English teacher for upper schools with a passion for literature. My resources eschew flashy, clip-art-infested layouts for clean, focused, and advanced worksheets and activities for students and teachers.
English teacher for upper schools with a passion for literature. My resources eschew flashy, clip-art-infested layouts for clean, focused, and advanced worksheets and activities for students and teachers.
This teaching unit focuses on Volume 2, Chapters 12-19 (or Chapters 35-42 overall) of the classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a particular focus on Austen’s revolutionary use of irony in the novel (verbal irony, situational irony, dramatic irony).
The novel is also on the IGCSE English Literature syllabus for exams 2026 and 2027 as well as the A/AS-Level English Literature syllabus for exams 2024-2026.
The unit includes:
1. Comprehension: Quick Quiz Activities: Two fun, quick quiz activities to test your students’ reading, and to enable an engaging introduction to the main topics and learning objectives of the unit. I’ve also included a link for an interactive Kahoot!-version of this quick quiz that you can alternatively do with your students!
2. Digging Deeper - The Role of Letters in Pride and Prejudice: This activity goes into considerable depth, exploring the role of letters in Pride and Prejudice, as a way to move forward plot, develop character, or revisit central themes.
3. Exam Practice: Passage-Based Response: This activity enables exam practice for IGCSE & AS/A-Levels in a structured, scaffolded manner that focuses on the exam assessment criteria.
4. Teacher’s Guide & Model Answers for all activities. The teacher’s guide includes detailed model answers for all activities as well as the link to the alternative digital Kahoot! activities.
***Happy teaching, studying, revising, and reading!
Feedback is always welcome!***
This teaching unit focuses on Volume 2, Chapters 1-5 (or Chapters 24-28 overall) of the classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a particular focus on Austen’s revolutionary use of free indirect speech (also known as free indirect discourse).
The novel is also on the IGCSE English Literature syllabus for exams 2026 and 2027 as well as the A/AS-Level English Literature syllabus for exams 2024-2026.
The unit includes:
1. Comprehension: Quick Quiz Activities: Two fun, quick quiz activities to test your students’ reading, and to enable an engaging introduction to the main topics and learning objectives of the unit. I’ve also included a link for an interactive Kahoot!-version of this quick quiz that you can alternatively do with your students!
2. Video Essay Activity: How Austen Changed Fiction Forever: Free Indirect Speech: This activity uses the video essay “How Jane Austen Changed Fiction Forever” as an engaging and informative way to introduce students to and enable a critical analysis of Jane Austen’s revolutionary use of free indirect speech in her novels. The activity provides a structured, scaffolded introduction that is engaging and that allows students to apply new concepts and ideas to Pride and Prejudice.
3. Teacher’s Guide & Model Answers for all activities. The teacher’s guide includes detailed model answers for all activities as well as the link to the alternative digital Kahoot! activities.
***Happy teaching, studying, revising, and reading!
Feedback is always welcome!***
This is a unit of work that contains two different types of pre-reading activities for the classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:
1. A Critical Introduction, with a focus on providing key insights into the most important aspects of the novel, in preparation for an in-depth, advanced teaching unit and in-class study of the novel.
2. Drama & Improv Activities: This activity uses drama and improv prompts to help students explore familiar scenes from the novel, but with a modern twist. Students are encouraged to think on their feet, use their imagination, and have fun as they bring the classic novel to life in an entirely different way
I hope you enjoy teaching these activities. They are also suitable as a way to review and revisit key scenes and aspects of the novel!
Happy teaching, and please leave feedback!
This teaching unit focuses on Volume 1, Chapters 18-23 of the classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a particular focus on Austen’s humour as a vehicle for social criticism.
The novel is also on the IGCSE English Literature syllabus for exams 2026 and 2027 as well as the A/AS-Level English Literature syllabus for exams 2024-2026.
The unit includes:
1. Comprehension: Quick Quiz Activities: Two fun, quick quiz activities to test your students’ reading, and to enable an engaging introduction to the main topics and learning objectives of the unit. I’ve also included a link for an interactive Kahoot!-version of this quick quiz that you can alternatively do with your students!
