A double-sided, detailed context sheet for ‘A Christmas Carol’. As this doesn’t seem to show on the preview, the reverse side of the sheet contains a section on working conditions in the Victorian age and the ideas of Thomas Malthus. There is an accompanying worksheet on which students can write their notes. If preferred, these resources can be purchased as part of a larger unit of work on Stave One: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-stave-one-11996048

This lesson enables learners to explore ‘Kamikaze’ by Beatrice Garland. It includes: Lesson Starter (see cover image) An image of the sinking US Arizona with the question, ‘When do you think this photograph was taken’? Learners discuss and then feedback. A context sheet contained a simplified explanation of the Pearl Harbour attack and the rise of Kamikaze pilots. There is a corresponding worksheet for this. A link to a BBC interview with a surviving Kamikaze pilot with three questions to answer. A sheet of questions to prompt annotation of the poem. The lesson is aimed at lower ability learners whose primary goal is understanding.

This lesson focuses on the creation of interesting and believable characters. It is aimed at lower ability KS3 and follows on from the ‘Developing Skills in Creative Writing’ series: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/developing-skills-in-creative-writing-12079150 However, it can stand alone. Lesson Structure: Do Now Task - see cover image Feedback slide How many of the following statements in relation to fictional characters do you think are true or false? Feedback slide The importance of creative interesting and believable characters, with two examples. The major ‘Do’s’ and ‘Do Not’s’ of character creation Character planning worksheet task Tell a friend about your character Write an extract from your character’s story, with WAGOLL. The WAGOLL is about a penguin who has never learnt to swim. Peer Assessment Review

A PPT that teaches ‘My Last Duchess’ from the Power and Conflict Anthology. It covers: The contextual background What is a dramatic monologue? The poem, broken down into manageable chunks and annotated. A series of questions for group work. Suitable for upper-middle ability learners. An alternative lesson for the same poem is available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/my-last-duchess-11933556

A lesson on Imtiaz Dharker’s ‘Tissue’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now Task (see cover image) Keywords Task: architect, transparent, monolith and sepia. Learners look at a six images and suggest which keyword they represent. This worksheet is best printed in colour or at least projected at the time of use. Contextual information with ‘How far do you agree with these statements?’ worksheet Storyboarding the poem worksheet (learners insert quotes) Analysing three quotations task Comparison with ‘Ozymandias’ table Learning Review

A lesson on ‘The Prelude’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Multiple choice starter based on the Romantic Movement What is ‘The Prelude’? Context sheet + tasks Suggested annotations for lower ability learners True or false to test understanding Comparison task with ‘Storm on the Island’ Review

This lesson is aimed at middle-upper ability learners and focuses on broadsheet article writing for AQA English Language 8700/2. The questions is: “Those who are obese have nobody to blame but themselves.” Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you explain your point of view on this statement. The lesson includes: Do Now Task: learners use their general knowledge to match seven health-related terms to their definitions. Teacher answers provided. Extension task included. Feedback slide For the following slides, learners use a designated note-taking sheet to record information on: Key points about AQA Question 5, Paper 2 What an AQA Paper 2, Question 5 will look like The basic differences between broadsheets, tabloids and the middle-market dailies The difference between an article and a news report Broadsheet readers Layout features of an article (heading, strapline, lead photo, by-line and date + main body) Basic language requirements of a broadsheet article From this point on: Learners look at the question again and come up with arguments for and against the statement. Feedback slide They then consider what makes a good heading, with several made-up examples What is the strapline? (Example provided) The internal structure of an article e.g. introduction, main body with PEC (point, evidence and comment) paragraphs, counterargument and conclusion. Learners take notes on a designated sheet A WAGOLL The writing task is set for homework (basic planning sheet included) Review Initially, I wrote one WAGOLL and it turned out to be too long, so I shortened it! Both are included. The shortened version has been broken up into sections on PPT slides, which you can print out and use as a carousel and group work activity, if you wish.

A lesson on John Agard’s ‘Checking Out Me History’ aimed at lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now task (shown on cover slide) Contextual information regarding the historical figures and events referenced in the poem, with corresponding worksheet. Link to relevant video + the meaning of ‘Eurocentric’ Quotation Hunt + Challenge Task Imagery in the poem worksheet Comparison table to complete with ‘My Last Duchess’ in terms of the presentation of the abuse of power. Review learning with challenge question.

An introduction to simple, compound and complex sentences with activities at the end. Suitable for KS2 or lower KS3 groups. Update: I have created an alternative to this lesson, found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/lower-ability-ks3-sentence-types-12057647

A lesson ‘Storm on the Island’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now task: learners examine an image of storm in a coastal area, identifying how it represents power and conflict. Context sheet with corresponding tasks Quotation hunt Comparison with Exposure in terms of 1) power and 2) conflict Review

This is the eleventh in the KS3 Creative Writing for lower ability learners. It follows on from this introduction to creative writing techniques: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/introduction-to-creative-writing-la-ks3-12065152 This lesson includes: Do Now Task (see cover image) Feedback slide An introduction to flashback as a device + what is a flashback? Links to YouTube videos in which flashback is used in 3 different films. Learners watch the clips and then say at what point the flashback occurs An introduction to flashback as a structural technique + the difference between language and structure Different ways of incorporating a flashback (worksheet) Feedback slides Flashback writing task with basic and challenge success criteria Peer assessment Review Estimated time 1:5 hours

