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Tess of the d'Urban Quills

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(based on 59 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!
GCSE Power & Conflict: Comparing Checking Out Me History & The Emigree`
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GCSE Power & Conflict: Comparing Checking Out Me History & The Emigree`

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These three lessons walk students through writing an essay that compares Checking Out Me History and The Emigree. Activities include: Higher order AO1 terminology for comparing poems Language, form and structure Higher-order contextual ideas Scaffolds and writing structures for introductions and paragraphs Models for both of these See the notes section at the bottom of PP slides for instructions for each activity. Enjoy!
The Awakening , Kate Chopin - AQA A Level
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The Awakening , Kate Chopin - AQA A Level

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This unit of work is designed for AQA’s A Level “Love through the Ages”, looking at Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening.” All content is what I taught over the course of two terms. Find enclosed - Whole lessons covering plot, context of creole culture etc - Worksheets - Critical theory (particularly philosophy of Descartes, Husserl, Merleau-Ponty, Sartre and de Beauvoir) Enjoy!
Freedom- KS3
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Freedom- KS3

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A non-fiction unit based around the concept of "freedom". All power-points and activities included. Students investigate the concept of freedom and how persuasive features are used in a range of non-fiction texts, such as memoirs, essays, articles and speeches. I created this unit for my middle-range year 8 class. Enjoy!
Antony & Cleopatra- Act 1
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Antony & Cleopatra- Act 1

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Find enclosed 10-12 lessons covering the first act of Shakespeare's play "Antony & Cleopatra." All powerpoints, activities and worksheets for the following are included: - Shakespeare's context - Student historical presentation task - Plot - Act 1 (scene by scene lessons) I am not currently teaching this unit, but love the play. I've just designed it to sell. Would work for either KS4 or KS5. Enjoy
Gothic Literature- Language Analysis- 2 lessons
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Gothic Literature- Language Analysis- 2 lessons

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1/2 lessons that introduce students to extracts from various Gothic texts, such as The Woman in Black, Interview with the Vampire and two short stories from The Bloody Chamber. Creative writing activity at the end. GCSE skills and related questions: Language Paper 1, Q1, 2, 5
Year 9/10: Ready Player One (lesson designed like a video game!)
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Year 9/10: Ready Player One (lesson designed like a video game!)

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An awesome lesson for boys in year 9 or 10, language analysis skills are made fun through a lesson designed like a video game. Each activity is a "mission", and students have to complete all three in either single, two player or combat mode (individually, in pairs, or in competition). Included: - All activities - Video resources (right click the image on slide 4 for hyperlink to video) - Extract from Ernest Cline's "Ready Player One". - Formative progress check (using playstation symbols- how cool is that?) - Creative writing activity Very proud and excited for this lesson, so please enjoy!
Year 8-9: Structuring a creative response
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Year 8-9: Structuring a creative response

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A one off lesson that you can teach either as a part of creative writing or just a filler lesson. Looks at how to structure a creative response based on different stimulus; plenty of model examples included.
Teaching Iambic Pentameter
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Teaching Iambic Pentameter

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A really straightforward and clear introduction to poetic meter. This lesson can be taught as a one off, or extended based on ability of your class. The lesson clearly demonstrates what meter is, and how to identify iambs through sound and rhythm. Students learn how to mark for iambs on lines of poetry/Shakespeare, building to the main activity of marking iambic pentameter in Orsino’s “Food of Love” monologue from Twelfth Night. A stretch and challenge activity at the end prompts thinking about other metrical forms (useful for if you’re teaching Macbeth, and looking at the witches’ patterns of speech). Enjoy!
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!
How to write a history introduction
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How to write a history introduction

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This workshop guides students through how to: Write a thoughtful thesis statement in response to a history question Write and structure an introduction to a history essay Included resources are: Model examples Scaffold and writing frames BENTOS box activity.
Year 7: Non-Fiction
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Year 7: Non-Fiction

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This is the first lesson I've taught for our new non-fiction unit with year 7. This lesson recaps language techniques, introduces non-fiction types, and then looks at a short review of "Alice in Wonderland." The final activity requires students to write their own review of "The Jabberwocky". Enjoy
Year 10/11: Language Paper 1 Revision Booklet
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Year 10/11: Language Paper 1 Revision Booklet

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Using an extract from “The God of Small Things” by Arundhati Roy, this booklet allows students to work in pairs or individually to complete a mini-project that covers all the skills for the Language Paper 1, AQA GSCE specimen. This took my class about 2-3 lessons to complete. Self-directed learning is great for this time of year!
Macbeth Acts 4/5 Revision
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Macbeth Acts 4/5 Revision

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A revision lesson that briefly looks at the main themes, language and contextual features for Macbeth Act 4 and 5, followed by an examination of the Biblical in Macbeth (whole play). Enjoy!
KS3: Writing dystopian fiction unit
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KS3: Writing dystopian fiction unit

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I teach a rowdy but bright year 7 boys class once a week (the classes are split on our timetable between teachers, annoyingly). I decided to do a creative writing module with them, focusing on dystopian literature. Included in this pack are 10 (or more, depending on pace) lessons that: Introduce dystopian fiction and its conventions Analyse extracts from famous dystopias Build creative writing skills Build planning, structuring, drafting and editing skills Activities are varied, with some introductory links to Language Paper 1 skills for the GCSE. Enjoy :)
Year 7/8: Julius Caesar
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Year 7/8: Julius Caesar

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A one off lesson, as part of an "Introduction to Shakespeare" unit for KS3. A focus on language, plot and some characterisation. Posted as a freebie to give you an insight into my lessons- if you like this then please feel free to check out my shop :)