A creative task which can be used after reading or analysing an extract of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. Students select key quotes for the two characters - Dr Frankenstein and his creation. They must use textual evidence to shape and form two contrasting images: one the 'mad' doctor and one the terrifying creation. Quotes and examples provided.

Using research tasks, students create a 'portrait' of themselves by using words to shape their features. Could be used as an induction task in tutor groups/art/engineering subjects. Needs opportunity for students to research an engineer to create their portraits. (Easily adaptable to other subjects or word choices to create shapes.)

Lesson which allows students to explore stanzas of Armitage’s poem ‘Mother, Any Distance’ starting with the title. Includes a model answer and framework.

Series of lessons exploring the poem ‘Let No One Steal Your Dreams’. Includes comprehension questions, explorative response, model answer and creative writing task. Has been planned for students to work through independently at home.

Lesson in which students plan to either incriminate or defend Lady Macbeth for her part in King Duncan’s murder. Discussion points and framework provided within lesson.

An analysis task of ‘Marilyn Monroe’ in Act 3 - using students’ prior knowledge of this figure in history. Includes a link to an interesting biography and a structured framework which students can use to explore key phrases from the song. (Own link to song need to be provided by teacher.)

Lesson around Shelley’s creation in chapter five of the 19th Century novel. Includes an introduction to features of Gothic writing based on prior knowledge. Leads on to reading a short extract from the chapter, then looking at the language used. Also includes a creative writing task from a different perspective the climax of the creation of Frankenstein’s creature. Could be used or tweaked as an introduction to AQA GCSE 19th Century fiction or Literature progress tests.

A KS3 reading task around an extract from 'A Thousand Splendid Suns'. Covers prior knowledge around the tradition of arranged marriage and allows some discussion. Uses a framework structure to closely analyse language used in the extract to explore different emotions.

Sounds daft but I've sometimes struggled to find all the poems in one document so this is a ready made version to print out as a booklet/one at a time for annotations.

Lesson around the poem including wrod association starter, labelling/illustrating task, agony aunt letter writing.

Series of lessons exploring the poem ‘Heart Disease Called Love’. Includes comprehension questions, explorative response and model answer. Has been planned for students to work through independently at home.

Two lessons which look at an extract from The Lord of the Rings describing the first encounter of Gollum. Students explore the character by selecting and retrieving textual evidence, pick key quotes to discuss and then write up their ideas using a framework. Could fit into a scheme that includes fantastic beats/mythology or as a stand alone build up to assessment (starter requires discussion of prior knowledge).

Key Stage 3 task around the Tennyson poem. Some basic discussion of poetic devices and then a class discussion could be held around the poem, leading on to a translation of the poem into modern English. ‘The Kracken’ word document contains a glossary and should be used to annotate meaning on to during class discussion. (Reading around the poem is required beforehand)

Creative task in which students design their own mask for a masquerade ball similar to those of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Act 1 Scene 5. Includes translated key moments of scene and mask template. Promotes discussion around connotation of colour and design before students design their own. All images from Google.

Three poems which could be discussed individually or in groups to fuel a response around unseen poetry. Uses the MRS TEAR structure (meaning, structure, reason followed by TEAR paragraphs) Technique Evidence Analysis Reader response Model answer included and all poems can be taken from PowerPoint for printing.

Lesson around each character’s acceptance (or denial) of their responsibility towards to death of Eva Smith. Includes clip around social responsibility. Students to discuss what they understand about each character’s involvement in groups then apply knowledge onto a table including textual evidence. Framework given and model answer to structure own response including textual evidence to the question - ‘How does Priestley present the theme of social responsibility in ‘An Inspector Calls’?’ Could be used alongside new AQA GCSE English Literature specification.

Planning lesson using Blue Planet images as stimulus. Full episode available on BBC iPlayer.

A discussion task of Tennyson’s poem and an annotating task of each verse in groups. Students then create a freeze frame for each verse and perform the play whilst teacher/other student reads the whole piece aloud. Times article (which inspired the poem) can be found at https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Times/1854/News/The_Charge_of_the_Light_Brigade

Series of lessons exploring the poem ‘Cornish Limpet’. Includes comprehension questions, explorative response, model answer and creative writing task. Has been planned for students to work through independently at home.

Simple lesson to introduce students to creative writing using a 5 point plan/arc structure. Can be used alongside AQA English Language paper preparation. Works well with a clip as stimulus.