2. Austen’s Wicked Wit: TED-Ed: Satire and Social Criticism: This activity uses the TED-Ed video “The Wicked Wit of Jane Austen” as an engaging and informative way to show how Austen’s humour works and how it is used by the author in various ways that add complexity to her novel. Scaffolded activities that test comprehension and introduce key concepts but also require higher-order critical thinking skills accompany the activity and provide a lens to let students re-focus what they’ve learned to Pride and Prejudice, and Volume 1 in particular
4. Teacher’s Guide & Model Answers for all activities. The teacher’s guide includes detailed model answers for all activities as well as the link to the alternative digital Kahoot! activities.
**Happy teaching, studying, revising, and reading!
Feedback is always welcome!**
This advanced ready-to-teach handout uses George Orwell’s famous essay “Shooting An Elephant” (a sweeping criticism of British Imperialism and colonial rule) to give students the opportunity to read and study one of the most iconic and important literary and political writers of the 20th century, George Orwell. The handout includes:
Brief historical overview and contextualized information about Orwell and his experiences in Burma, upon which his essay “Shooting an Elephant” is based.
“Shooting an Elephant”, the full essay text, annotated with explanations of important terms and concepts specific to the socio-cultural context of composition of the text. The essay includes line numbers for easy annotation and close reading.
A range of close reading and analysis questions that are split up into two parts (based on the development of the “story” within the essay.
Extension activity that facilitates a holistic, essay-style response to the central issues of the essay.
ANSWER KEY for the comprehension questions AND the extension activity (sample essay style response).
Enjoy, and please leave feedback!
This advanced unit of work focuses on Book 1, Chapter 2 of George Orwell’s 1984 or Nineteen-Eighty-Four, with a specific focus on aiding your study of the novel for IGCSE English Literature (1984 is a set text for the IGCSE English Literature Exams in 2020 and 2021).
Although worksheet, as indeed all of my 1984 handouts and activities are specifically designed to be read at IGCSE level or in preparation for the IGCSE English Literature exams. But they can be used independent of these exams and the IGCSE curriculum, too, of course!
The level is certainly also high enough to be used if you have made 1984 one of the set texts for your IB English A: Literature or English A: Language & Literature course.
The unit of work includes:
Comprehension questions for Book 1, Chapter 2 of 1984
1984 in Context: Information Texts about the Soviet Cult of Childhood, to help students gain a better understanding into the context of composition of the novel. The text is accompanied by helpful discussion questions as a follow-up activity.
Close Reading & Analysis Activity: Establishing Setting in 1984. This activity introduces the relevance of analysing setting in fiction, and defines four main aspects of setting that appear most often in works of fiction: mirror, mould, escape, and alienation.
Close Reading Activity: Aspects of Setting. This activity uses extracts from Book 1, Chapters 1-2 to help guide students’ analysis of various aspects of setting in 1984, thereby encouraging the use of the related concepts previously introduced.
TEACHER’S GUIDE + ANSWER KEY: A detailed teacher’s guide with MODEL ANSWERS for the comprehension questions & the close reading activity is included.
Enjoy, and please leave feedback!
This unit of work revolves around Lois Lowry’s wonderful and powerful YAF novel, The Giver. Included is a Read & Response Journal for the ENTIRE novel. A chapter-by-chapter approach offers students a range of comprehension, close reading & discussion questions.
The journal can be used as a while-reading activity to facilitate students engaging with the important issues raised throughout. The questions can be part of reading homework assignments, can be discussed in pairs or groups in class, or used otherwise as writing prompts.
The unit of work includes a detailed TEACHER’S GUIDE that offers:
Summary of Key Chapters & Plot Points
Character Analysis
Commentary about Central Themes & Issues
Critical Commentary of Language & Style, including Narration & Point of View, Allegory, Symbolism, Setting, Context of Composition & Interpretation, Literary Qualities & Controversial Issues
Enjoy, and please leave feedback!