This PPT enables an exploration of ‘Exposure’ by Wilfred Owen, part of the AQA Power and Conflict Anthology. It is aimed at lower ability learners whose primary objective is understanding and basic comparisons. It includes: Starter: Infer the meaning of the word exposure by examining the three images (sun exposure, exposure to the elements, exposure to harmful gases in the air) Learners then look at an image of WW1 soldiers in the trenches and link it to their understanding of the word exposure. There is a context sheet which explains some of the background to the poem e.g. the Western Front and conditions for soldiers in the trenches. Learners then work through relevant tasks e.g. label the Western Front on a blank map of Europe. Poem synopsis with 4 comprehension questions. The poem translated into reasonably simply English + reduction task. Suggested annotations for lower ability learners. A comparison table for completion (presentation of effects of war with ‘Remains’. Review.

An extended lesson on writing a discursive essay, aimed at middle-upper-ability GCSE. It covers: The assessment objectives for writing (learners should put these in their own words) What is a discursive essay? Planning in full and planning in the exam A planning activity to carry out in pairs, followed by feedback The structure of a discursive essay Different ways to start a discursive essay An example introduction, internal paragraph and conclusion The importance of linking paragraphs The importance of using evidence and different forms of evidence A final writing task Self-reflection The whole powerpoint is likely to last over an hour. The sample paragraphs are also included on a separate sheet so learners can annotate them. There is reference to AQA 8700/2/Question 5 but it could be adapted to other boards. These files were last saved in Office 2016.

A 110-slide PowerPoint that explores Act Three of ‘An Inspector Calls’. The PPT covers: Revision of Act Two Put quotations in order + identify quotes in relation to three different themes: a) Parents and children b) Responsibility c) Capitalism versus socialism. A range of differentiated sample paragraphs in response to the above tasks. Students identify the missing words. Worksheets for the characters of Arthur, Sheila, Gerald and Sybil in terms of their attitude towards responsibility. Quotations: ‘Who Said What?’ task + sample answers Exploration task on how Act Two ends (differentiated). Act Three: Focus on Eric: Quotation Hunt followed by comparison task in relation to Eric and Eva’s relationship and Gerald and Daisy’s relationship. Illegal Versus Immoral Behaviour task. A 15-point quiz (essentially how capitalist/socialist are you?) Group-work task on the contextual background of the Inspector’s speech: capitalism v socalism, communism, the rise of the USSR, communism in the USSR, the reasons for Priestley’s socialist views, British capitalists’ antipathy towards socalism, rising public interest in socialism, Conservative anti-socialist propaganda task (diff’d) + the Labour win of 1945 + its effects. Analysis of the Inspector’s final speech task. Drama activity. Sample extended analysis of the Inspector’s final speech. Exploring the aftermath of the Inspector’s departure + extended response task on theme of responsibility. The significance of the end of the play in terms of the generational divide + time theories in ‘An Inspector Calls’, extended response Act 3: 20 questions A whole-play revision section. This resource is suited to middle-upper-ability learners.

A lesson on Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’ for lower ability learners, It includes: Starter - a short explanation of what a bayonet is and how they were used in WW1. Learners then answer ‘Why do you think the bayonet was considered to be a suitable weapon for infantry attacks?’ Feedback slide Basic contextual information about the poet. A link to a relevant YouTube video Learners then read the poem and use choose quotations to caption six images on a storyboard depicting the main events of the poem. This is followed by a worksheet in which learners are asked to make three basic comparisons with ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ (this will have to have been covered beforehand). The table is partly filled in. Review

A full lesson on GCSE discursive essay writing for lower ability learners. The PowerPoint covers: The purpose of a discursive essay, with a sample question that learners are encouraged to ‘break down’. This includes an extension question. Planning a response + extension question Structuring a discursive essay PEA paragraphs in a discursive essay Counterargument A sample response for annotation + extension activity An opportunity for learners to produce their own responses A peer assessment activity Self-reflection The lesson was produced with AQA 8700/2 in mind but could apply to other exam boards. These files were last saved in Office 2016.

This is a newly-differentiated version of the following resource: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-annotated-act-one-11875448 This lower-ability version contains: The full text of Act 1, translated (same as original) Several key extracts for study Scene summaries for Scenes 2-7 A range of activities to develop understanding. Simplified contextual notes with a corresponding worksheet Key information with corresponding worksheet. This resource is aimed at lower-middle ability learners.

A powerpoint that teaches Duffy's 'War Photographer'. Suitable for GCSE English Literature.

Two revision clocks on PowerPoint slides: one blank and the other tailored to ‘Macbeth’.

A knowledge organiser for AQA Paper 1, Question 4 (the evaluation question). It is based on a past paper, so please take this into account if you are using it for a mock. The WAGOLLs on the reverse side demonstrate Levels 3, 5 and 7. Full colour and black and white copies included.