A challenging stand alone lesson to teach students some ways to add depth to a character. This can be part of any unit and easily differentiated. This would also be useful to prepare GCSE students for AQA English Language Paper 1, Question 5. The lesson uses an extract from Lord of the Rings and another which I wrote myself as examples of effective characterisation. Students then write their own and peer assess.

A self-contained worksheet-type resource for exploring King Duncan and the qualities of a good king in Act 1, Scene 2 of Macbeth. The resource includes the script, interesting contextual information, basic comprehension questions, some analytical questions and a short creative task. This would be a perfect as part of an introduction to the play, a cover lesson or a homework task. It could also be used as a revision resource. Teacher notes are also included.

I wrote this fun panto for anywhere between 14 and 30 students. The roles of the Narrators and Ladies can be shared between many or assigned to a few people. It lasts approximately 1 hour. There is plenty of scope to add songs etc where you wish. I do not have a dame as such as I do not feel they are appropriate for younger people, but I feel the role of Stepmother and Fairygodbrother serves this purpose (as both can be played by boys). Enjoy!

A self-contained worksheet-type resource for exploring the witches in Act 1, Scene 1 of Macbeth. The resource includes the script, interesting contextual information, comprehension questions, some analytical questions and a short creative task. This would be a perfect introduction to the play as a cover lesson or homework task or it could be used as a revision resource. Teacher notes are also included.

A ready to go lesson exploring the conventions of Shakespearean tragedies. The lesson starts with a look at modern tragedies and questions why we watch them. Next is a class matching activity of key words and definitions, leading into a task where students are required to read and compare summaries. The main task asks students to write a summary of their own idea for a tragedy. I taught this with a middle set year 8 class but could work as an introduction to the genre for any age group.

Two ready to go lessons on the beginning of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The first lesson deals with the prologue and includes a quick translating activity- get students to cut them up and muddle them to save you doing it. The second lesson involves discussions around the use of oxymorons and includes a task involving writing instant messages.

A fun poem to help students revise the plot and characters in Priestley's An Inspector Calls.

Perfect as a stand alone lesson or as part of a poetry or creative writing unit, this is a challenging lesson on identifying sensory descriptions using Keats’ Autumn. I used this with a middle ability year 8 class but would work as GCSE prep with a lower ability KS4 class.

A complete scheme of work for Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo complete with accompanying PowerPoint, teacher notes, lesson plan and handouts.

A ready to go creative writing lesson that could work as part of any unit or creative writing assessment prep and can be easily tailored to focus on other specific skills. You could also adapt the lesson to incorportate the opening of your class reader or extracts from the genre your class are studying. The lesson takes students though some of literature’s most famous and effective story openings and encourages class discussion around the specific skills the writers have used. Students then use a picture stimulus to write their own opening to be peer assessed and shared with the class. Worksheet also included. Use with high ability KS3 or middle/lower KS4 classes. Would also work well for AQA Paper 1, Question 5 preparation.

A ready to go creative writing lesson that could work as part of any unit or creative writing assessment prep and can be easily tailored to focus on other specific skills. The lesson takes students though some short drafts of creative writing and encourages class discussion around the improvements made. Students then write their own short piece of creative writing to be peer assessed and shared with the class. I have also added a homework task to supplement. Use with high ability KS3 or middle/lower KS4 classes. Would also work well for AQA Paper 1, Question 5 preparation.

A fun resource to help students develop strategies for deciphering the meaning of unfamilar words. Perfect prep for any kind of exam/assessment where there is source material-from SATS to A Level. Worksheet can be used as a fun starter or this can easily be adapted into a lesson with reading strategies as its focus. I’ve used this with all age groups and abilities and students really enjoy it.

Two Lessons- one reading one writing. Poetry analysis. A lesson which works really well at the beginning of a unit on The Tempest or any nautical themed text. In my experience, students respond really well to this poem. Includes vocabulary instruction Although the warm-up task uses quotations from The Tempest, this could easily be adapted to suit your on unit- just change the quotations. The lesson takes students though discussions about the poem, contextual information about the poet, vocabulary instruction figurative language matching task and ends with an independent analysis task. Poetry writing Using Sea Fever as a stimulus, the lesson takes students through understanding structural devices such as quatrain, couplet and refrain. They are supported in writing their own nature poem using the poetic techniques from Sea Fever. Always really good outcomes.

Full scheme of work based around The Tempest 10 Reading Lessons- also includes study of John Masefield’s Sea Fever 3 Writing Lessons- Poetry and Diary Entries. All slides, resources and unit plan included. The slides also include summaries of the key acts and scenes. Few images or video links due to infringement law, but very easy to find via Google or Youtube searches of the key scenes. I used the RSC website a lot for my planning. Enjoy!