These no-prep resources provide engaging and informative pre-reading activities for Marjane Satrapi’s iconic graphic novel Persepolis. The unit includes:
1: Introduction to the Novel: A guided reading and discussion activity based on the “Introduction” to the graphic novel in The Complete Persepolis edition of Satrapis’ graphic novel.
2. Marjane Satrapi: A Brief Biography of the Author: A brief introduction to the author, contextually always referring to the graphic novel.
3. Video Activity: An Interview with Marjane Satrapi: An in-depth activity based on an interview given by Satrapi shortly after the release of the animated film version of the graphic novel.
While you can teach all pre-reading activities together, you can also pick and choose to do only one or two of the activities. It’s up to you!
The resource also includes an in-depth teacher’s guide and model answers to all the activities.
Feedback is always appreciated!
This no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Follower” by Seamus Heaney. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2026-2028.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers and explanatory notes to facilitate a close-reading, including the poem’s context of composition.
3) Pre-Reading Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on animal symbolism in literature and poetry.
4) Comprehension, Close-reading & Analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria.
5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4)
6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4).
**Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
Please leave feedback!**
This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Carpet-weavers, Morocco” by Carol Rumens. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2026-2028.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary.
3) Pre-Teaching Activities & Follow-Up Activities to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on different stanzaic forms as well as visualising the poem, activities that are particularly relevant to Rumens’ poem.
4) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria.
5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students.
6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4).
**Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
Please leave feedback!**
This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Passion” by Kathleen Raine. The poem is also on the AS & A-Level English Literature curriculum for exams in 2024-2025.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary.
3) Pre-Teaching Activities: to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on introducing of figurative devices.
4) After Reading Activities: ideal as a follow-up to reading the poem in class. For "Passion, I’ve focused on figurative devices and visual analysis.
5) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the AS/A-Level English Literature exam criteria.
6) Exam Practice Questions, modeled after the AS/A-Level English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students.
7) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on AS & A-Level Exam Criteria (A01-AO4).
***Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
Please leave feedback!*
This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem "The Clod and the Pebble" by William Blake. The poem is also on the AS & A-Level English Literature curriculum for exams in 2024-2025.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary. Included: An audio-visual reading of the poem.
3) Pre-Teaching Activities: to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on introducing personification as a key feature of the poem.
4) After Reading Activities: ideal as a follow-up to reading the poem in class. For “The Clod and the Pebble”, I’ve focused on antithesis and oxymoron, essential to understanding and appreciating the poem.
5) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the AS & A-Level English Literature exam criteria.
6) Exam Practice Questions, modeled after the AS/A-Level English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students.
7) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on AS & A-Level Exam Criteria (A01-AO4).
**Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
Please leave feedback!**
This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Winter Song” by Elizabeth Tollet. The poem is also on the AS & A-Level English Literature curriculum for exams in 2024-2025.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary.
3) Pre-Teaching Activities: to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on 18th-century England and traditional gender roles.
4) After Reading Activities: ideal as a follow-up to reading the poem in class. For "Winter Song, I’ve focused on a visual analysis of the poem.
5) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the AS & A-Level English Literature exam criteria.
6) Exam Practice Questions, modeled after the AS/A-Level English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students.
7) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on AS & A-Level Exam Criteria (A01-AO4).
**Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
Please leave feedback!**
This no-prep bundle of activities is designed to enable the in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Introduction” (Songs of Innocence) by William Blake. The poem is also on the AS/A-Level English Literature curriculum for exams in 2024-2026.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, including historical context and explanatory notes where necessary.
3) Pre-Teaching Activities: to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class. I’ve focused on introducting the context of composition, with a particular focus on Blake’s poem as the “Introduction” to his Songs of Innocence.
4) After Reading Activities: ideal as a follow-up to reading the poem in class. For “Introduction”, I’ve focused on types of parallelism in the poem.
5) Close-reading & Analysis Questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the AS/A-Level English Literature exam criteria.
