Sometimes, the specimen papers are just a little bland... This is a practice English Language Paper 1, both sections A and B. The theme of the questions come from the horror genre, where Section A uses an extract from Stephen King's novel, Salem's Lot; section B uses a thriller picture prompt to creatively write a narrative or description. Available in my shop are creative writing resource units that build the skills necessary to be successful in Section B of this paper, such as the "Worlds Unlike Our Own" unit. If you give any of these resources a try, leave a reply!

Sometimes, the specimen papers just aren't all that interesting... In light of a recent unit I uploaded on Section B of the English Language Paper 1, I decided to create Section A of the paper. The theme for the Unit is "Worlds Unlike Our Own," so focuses on the fantasy genre. This stand-alone can be printed to help aid in the teaching and practice Section A of Paper 1, and uses an extract from Sanderson's novel, "The Way of Kings" to do so. It's a pretty good introduction as far as interesting novel openings go, and the fantasy genre is often fairly enticing for youths! If you like this sample paper and would like more class materials based on this theme, check out the corresponding unit on teaching English Language, Paper 1: Section B!

Featured are several examples of poetry that are fairly easy to grasp, as they follow rigid structures and rhyme schemes: villanelles, haikus, sonnets, and limericks. Instead of analyzing poems, this gives students the opportunity to create their own and become familiar with structure, form, and rhyme. This is a great opportunity to create a poem a day and by the end, students are able to put together their own little poetry anthology. Additionally, there is a small section on found poetry, for which you will need an old book to cut up. Particularly, this is a nice way to finish up an intense unit of analyzing poems, as it gives all the room in the world for creativity.

My Year 11s found the English Language exam articles to be fairly dull, so were having a hard time even practicing for the real deal. I used the same style of questions they would see, but with articles that centred on the theme of zombies and the apocalypse. While the questions remain the same, the content is a little more exciting for them; question 5+6 - which are the creative responses - allow them a little more imagination, too. Answer booklet not included (I just got them to write in their books or on paper).

Sometimes, the specimen papers are just a little bland... This is a practice English Language Paper 1, both sections A and B. The theme of the questions come from the fantasy genre, where Section A uses an extract from Brandon Sanderson's novel, The Way of Kings; section B uses a fantasy picture prompt to creatively write a narrative or description. Previously, I posted just Section A, so that's available as a stand-alone if you want it. Additionally, I have a full set of lessons, handouts, and activities to help guide students towards success on Section B of English Language, Paper 1 available in my shop.

Sometimes, the specimen papers are just a little bland... This Language Paper 1 mock uses an extract from Dean Koontz's thriller, Velocity, and very quickly takes the reader from the mundane to a shocking event. With a touch of the bizarre, this mock should give even apathetic students something to pique their interest. Also available in my shop (that particularly compliments this mock) is creative writing package that focuses on creating mood and atmosphere. Check it out! Enjoy :)

Sometimes, we just need to get the basics in order before anything else can happen. That's exactly how I felt when I made this quick PowerPoint on how to structure an essay - using the idea of building a hamburger. It's visual, and makes something which can be kind of dull a little more exciting to watch and follow. This lesson is very adaptable, as it isn't topic-specific. Enjoy!

There are two rounds included in this PowerPoint, but one "round" will usually take up a period. Students need mini whiteboards (or something to write on), a dictionary or two, and to come up with a team name. Once done, the games can begin! There are five or so literacy activities per round that focus on topics such as: punctuation, homophones, vocabulary, etc. I used this mostly with Year 7 students and lower level Year 8s. I made it knowing I had a smart board to use, but for things like the class word search which are meant to be interactive, I've just used a projector before on a whiteboard, too.

Although this lesson is now outdated since the incoming of the new curriculum and its texts, this lesson (originally designed to prepare students to write about Candy in a literature mock) can be adapted to suit any character you might currently be studying. This would take place over two lessons (activities would be #1, writing the mock/maybe some review at the beginning of class would be #2) and give students an opportunity to practice a mock by making them familiar with exam-style questions and the information needed to successfully answer them. Since this is on Candy, you'll need to adapt the questions and pictures for whichever character you're choosing to dissect in class. So, it will require you to do a bit of work before it's ready to use, but the ideas and activities are there (the PEE chain also included is universal!). Enjoy :)

This PowerPoint contains a preparatory assessment on the character of Candy in 'Of Mice and Men.' Students are shown what they will work towards, and then the class is structured to help them get there. Mainly, the focus is on close reading, being able to collect useful and relevant quotes, inference, and writing simple PEE paragraphs. The handout mentioned in the PPT is also included.

This continuous PowerPoint allows you to use an old paper as an example to teach each question of the English Language GCSE exam. There are real examples included - plus the actual mark given - so you can exam a top-mark response, and less-than-exemplary response to compare the two. It isn't the most exciting material, but I made it for a top-set class of students who requested this kind of help. It was useful to not go through the entire PPT at once, but to do a question a week to break it up. The insert referenced in the PPT is included.

Looking mainly at the theme of power, this PowerPoint explores Macbeth as a character, the importance of stage directions and performance choices, Lady Macbeth's madness, and the concept of allegiance in the play. Since it works thematically more than chronologically, it would be useful to watch a version of Macbeth prior to beginning.

