Four lessons focusing on Stave 4.

Copy of poem Remains is provided. First ppt begins with students reading the poem and completing a short quiz. Slides 7 and 8 provide visual or written prompts to enable students to write a detailed summary of the poem, depending on what type of learner they are. Next, students consider how the poem fits into the two themes of ‘power’ and ‘conflict’. Name the technique from the poem quiz followed by step by step writing of analytical paragraphs. Final task is to write one on their own. Second ppt introduces the idea of CLAPS (context, language, atmosphere, poetic devices an structure). Example paragraphs given for each aspect of CLAPS and students encouraged to link the examples back to the question, to ensure the answer is clear. Teacher can then choose another poem from the anthology for students to look at, using CLAPS to analyse it.

This is a step by step (1 - 2 lessons) guide to Remains by Simon Armitage. Contains 2 quizzes on content and techniques, a guided task on considering how the poem relates to the themes of power and conflict, and a step by step process of writing a response on the theme of power. Worked very well with middle ability Y9 but would also be suitable for higher sets.

Please note: this resource assumes you have a copy of the Anthony Horowitz retelling of this story. This is a fun and engaging couple of lessons on the story of Glaucus and Scylla (the one where gets Circe to change Scylla so that she loves him but actually changes her into a monster). Starter activities include a Greek Goddess memory game and a look at the symbols of some of the goddesses. Students then imagine what they would like to control, if they were a Greek god or goddess and design a symbol to represent their power. Following this, there are language activities looking at the writer’s use of words and phrases and sentence forms (as in Language Paper 1) when introducing the character of Circe. Then an examination of the language techniques used to describe Scylla’s transformation.

Using Anthony Horowitz's re-telling of the story, these couple of lessons look at the relevance of the four seasons and ask pupils to consider how they affect people in everyday life. This starter activity helps them understand the ending of the story later in the lesson. Following more reading, there is a 'What do we learn about Hades' Q2 type task, with given answers for use with peer or self assessment. Then, students examine Demeter's feelings for her daughter by selecting evidence to support a number of given inferences. After discussion of the ending, pupils are asked to invent a fifth season and a god / goddess to control it.

Two lessons aimed at building confidence in language analysis. Using an extract from Chris Priestley's Tales of Terror (included), students are reminded of methods in a starter task (answers provided) then led through a step by step analysis. Taking a section at a time, questions are provided that aim to get students thinking about the choices Priestley has made in creating his atmosphere. At the end of each section, there is a mini plenary task to consolidate knowledge and check understanding. The end of L2 has an extension task which encourages students to extend Priestley's extract by describing what could be seen inside the house, using similar methods.

Using Anthony Horowitz’s retelling of this myth (copy not provided), there are several activities looking at the different sections of this myth. This is the tale of Perseus and how he slays Medusa. Please see my ‘shop’ for further resources. As an optional starter task, you could create a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of objects related to the Gorgon’s Head myth, for students to use to predict what will happen. I have used toy snakes, pebbles, Halloween eyeballs etc. Students then use inference skills to create an impression of King Polydectes, draw the gorgons using the given extract, list four things they have learned about them (in the style of Language Paper 1 Q1) with answers supplied for easy self assessment. After this, students can research Athena on computers or phones. Students then analyse the writer’s use of language to describe Medusa’s cave using an evidence table which supplies suggested answers for easy assessment. Finally, draw Athena’s shield to include Medusa’s head and play the interactive whiteboard game ‘Gorgon’s Head’ to sum up learning.

This is a minimum of 2 whole lessons (of one hour), beginning with Sir Robert Peel. Students are given two slides of information about the first police force then quizzed. This is followed by a look at the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes, with some deduction tasks and a literacy correction exercise. Then on to hulk ships and writing a diary entry of someone on board serving a prison sentence for stealing onions. Links to clips re-enacting children sentenced to transportation for pickpocketing. Then, complete the outline using description of Magwitch’s character (escaped convict in Great Expectations), and some language analysis using an extract from this story. The final task uses information given in an extract from Oliver Twist to create a wanted poster for Artful Doder.

Two lessons: Q2: ‘How does the writer use language here to descibe Nature?’ Focus on Du Maurier’s choices of personification, adjectives and simile for this question. Plus a focus on subordinate clauses followed by students identifying these in the extract with a view to including an idea in their practise response. Q3: ‘How does the writer structure the text to interest the reader?’ Reminder of structural features, useable examiner tips on what to include / not to include in a Q3 response. Slides provide points of note-taking and discussion, leading up to students having a go responding to the question themselves.

