging and informative lesson enables students to make precise interpretations regarding the characterisation of Kensuke in Michael Morpurgo’s ‘Kensuke’s Kingdom.’ In particular, children comprehend how Kensuke’s character is initially introduced in Chapter 5 of the text, before tracking how his character develops throughout the story. The lesson follows a step-by-step learning journey, in which children learn through: Developing a contextual understanding of Japan, including the events of World War II, and how Japan has changed more recently; Reading an extract from the text in which Kensuke is introduced, identifying his key characteristics and answering comprehension questions about his character; Tracking the development of Kensuke throughout the story; Creating their own character for the island, drawing on Morpurgo’s characterisation techniques; Peer assessing each other’s learning attempts. Included is: Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and comprehensive; Character Development Tracking Graph; Character Profile Template; Comprehensive Lesson Plan All resources are provided in Word (for easy editing) and PDF (to ensure formatting remains fixed between different computers). There are also opportunities for group learning, speaking and listening, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. I originally used these resources with year 4 and 5 classes, however colleagues have used them for between years 3 and 8 with some adaptations. The word documents are within the zip file. 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 and engaging comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of Ted Hughes’ 'The Iron Man.’ Teachers have found them particularly useful in comprehension or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the KS2 expectations within the National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as 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 children gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: ‘An Interview with Hogarth’ - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Understand what is read by drawing on information from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas, and using quotations for illustration;’ ‘Ted Hughes’ Description’ - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Explain meanings of words that they know and ask the meaning of new words. Link the meaning of new words to words that they already know;’ ‘The Iron Man’ and ‘The Space-Bat-Angel-Dragon’ profiles! - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Understand what is read by drawing on information from more than one paragraph, identifying key details that support the main ideas, and using quotations for illustration;’ 'Figurative Language in ‘The Iron Man’ - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, to create an impact on the reader.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is 21 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 whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through a reading of the opening chapter of Clive King’s ‘Stig of the Dump.’ 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 Year 3 and 4, but it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups. The session is also suitable for home/ remote learning.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through a reading of the opening chapter of Ted Hughes’ ‘The Iron Man.’ 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 Year 3 and 4, but it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups. The session is also suitable for home/ remote learning.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising Ted Hughes’ ‘The Iron Man.’ It contains comprehensive sections on: Context; Chapter by Chapter Summary (with quotes); Main Characters; Themes (Violence and Destruction, Redemption and Intelligence); Hughes’ Language Devices; Important Vocabulary. 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 whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through a reading of the opening chapter of Michelle Paver’s ‘Wolf Brother.’ 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 Year 5 and 6, but it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups. The session is also suitable for home/ remote learning.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for Year 6 teachers, parents and children when covering ‘Algebra’ in mathematics. The content is organised into the following sections: -Overview: Learning areas covered, key definitions, why this learning is important; -Linear Number Sequences; -Enumerating; -Expressions; -Equations; -Formulae; -Pairs of Unknowns; -Key Vocabulary. The resource is designed to be printed onto either A3 or A4, 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.

This clear, detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for Year 6 teachers, parents and children when covering ‘Position and Direction’ in mathematics. The content is organised into the following sections: -Overview: Learning areas covered, key definitions, why this learning is important; -Coordinates in Four Quadrants -Translation; -Reflection; -Key Vocabulary. The resource is designed to be printed onto either A3 or A4, 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.

This whole class reading session aims to develop children’s comprehension skills through reading and interpreting the opening section of Michelle Paver’s ‘Spirit Walker.’ The resource pack includes the extract needed and a clear and well presented PowerPoint, guiding the teacher and learners through the various activities. The reading is followed by a series of activities aiming to develop children’s retrieval, explanation, inference, sequencing and summarising skills. A vocabulary check helps to secure children’s understanding of any new or unfamiliar 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 years 5-6, although with minor adaptations it could feasibly be used with slightly younger and older year groups.

This engaging and thought-provoking double-lesson resource aids students in developing a secure understanding of the chapter 3 of Anne Holm’s ‘I Am David.’ In this section of the text, David develops his knowledge and his resourcefulness, as he learns a range of ways to survive. The comprehensive and colourful PowerPoint presentation enables students to understand the text through: -Retrieving information; -Inferring and deducing hidden meanings; -Explaining key ideas about characters and plot events. 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 (17 slides filled with questions and activities) so I would recommend breaking into two 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 6 children.

This engaging and thought-provoking double-lesson resource aids students in developing a secure understanding of the chapter 4 of Anne Holm’s ‘I Am David.’ In this section of the text, David is initially beaten by Carlo, before winning the respect of Carlo and his family after saving Maria from the shed fire. The comprehensive and colourful PowerPoint presentation enables students to understand the text through: -Retrieving information; -Inferring and deducing hidden meanings; -Analysing characters. 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. A character profile template is provided (in both Word and PDF) for the main creative activity. There’s a lot here (17 slides filled with questions and activities) so I would recommend breaking into two 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 6 children.

This engaging and thought-provoking double-lesson resource aids students in developing a secure understanding of the chapter 5 of Anne Holm’s ‘I Am David.’ In this section of the text, David struggles to integrate himself into life in the Italian family’s home and he overhears the conversation between Giovanni and Elsa. The comprehensive and colourful PowerPoint presentation enables students to understand the text through: -Retrieving information; -Inferring and deducing hidden meanings; -Empathising with characters. 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. A character profile template is provided (in both Word and PDF) for the main creative activity. There’s a lot here (17 slides filled with questions and activities) so I would recommend breaking into two 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 6 children.