This is a short, simple and (hopefully) straightforward powerpoint created for revision of AQA GCSE English Language Paper 2 Question 4. It’s planned to fit a 35 minute revision session and, consequently, does not require a full answer to question 4 - the intention is that the students will focus on one point of comparison which could either be written independently for greater challenge or completed as a whole-class model. It uses very short segments from two writers, one contemporary and one writing in 1882. The entire texts are not provided and the lesson is intended to revise the skill of analysis and comparison so, for my class, it was better to use short segments. If you wish to look at more of the Gissing text, it is readily available online and easy to find. There are 14 slides in total.

A straightforward lesson exploring Sassoon’s poem, “The Kiss” with questioning used to discuss the effect of the personification of bullet and bayonet. There are 8 close reading and response questions on slide 15. These could be used to structure a discussion or set for independent work. The lesson culminates with a task asking the students to draw inferences about the nature of the speaker in the poem, writing in role as a senior officer. Planned for year 9 but could be suitable to explore unseen poetry at KS4.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity that uses only one paragraph from “The Canterville Ghost” in which the Otis family approach Canterville Chase and there is a discernible change of mood. There are 14 questions that could be used for homework, as a cover activity or to structure a guided reading session. Works for remote learning. Suggested answers are provided although some questions will elicit a range of responses, of course.

Here, you will find 18 exam-style questions using the format and wording of the AQA English Literature GCSE exam, paper 1. The extracts used are shorter than the students will meet in the exam - slightly shorter in some cases and much shorter in others. Created for revision sessions but useful for homework, classwork or remote learning.

This is a lesson focusing on the skills needed to tackle the unseen poetry question in paper 2 of the English Literature exam. The two poems used are “The Thunderstorm” by Emily Dickinson and “The Thunder Mutters” by John Clare (both public domain). Printable copies of the poems, for annotation, and the exam-style questions are on the final slide.

This is a revision (practice) powerpoint covering many of the skills required for English Language Paper 2. There is also an unseen poem which links thematically, so there’s a bit of Paper 2 Lit interleaved. There are three non-fiction texts, rather than two, so that there’s a greater breadth of reading during the revision period. The powerpoint ends with an exam-style paper 2 writing task.

This is a simple and straightforward activity originally created for use as cover with a mixed-ability year 7 class but also suitable for upper primary. There is a very short extract describing the hound from Conan Doyle’s “The Hound of the Baskervilles” and 7 questions which could be used for homework or cover or to structure a guided reading activity.

This is a multiple choice quiz with 18 questions (answers provided). It could be used for homework or revision. Alternatively, it could be used for pre-teaching to identify gaps in knowledge or understanding so that the subequent lesson can be more sharply focused. For less confident students, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading session.

This is a grid of activities for students who are studying Shelagh Delaney’s “A Taste of Honey”. Originally planned as a cover activity, it could also be used as half a term’s homework or for revision if the students are studying the play for GCSE.

Originally planned for KS3 students as part of a reading unit on the natural world, this could be used with much less confident readers at KS4, perhaps as part of a catch-up or intervention series. The text used is from “Nature Near London” (1905 so public domain) by Richard Jefferies. Alongside the short excerpt are some questions which can be used to diagnose gaps in reading skills and comprehension.

This is a straightforward multiple-choice quiz (answers provided) focusing on the description of Fred from Stave 1 and how his characterisation contrasts that of Scrooge. Useful for homework or could be used as a starter to identify gaps in pupils’ knowledge so that subsequent teaching can be more sharply focused.

This is a comprehension activity based on the first description of the Artful Dodger from “Oliver Twist”. There are 8 questions and suggested answers are provided. This could be used in class or set as homework or left as a cover activity. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading activity.

This is an excerpt from a speech given by Dickens on 5th November 1857. There are ten questions with suggested answers provided. This could be used in class, for cover or as homework. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading session. Competing this activity will give students a sound understanding of Dickens’ viewpoint and so this activity could usefully be used alongside the Ghost of Christmas Past and the description of Scrooge’s schooldays.

This is a straightforward powerpoint intended for revision which reminds students of five of Delaney’s key methods in the play. These are: the symbolism of the flower bulbs, the symbolism of the light bulb, the proximity of the church clock, the proximity of the gasworks and the Boy’s quotations from “Othello” (contrasted with Jo’s reading of fairy tales). Each of the methods has a few questions to encourage recall and then suggested answers and ideas are provided on the next slide.

This powerpoint uses questioning to direct learners to some of the writer’s methods. The poem itself has an easily recognisable viewpoint and is a good one for less confident learners to practise responding to unseen poetry.

A simple and straightforward powerpoint, animated as it was used in a revision session. The powerpoint has a recap slide with suggested answers. (These may not match your students, in which case they’ll need editing). There are 4 suggested tasks. 3 are very straightforward; the final one is more challenging and closer to the task that students will encounter in the exam. The weather task asks students what is wrong with the sample paragraph. The answer is that it doesn’t express a clear viewpoint.

A revision powerpoint on language analysis useful for English Language GCSE preparation. The powerpoint uses a short extract from a public domain text and this is provided - together with the question - on the final two slides so that you can print it out. The powerpoint asks students to consider their choice of evidence and then goes through how to use that evidence in an answer that clearly explains how the evidence shows what it does.

This is a straightforward comprehension activity using an extract written by Nathanial Hawthorne (in the public domain). There are 8 questions (answers provided). These could be used as a cover activity for children working on myths and legends. The questions could be used to structure a guided reading activity. Alternatively, it works well as a homework activity.

This was planned as a cover activity for a year 7 class working through a unit on myths and legends. It could also be set as a homework or the activities could be used to structure a guided reading/guided writing session. The extract used is in the public domain.

This is a straightforward activity using an extract from the public domain, introducing Hercules. There are six questions (suggested answers provided) intended to support children in comprehension, thoughtful reading and building reading fluency. Created as a cover activity for a mixed-ability year 7 class but also good for key stage 2. Useful as part of a unit of work on myths and legends.