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Tess of the d'Urban Quills

Average Rating3.73
(based on 61 reviews)

I'm a passionate secondary English and History teacher and am the main planner of resources for my department; as such, I thought I would start sharing them here with the wider community of teachers and professionals. I am Australian trained, but currently teaching GCSE and A- Level (AQA specifications). All lessons are very visually engaging, with images, clips and a variety of activities. You won't find any boring/blank resources here!

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I'm a passionate secondary English and History teacher and am the main planner of resources for my department; as such, I thought I would start sharing them here with the wider community of teachers and professionals. I am Australian trained, but currently teaching GCSE and A- Level (AQA specifications). All lessons are very visually engaging, with images, clips and a variety of activities. You won't find any boring/blank resources here!
Year 8/9: Developing Characterisation
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Year 8/9: Developing Characterisation

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I taught this lesson as for a unit on how to write historical fiction, however you can adapt this resource for any creative writing unit. Focus of the lesson: Developing depth in characterisation Understanding the scales of characterisation to create interesting characters Worksheets included in PP Differentiated extension tasks with student voice and choice at the end Note that students will need either their own computers or some device to conduct a bit of research and to complete the Jigsaw activity (three videos to watch). Right click the videos on the photos on the PP to access them (the links are embedded).
Creative writing bundle!
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Creative writing bundle!

8 Resources
A selection of lesson packs (some single, some double, some a series) ranging from KS3-4, all focused on building students’ creative writing skills. Valued at over £35. Enjoy!
Year 11: Reading to Write
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Year 11: Reading to Write

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Pitched at: Year 11 Standard **Context: Students are studying different fiction genres and culminating product is writing a narrative fiction in a genre of their choice. Lesson sequence: Introdution and goal setting Student get to know you/diagnostic What is genre? Recap of form, structure, language The Gothic Genre (several lessons, looking at extracts from Dracula, Frankenstein, The Werewolf by Angela Carter. The Fantasy Genre (looking at Tolkien, WOT, world-building etc) The Dystopian genre What is narrative structure? How to write critical paragraphs analysing language How to structure a creative response Show, don’t tell workshop Resources included: Main power-point Model creatives and critical paragraphs Worlshop power-points on structure and narratology, symbolism, types of fantasy worlds All extracts Worksheets Peer marking activities
What is an archetype?
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What is an archetype?

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A four slide resource that introduces students to the meaning of archetypes. I like to use this resource at the beginning of any fiction topic.
Writing Historical Fiction
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Writing Historical Fiction

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**Pitched at: **Lower-set year 10 **Context: **Students writing narrative fiction Lesson content: Tips and tricks for writing in the historical fiction genre How to write setting How to write plot How to write characters and build a character arc. Included: Powerpoint Examples of historical fiction Planning sheets
Understanding narrative structure
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Understanding narrative structure

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**Pitch: **Lower- set year 10 **Context: **For students writing fiction narratives Included: Explanation of Todorov narrative structure theory Breakdown of four narrative types: linear, non-linear, parallel, framed Bank of structural terms Narrative planning sheets in each of the four structure types.
What is narrative perspective?
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What is narrative perspective?

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This brief workshop introduces students to the basic forms of narrative perspective (first, second, third-limited and third-omniscient). Included are a few identification activities and tricks and tips for writing in perspective well.
Year 7 Poetry: All One Race
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Year 7 Poetry: All One Race

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These three lessons introduce students to the poem “All One Race” by Ooderoo Noonuccal. Sequence of activities is as follows: Brief authorial context Word sort Guided annotation of the poem Scaffold for how to write a TEEL paragraph How to create a meaningful topic sentence Peer feedback activity Included also is: How to analyse techniques effectively placemat Model paragraph
Gifted & Talented: Fantasy Unit
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Gifted & Talented: Fantasy Unit

