This model essay can be used to develop student understanding of the 24-mark Unseen Poetry question on AQA English Literature Paper 2. This model essay uses the poem Blessing by Imtiaz Dharker and explores the following exam practice question: In the poem Blessing, how does the poet present experiences of poverty?

Lesson learning challenge: To consider the presentation of Macbeth and his attitudes towards his life and fate in Act 5 Scene 5. Lesson includes: Brief overview of Act 5 Scenes 2-4 Reading of Scene 5 Exploration of Macbeth’s soliloquy from Scene 5 Full detailed annotations of this soliloquy Analysis of the structural significance of this scene

A lesson introducing students to the opening scene of the play (The Witches). Lesson includes annotations on the scene, a model paragraph and sentence stems for students to explore the use of language to create tension in the scene. Suitable for high ability KS3 and KS4.

An A3 worksheet designed to scaffold the skills students will need to answer Q2 and Q3 of the AQA Paper 2 Language exam. The resource uses 2 extracts (21st and 19th Century) looking at the life of PT Barnum. As a starter, I got my students to watch the trailer for The Greatest Showman and we discussed what inferences we could make from the film's portrayal of him. We then looked at the extracts and worked through the first few boxes on the worksheet together. They then completed at independent paragraph on Q3. Suitable for KS4 students.

A lesson designed to get students thinking about what makes a successful and persuasive speech. Students analyse a famous speech by Churchill, analysing the language used and commenting on the effect.

Two lessons looking at speech writing using WW1 as a stimulus. Students analyse a speech from Private Peaceful and use it to plan and write their own persuasive speech.

KS4 lesson aimed at showing students how to approach an unseen poem for this element of their Literature GCSE exam. Students begin by analysing a model paragraph for Mametz Wood, discussing how it relates to the exam mark scheme. They then explore the poem Against Road Building by Sophie Hannah using the MITSL structure. Finally they will complete a timed response.

A lesson that focuses on developing knowledge of sentence types for use with Midsummer Night’s Dream Writing SOW but could be used as a standalone descriptive writing lesson. Includes an overview of minor, simple, compound and complex sentences, a task that gets students to identify the different sentence types in a model paragraph, a writing task that uses an image of Bottom from MSND but could be replaced with any image, and a peer assessment task. Suitable for KS3 and KS4 students.

A detailed lesson that introduces students to descriptive writing. The lesson includes a spelling test, a success criteria activity, a variety of descriptive model paragraphs and a plenary that focuses on upscaling vocabulary. Would be suitable for both KS3 and KS4 students.

A lesson that seeks to develop the use of semi-colons in descriptive writing in order to add detail. The lesson includes a punctuation practice starter, an overview of semi-colon use, an upscaling your sentence task and an independent task where students apply what they have learnt.

A lesson that develops original and creative descriptive writing. Uses the idea of a lost toy as a stimulus. Lesson includes variety of vocabulary tasks, a model paragraph and timed response and reflection task.

A lesson introducing AQA English Language Paper 1 overview and question 1. Suitable for KS4 students.

A lesson introducing students to the context of Shakespeare. I used this as an intro to A Midsummer Night's Dream but would be suitable for an introduction to any of his plays. Suitable for KS3 students.

8 slides of spellings suitable for KS3 students that I do with my tutor group each week.

A lesson exploring the context surrounding the novella. Useful as a way of introducing KS4 students to the contextual information surrounding the text.

Scheme of Learning exploring Chapters 1-8 of Heroes by Robert Cormier. Suitable for both KS3 and KS4. *Extracts copyright of author Robert Cormier

A lesson exploring the theme of superstition in Blood Brothers, including a model PEELD paragraph with success criteria. Suitable for KS3.

Lesson to develop creative writing skills, would be suitable for both KS3 and KS4 and can be easily adapted for different exam boards. Students practice SPaG skills, look at a range of model paragraphs and analyse them and then use a learning grid dice game to help them writing a creative piece of their own.

Robert Cormier - Heroes - lesson on the historical context of Pearl Harbor

Scheme of learning aimed at KS3 but aims to scaffold up to GCSE skills. SOW covers chapters 1-9. 20 lesson scheme. All resources included. *All extracts copyright of the author John Boyne.