This differentiated quiz has 5 direct question as an easy round 1, 'connect 4' as round 2, round3 is 'odd-one-out', round 4 is 'true or false' while word-games will make round 5 slightly longer. the quiz itself will take 20-30 minutes allowing for team discussion, writing of answers and then marking, but it could easily take all lesson depending on the time you allow for the word-games: base that on the interest and ability of the class. Once the quiz has been marked there is the film story writing extension to ensure this fills a lesson, if not more. Further lessons can be spent reading each other's openings and outlines, pitching the best as S&L and then debating which should be made. Who knows, some may even be inspired to make their movies, in time for a Christmas viewing, it does happen when a group of students are keen on movie making in their own time.

These 7 ice-breakers are fun, easy to administer and also help you get to know the class and them to get to know each other. You need a soft ball, a timer and maybe some music. The PP has icons hyperlinked to the activity explanation. 4 of the tasks need no resources. The ‘bingo’ sheet, 'tell us’cards and the ideas for ‘get in line’ are all provided for printing before the lesson. Suitable for tutor or subject lessons.

Shakespeare Day this year has the added thrill of marking 400 years since the Bard’s death [or 452 since his birth!]. To help you mark the anniversary, here’s a ‘Where’s Will?’ competition with quotes, student fill in sheets and an answer sheet. Set up the competition school wide, departmentally or as a class activity to get students reading quotes and finding where the action is set. The competition is really easy – its merit is exposure – participants have to find the posters, read a quote and be alert to where the action is set. At the very least they’ll have heard of a few more plays. This activity is easy enough for upper primary pupils. That’s just one activity. On the quotes PP you have a template you can send to students and colleagues on which they can write their favourite Shakespeare quotes [even if it is from the play they are currently studying] to display around the school. Primary pupils could display insults they've generated. Each subsequent slide can be printed [on coloured A3?] to make a display for the classroom or to boost the display around the school. Longer term, there is the set of starter quotes that could introduce students to Shakespeare’s language, as a Shakespeare ‘quote of the half-term’, or for 6 lessons in April… the idea is to get students to think about both the literal and figurative meaning of memorable lines, as well as expose them to a wider range of plays. The ‘fill-in’ version allows you to set the whole task as a one off lesson activity or a self-mark homework. For anyone who has missed the lesson, quotes and answers are available as a paper version too. The Teachers' Guide also provides useful links and ideas. Enjoy a super Shakespeare Day!

Although these extracts are chiefly for display - printed on A3 colour paper is best - they are also useful to get students imagining or as starters for creative writing and unseen poetry discussions.

This resource contains a series of ideas for last lessons, whether the end of a topic or term. These can be used to revise previous units of work. Has a slant towards English and could be used with writing, reading and speaking and listening assessment foci.