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This unit of work and accompanying series of lessons was designed for a class of Gifted and Talented students in year 8. They were studying fantasy fiction in their general English classes, and withdrawn for 2 separate sessions a week to focus on these extension activities. This unit can be integrated into a fantasy unit or taught separately. Details are as follows: PBL, student-centred model Culminating product is a fantasy narrative fiction Lots of scaffolds, differentiation and stretch and challenge Designed as an introduction to understanding literary theory Built around fostering higher order thinking skills, critical and creative writing, and 21st century skills (collaboration, questioning etc). Research and digital literacy- some lessons require independent research and inquiry. Lessons included focus on the following: Why have people dissed fantasy? Critical readings of Le Guinn and Tolkien Introduction of project and need to knows Process of creation: who was Tolkien and what were his methods? Introduction of complex terminology relating to fantasy world-building Breakdown of critical reading of “On Fairy Stories” and linking to ‘what is the purpose of fantasy?’ How to build a convincing fantasy world How to create unique magic systems What are the ethical considerations of fantasy? Originally, this powerpoint was made using Google Slides, and students all had their own digital copy. This is why some of the interactive “portals” (pictures where students can right-click and will be taken to a separate resource) link elsewhere. I have included the resources in a different form so that you can give these to students in hard copy form instead.
Crime and Punishment unit- NEW
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Crime and Punishment unit- NEW

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Updated and improved from last year, my new Crime & Punishment unit! The unit looks and fiction and non-fiction texts, and teaches all the skills required for student success with the AQA English Language Papers 1 and 2. This is a whole scope and sequence, covering well over a term’s worth of lessons. Included also is a social justice mini-unit, for getting students involved in Amnesty International’s Write for Rights annual campaign. Resources span all manner of activities: mixed ability, plenty of differentiation, stretch and challenge, project-based activities, collaborative learning etc. Some of the new additions are: focalisation of narrative, importance of place in crime fiction, Victorian language, crafting compelling villains, and the role of justice in crime. Formative assessments included, as are student friendly marking criteria and feedback sheets. I’ve loved sculpting and teaching this unit. Please enjoy!
Cat in the Rain- Short Story lesson
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Cat in the Rain- Short Story lesson

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A lesson for a mixed ability KS3 class, analysing the short story form and Hemingway’s application of the “Icerbeg Theory”. Activities include: Key words Information about Hemingway and summaries Introduction to iceberg theory Applying iceberg theory to creative writing Reading, comprehending and analysing the short story “Cat in the Rain” There is individual, paired, and whole-class activities included. Enjoy!
KS4 Feedback annotation key
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KS4 Feedback annotation key

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When students submit essays, it can become a laborious task to write extensive annotations on their responses. I developed this annotations key for my year 9 and 10 classes, based on common errors that I’ve identified in their writing. Rather than writing full comments on their essays, I’ll instead place a number. When the students receive their work back, simply print a copy of the annotations sheet and have them read through their responses and the key to understand what skills they need to improve. This is a great tool for maximising teachers’ marking time (work smarter, not harder!) and also encouraging students to really engage with their feedback, rather than just looking for their grade! Adapt the key as needed :)
Inspector Calls- revise all skills lesson
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Inspector Calls- revise all skills lesson

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I set this as a cover lesson for my year 10s, and it’s a great way of revising for the GCSE papers Language 1 and Literature 2. Students read an extract from the play (which focuses on Sheila and the theme of generational differences) and then complete the activities. These follow the skills and style of the Lang paper 1 style (comprehension, language analysis, structural analysis, evaluation, creative writing), but they are more scaffolded and easier for students to access. A great way of covering content and skills across papers :)
Year 7: Reading and writing feature articles
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Year 7: Reading and writing feature articles

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A fun 2-3 lessons that introduce students to the structure and form of feature articles. Builds to a task where they write their own feature article as Lois Lane, on the topic of Does the world really need superman? Included in this pack is an original model text of a feature article, written by yours truly :) My class had a lot of fun with this. Enjoy!
Quote Wheel
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Quote Wheel

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Make thinking visible- a useful information organiser for KS4-5.
Year 10 PBL- How do literature and social change connect?
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Year 10 PBL- How do literature and social change connect?

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As the main homework task for the past unit (‘Jekyll and Hyde’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’), my students worked on producing a project that answers the inquiry question: How does literature and social change connect? Included are the project overview, the planning proforma sheet, and the final assessment rubric. A few useful tools for anyone experimenting with PBL for the first time.
Literacy Placemat
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Literacy Placemat

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To be used alongside literacy units- helpful toolbox for students to have on their desks or in their books while working on literacy tasks.
KS3 How to write a paragraph crib sheet
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KS3 How to write a paragraph crib sheet

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A great crib sheet with lots of structured explanations for how students can begin to: Write critical paragraphs analysing language, structure and form Craft a creative story. I am using this currently as a guided revision tool for my year 7 class.