6) Exam Practice Questions, modeled after the AS/A-Level English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4). These can be used as a mock exam with your students.
7) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on AS & A-Level Exam Criteria (A01-AO4).
**Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
Please leave feedback!**
This teaching and exam practice unit focuses on the first chapters (Volume 1, Chapters 1-2) of the classive novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
The novel is also on the IGCSE English Literature syllabus for exams 2026 and 2027 as well as the** A/AS-Level English Literature syllabus for exams 2024-2026**.
The bundle includes:
1. Comprehension: Quick Quiz: A fun quick, quiz activity to test your students’ reading, and to enable an engaging introduction to the main topics and learning objectives of the unit. I’ve also included a link for an interactive Kahoot!-version of this quick quiz that you can alternatively do with your students!
2. Close Reading: Find the Quote Quiz: This is another fun activity that facilitates an engaging close reading of the most pertinent quotes or statements from the chapters. The quotes have been carefully selected so that you can also use them to segway to the main digging deeper activity.
3. Digging Deeper: Dialogue, Narrative Voice and Characterisation: This is a structured, scaffolded and guided passage-based close reading and analysis activity with the following learning objectives:
Students learn how Austen uses dialogue, narrative voice and in/direct characterisation to establish characters and relationships in the novel.
Students learn how to approach a passage-based question in an analytical, methodical manner that also functions as exam practice.
Students learn to appreciate Austen’s style and techniques and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of these first chapters.
4. Exam Practice: Passage-Based Response: This activity enables exam practice for IGCSE & AS/A-Levels in a structured, scaffolded manner that focuses on the exam assessment criteria.
5. Teacher’s Guide & Model Answers for all activities. The teacher’s guide includes the learning objectives, detailed model answers as well as the links to the alternative Kahoot! activities.
***Happy teaching, studying, revising, and reading!
Feedback is always welcome!*
Happy teaching, and please leave feedback!
This teaching unit focuses on Volume 1, Chapters 3-8 of the classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
The novel is also on the IGCSE English Literature syllabus for exams 2026 and 2027 as well as the A/AS-Level English Literature syllabus for exams 2024-2026.
Thes comprehensive unit includes:
1. Comprehension: Quick Quiz: A fun quick, quiz activity to test your students’ reading, and to enable an engaging introduction to the main topics and learning objectives of the unit.
2. Close Reading: Find the Quote Quiz: This is another fun activity that facilitates an engaging close reading of the most pertinent quotes or statements from the chapters. The quotes have been carefully selected so that you can also use them to segway to the main digging deeper activity.
3. Digital Kahoot!-Activities: I’ve created and included a link for an interactive Kahoot!-version of the first two activities that you can alternatively do with your students!
4. Uncovering Context: Jane Austen’s Life and Times: This is a structured, scaffolded and guided passage-based close reading and analysis activity that uses a letter by Jane Austen to her sister Cassandra Austen (August 1805) to bring Regency England and the context of Pride and Prejudice to life. The learning objectives include:
*Students will be able to identify key social customs and expectations of the Regency era, as depicted in Jane Austen’s letter.
Students will be able to recognize the significance of social obligations and expectations in the context of the novel.
Students will be able to understand the role of women in Regency society, based on Austen’s observations.*
5. Teacher’s Guide & Model Answers for all activities. The teacher’s guide includes the learning objectives, detailed model answers as well as the link to the alternative Kahoot! activities.
***Happy teaching, studying, revising, and reading!
Feedback is always welcome!*
This teaching unit focuses on Volume 1, Chapters 13-17 of the classic novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen with a particular focus on Austen’s humour - be it her use of comic relief characters or her introduction of Mr Collins as a caricature and a character of social commentary and satire.
The novel is also on the IGCSE English Literature syllabus for exams 2026 and 2027 as well as the A/AS-Level English Literature syllabus for exams 2024-2026.