Yoga English is pretty well exactly what it sounds like: yoga + English activities = a new literature experience! Included are 9 posters for you to put around your classroom, each with a different yoga pose and set of questions and thinking/discussion prompts (as well as a brief intro on using this resource). Meant to be used while studying literature (novels, plays, short stories, etc.), the questions are universal and character-centric... which means you can use them again and again. Hello, last-minute planning! Except, these resources will help you bring creativity, thoughtfulness, discussion, and rejuvenation to your class, so it's the best kind of last-minute planning. The types of prompts included will be especially useful and relevant if the characters in the literature you're studying are any of the following: - in complicated relationships - unstable - in want or need of something - changing OR resistant to change - poised and strong - power-hungry - sturdy and well-formed - flimsy and weak - in need of some introspection (who isn't!?)

Trying to jazz up vocabulary lessons can sometimes leave you scratching your head. However, there is no question that students enjoy learning new words and are interested in doing so - not to mention that it's integral to their understanding of a text. Included in this package is: 1) a comprehensive PowerPoint of 4 vocabulary lessons covering 40 vocabulary words from the novel, presented through interesting activities that include creative writing, group competition, peer evaluation, and other tasks that will make your students truly think about the definition and use of their newfound words! 2) an introduction on how to use this resource 3) a list of the vocabulary for reference 4) a student and teacher copy (of answers) of worksheets Three of these vocabulary lessons are from Part 1 of my SOW on the novel, The Sign of Four. The fourth vocabulary lesson included here is NOT included elsewhere and was specifically designed for this resource. So, if you have the teaching content down pat for the meat of the novel and just need a way to spice up teaching the vocabulary, then this resource is definitely for you! It would also function wonderfully when it comes to reviewing the novel and developing higher vocabulary come GCSEs.

I've used this resource in English class and Social Science classes alike among high school students. In English, it's a great way to highlight the difference between implicit and explicit messages in order to teach them about inference; in social sciences, though, I use it to scrutinize the effectiveness of ads while unpicking the strategies and subliminal messaging of marketers and companies.

Specifically designed for Level 3 ESL, this mini unit takes English Language Learners through the steps of creating a business proposal. Using Dragon's Den, Shark Tank, and figures like Steve Jobs, we look at what makes a successful product pitch - and presentation, to boot. An additional item you may want to include that isn't in this PPT is creating a catchy advertisement (I like to draw mine on the board as we brainstorm together a class and decide the elements needed as we go... it's useful to look at ads and pick out features, first). There is heavy emphasis on vocabulary, presentation skills, and evaluating for effectiveness. Included is a rubric (based on the Ontario curriculum) that is easily adapted to suit your curriculum outcomes, if desired.

Included are two long lessons that outline commonly used persuasive techniques, activities to practice identifying them, and written activities/assignments to assess student use of them. The first topic features a controversial collection of ads that are meant to raise awareness of animal brutality and extinction; the second centres on the topic of a Space Ark, which is a real event and in the making - but an invention in which not everyone can fit. Students rely on the persuasive skills they learn in order to create two pieces of persuasive writing on topics I have found particularly motivating. Additionally, there is a rubric (based off the Ontario curriculum) that can be easily adapted for your own curriculum, if you so wish to use one. **Updated: A student-friendly rubric created from English Language Paper 1, Section B is now included, as well as a PDF of the PPT, and two versions of the same PPT (one is saved in the 97-2004 format).

With the potential to be used in preparation for Language Paper 1, Section B, the versatility of this resource package is endless for those teaching to write creatively! While this mini unit has a specific focus (creating mood and atmosphere), the lessons themselves can be used as contained lessons to build on prior or new skills, or can be looked at as a collective whole that leads students to an end goal: writing Section B of Language Paper 1. Specific skills covered include: - identifying, using, and analyzing pathetic fallacy - sentence variety - mood and atmosphere specific vocabulary - using literary devices for effect - peer and self-evaluation - using the mark scheme to evaluate other creative writing *Students should have prior knowledge of literary devices. A How-To-Use-This-Resource document has also been included.

Within this creative writing unit is a continuous PowerPoint that works on developing the skills students will need to be successful creative writers, using utopias as a vehicle to do so. Specific lesson outcomes look at: what utopias are and examples, writing and identifying phenomenal first sentences, letter writing, utopia-specific vocabulary, and activities that train students to notice and express detail in creative writing. An activity sheet used for one of the lessons is also included.

Although the novel, The Sign of Four, is AQA GCSE exam material, it doesn't have to be a boring topic in the classroom! This resource is designed to mesh creativity, academics, exam skills, and engaging activities into an enjoyable and exploratory experience of the 19th Century novel. *NOTE: This covers content and supporting materials for Chapters 1-4. More specifically, here is what this resource package includes (for Chapters 1-4): - a guide on how to use this resource - a PowerPoint of 101 slides for the lessons included - an intro to the literature paper and route of study - three vocabulary lessons - teaching Victorian context - a lesson on, "Lamb to the Slaughter" to explore the mystery genre - the skill of comparing and contrasting - going beyond PEE - identifying and using pathetic fallacy for effect - evaluating the effectiveness of openings and how an author hook's a reader Savvy with teaching the content but can't beat dry vocab? Check out the 4 vocabulary lessons that are available in my shop that will jazz up teaching vocabulary from The Sign of Four!