Students are shown a short set of slides defining women and marriage in Victorian times, including part of a Tennyson poem and Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management. Kahoot quiz follows (link available). Then students should match up a range of Pride and Prejudice quotations about marriage with the modern translation to get an idea of how important marriage was to women at this time. They will then watch the clip where Mr Collins proposes to Lizzie to show that she was atypical of victorian women of the time. Then we look at noble women and the extract where Lady Catherine de Bourgh visits Lizzie Bennet to show her disapproval of her alleged marriage to Mr Darcy. Discussion of language choices to show her attitude to the middle classes. Radio clip of a rich girl relating a day in her life; this links to the idea of governesses which are looked at in connection with middle class women and their jobs. Students can use two extracts to compare the job of a governess (Jane Eyre) with an account of the duties of a lady’s maid. Leads on to lower class women and a clip of Downton Abbey where students have to be observant and answer a series of questions about the servants’ roles. Leads to women (Nancy) who cannot get respectable work - students look at an extract and then freeze frame the emotions described. Ends with creating a wordle about all that they have learned.

Based on Anthony Horowitz's re-telling of the myth, this resource contains several activities to work through the story. Contains a range of teaching and learning activities to stimulate children's interest, with a focus on Q1 & 2 English Language Paper 1 skills. The final task is a dramatic performance of the humorous scene where Thrym tries to kiss Thor!

Please note: resource assumes you have a copy of the Anthony Horowitz retelling of the Greek Myths, or at least the Judgement of Paris chapter. This is a range of activities that would take 2 or 3 lessons, looking at the greek gods and working through the various stories within this myth. First activity is to match the pictures of the gods in this story with their correct descriptions. Answers supplied for easy marking. Watch 10 minute clip on the greek gods. Activity 2 is to plan Peleus and Thetis’ wedding using information from the story. Next, students examine an extract and consider how the writer uses language to build tension (English Language Paper 1 Q2 style). Find evidence to show Hera’s persuasive skills, compare the descriptions of Athena and Hera (English Paper 2 style), summarise Helen’s story using given images and choose the true statements about Troy (as in Paper 2 Q1).

2 X LESSONS Students will look at Victorian society and the rise in crime rates that triggered the rise of the police force. They are then introduced to Jack the Ripper and encouraged to think how the context of the time actually enabled Jack the Ripper to commit his crimes so successfully / why the police were unable to catch him. Plenary tasks asks why detective fiction may have been popular at this time. Students look at the history of detective fiction, beginning with Poe / Murders at the Rue de Morgue. A focus on the character of the detective and detective conventions, testing knowledge by applying knowledge of conventions to extracts from The Sherlock Holmes Tale ‘The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire.’ Then, students look at images of Holmes study (Sherlock Holmes museum) and deduce ideas about his character. Lesson ends with fun observational skills competition where students spot the hidden animals in the pictures.

This is intended for KS3 English lessons looking at Victorian context in preparation for English Literature at GCSE. This resource is a minimum of 2 lessons. Includes extracts from Lowood school (Jane Eyre) followed by a kahoot quiz, an extract from Dickens’ Nicholas Nickleby with a cloze exercise to describe the dilapidated school room, followed by an inference exercise on the boys of Dotheboys Hall. Drama task to finish capturing Mr Brocklehurts’s reaction to a curly haired, red-headed pupil at his school.

Step by step approach to this past question on the supernatural. Students can work through the extract, finding relevant evidence and matching up suggested annotations to gain understanding of the key themes and ideas. Example paragraph response using extract evidence provided so that students can produce their own based on what they have uncovered. To address the second part of the question, students are given an example quotation from the wider play and an example paragraph which uses the reference to respond. Four further key quotations on the supernatural are provided so that students can use them to create their own paragraphs. The quotations can be printed off and used for revision purposes.

This lesson looks at the important character of Macduff and the theme of loyalty. Using the extract where Macduff discovers King Duncan’s body, students can work through questions that guide them through key ideas. Key quotations from the extract are provided with opportunities for students to analyse them first before being given suggested answers. An example paragraph is provided for the first bullet point of the essay. Then, three key quotations are suggested for the wider play that show Macduff’s loyalty to his country and his family, as well as to the King himself. Students can then write an analytical paragraph on one of the quotations discussed.

Wondering what quotations to suggest your students learn for their exam? Here are fifteen carefully chosen quotations. Some include the ‘obvious’ ones but others are chosen to show the examiner that your students can select more judiciously. They can be edited if you wish and printed out to be stuck on walls for revision or on classroom walls. Each slide comes with an explanation of the quote with key terminology to help students understand its relevance. There are also suggested exam questions which each quotation might be useful for answering. There are similar resources on An Inspector Calls, Macbeth and Blood Brothers available in my shop.

Two lessons focusing on Q2 and Q4 of AQA English Language Paper 2 (one lesson each) using Rory Stewart’s Afghanistan travel extract and an extract from Dorothy Wordsworth’s Grasmere Journals.

Aimed at Y7 and 8, this short scheme aims to introduce KS3 pupils to 6 of Shakespeare’s famous characters/speeches. Ideal for introducing Shakespeare or one of his plays. Students are guided to act out conversations or deliver monologues. All resources included. Would probably take 3 1 x hour lessons in total. Could be extended. Includes Beatrice & Benedick, Malvolio, Lady Macbeth, Don John, Seven Ages of Man and Romeo and Juliet.