The unit includes:
1. Comprehension: Quick Quiz Activities: Two fun, quick quiz activities to test your students’ reading, and to enable an engaging introduction to the main topics and learning objectives of the unit. I’ve also included a link for an interactive Kahoot!-version of this quick quiz that you can alternatively do with your students!
2. Austen’s Humour: Comic Relief in Pride and Prejudice: This activity introduces the concept of comic relief in dramatic stories and provides a guided analysis of Austen’s use of comic relief in the novel. The focus is on characters such as Mr Bennet, Mrs Bennet and Mary Bennet as minor characters that provide plenty of comic relief in the first part of the novel.
3. Austen’s Humour: Mr Collins as Caricature: This activity takes a closer look at Mr Collins, and how Jane Austen introduces him as a caricature of the Regency clergyman as well as a ridiculously humorous vehicle for social criticism.
4. Teacher’s Guide & Model Answers for all activities. The teacher’s guide includes detailed model answers for all activities as well as the link to the alternative digital Kahoot! activities.
**Happy teaching, studying, revising, and reading!
Feedback is always welcome!**
This FREE advanced unit of work focuses on Book 1, Chapters 6-7 of George Orwell’s 1984 or Nineteen-Eighty-Four, with a specific focus on aiding your study of the novel for IGCSE English Literature (1984 is a set text for the IGCSE English Literature Exams in 2020 and 2021).
Although this unit of work, as indeed all of my 1984 handouts and activities are specifically designed to be read at IGCSE level or in preparation for the IGCSE English Literature exams. But they can be used independent of these exams and the IGCSE curriculum, too, of course!
The level is certainly also high enough to be used if you have made 1984 one of the set texts for your IB English A: Literature or English A: Language & Literature course.
The unit of work includes:
1. Comprehension questions for Book 1, Chapters 6-7 of 1984
2. Exam Practice: This activity uses an important passage from Book 1, Chapter 7, and emulates the IGCSE English Literature exam by offering both a passage-based and an essay question to choose from. Can be used to facilitate close reading and exam practice.
3. TEACHER’S GUIDE + ANSWER KEY: A detailed teacher’s guide with summary & analysis of Book 1, Chapter 6-7, as well as an MODEL ANSWERS for the comprehension questions & the Exam Practice Question.
Enjoy, and please leave feedback!
This FREE no-prep unit of work is designed to enable an in-depth teaching and preparation of the poem “Children of Wealth” by Elizabeth Daryush. The poem is also on the IGCSE English Literature curriculum for exams in 2025-2027.
The unit includes:
1) Short biography and introduction to the poet
2) The poem text with line numbers to facilitate a close-reading, and explanatory notes where necessary.
3) Pre-reading & After-Reading Activities (to facilitate teaching the poem & exam prep in class). I’ve focused on the sonnet form, as this is particularly relevant to the poem.
4) Comprehension, close-reading & analysis questions, with a particular focus on poetic devices and the IGCSE English Literature exam criteria.
5) Essay questions to facilitate IGCSE exam practice, modeled after the IGCSE English Literature Assessment Criteria (AO1-AO4)
6) In-depth, detailed model answers for all activities, questions, as well as model answers for the practice exam questions, again based on IGCSE Exam Rubric (A01-AO4).
**Happy reading, teaching, studying, and revising!
**
Please leave feedback!
The BONUS BUNDLE includes the following selection of materials that will complement teaching and revising for the IGCSE English Literature Exams in 2025-2027, with a particular focus on poetry Vol. 2, Part 3:
Roadmap and Scheme of Work for IGCSE Vol. 2, Part 3 Poetry for Exams in 2025-2027
Figurative Language Flashcards
Figurative Language Quizzes
Sensory Imagery Activity
Creative Writing Activity: Free Verse
Creative Writing Activity: Sonnet
Comparative Analysis Activity
The activities and the scheme of work are designed to complement my IGCSE Poetry 2025-2027: Vol. 2 Part 3 TEACH + EXAM PREP + ANSWERS Bundle
Happy teaching and revising! Please leave feedback!