A reading comprehension activity on Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man with the focus on understanding and use of language devices. Answer Key for time saving. Slide presentation of poem included.

Two separate activity worksheets which explore 15 Rhetorical Devices - Matching device to example - Matching device to definition/effect

Reading comprehension based on John Foster’s poem Giant Winter which presents the battle between Winter and Spring as the seasons inevitably change . Focus is on literary devices and their effects, extended imagery and inference skills. Suitable for upper KS2 /lower KS3.

The Hound of the Baskervilles. Arthur Conan Doyle. Reading comprehension suitable for KS3/4 and also for exam practice such as AQA G.C.S.E English Language Paper 1 . The extract is taken from chapter 6 Baskerville Hall as Sir Henry Baskerville travels to Baskerville Hall to claim his inheritance. Focus is on the writer’s use of language and how this contributes to the build up of a mysterious atmosphere. Language use covered includes writer’s word choices, figurative language devices, connotations, pathetic fallacy and tone. Answer Key included for time-saving.

Classic poem comprehension to challenge upper KS2. Focus is on understanding and finding relevant information, figurative language, vocabulary and personal responses. Questions on the first seven stanzas, Answer key included for time-saving. Also a slide presentation of the seven stanzas.

Four Halloween poem reading comprehensions for upper KS2. The Witches’ Ride - describes a traditional witch on a broom. October- combines a description of the season of Autumn with all the fun and mischief of Halloween Night. Ghost in the Garden - describes a mysterious ghostly presence or could it just be the poet’s imagination? Quieter than Snow - the narrator return to school a day early after the summer holidays only to discover the school is haunted. Focus is on understanding literary devices and their effects as well as inference and reasoning skills, with each poem increasing in challenge level.

Slide presentation taking students through a creative writing workout on an Arctic setting. Suitable for KS3/ KS4 and revising AQA Creative Writing. Slides include: up levelling vocabulary full range of literary devices -simile, metaphor, onomatopoeia, personification, alliteration, sibilance, pathetic fallacy, juxtaposition sentence variety- minor; simple; compound; complex

Classic poem The Frost by Hannah Flagg Gould (1789-1865). Reading comprehension with answers for time-saving. Focus on exploring literary devices and inference skills. Suitable for KS3 or higher ability KS2.

'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore. A festive classic poem comprehension to challenge upper KS2. Also suitable for KS3. Focus is on understanding and finding relevant information, figurative language, vocabulary and personal responses. Answer key provided for time-saving. PPT presentation of poem also included.

The Woman In Black. Susan Hill. Reading comprehension suitable for KS3/4 . The extract is taken from chapter 11 Whistle and I’ll Come to You as Arthur Kipps spends the night alone in Eel Marsh House. Focus is on the writer’s use of language and how this contributes to the build up of dramatic tension. Language and structural points covered include: writer’s word choices, figurative language, juxtaposition, structure, pathetic fallacy and tone. Detailed answer key included for time-saving and further teaching points.

The Woman In Black. Susan Hill. Reading comprehension suitable for KS3/4 . The extract is taken from chapter 1 Christmas Eve as Arthur Kipps is feeling a sense of well-being he prepares for Christmas with his family. However, there are hints of dreadful unhappiness from the past and Arthur is determined not to let these memories reawaken and mar his contentment. Focus is on vocabulary; the use of explicit and implicit information and the writer’s use of language and how this contributes to the overall mood of the narrator. Language use covered includes writer’s word choices, figurative language, connotations and tone. Answer Key included for time-saving.

The Woman In Black. Susan Hill. Reading comprehension suitable for KS3/4 . The extract is taken from chapter 3 The Journey North as Arthur Kipps travels by train to Crythin Gifford to deal with Mrs Drablow’s estate. Focus is on the writer’s use of language and how this contributes to the build up of a gradually darkening atmosphere. Language use covered includes writer’s word choices, figurative language & pathetic fallacy, connotations, contrast and tone. Answer Key included for time-saving.

The Lady of Shalott. Alfred Tennyson. A classic poem comprehension suitable for KS3 and also to challenge upper KS2. Focus is on understanding and finding relevant information, figurative language, vocabulary and personal responses. Worksheet with Answer Key. Slide presentation of poem included.

A detailed set of worksheets to introduce Figurative Language. All sheets/slides have examples and tasks. Worksheet 1 - Popular animal similes Worksheet 2- Writing vivid sentences with similes Worksheet 3- Popular similes showing qualities Worksheet 4- Creating original similes Worksheet 5- Metaphors Worksheet 6- Personification Worksheet 7- Onomatopoeia Worksheet 8- Alliteration Worksheet 9- Match figurative device to correct example Worksheet 10 - Find figurative devices in a text Appendix- suggested examples of original similes and metaphors for tasks Supporting PPT slides on Animal Similes; Popular Similes; Onomatopoeia; Personification; Alliteration

The Woman In Black. Susan Hill. Reading comprehension suitable for KS3/4 . The extract is taken from chapter 5 Across the Causeway when Arthur Kipps comes face to face with the Woman in Black in the grounds of Eel Marsh House. Focus is on the writer’s use of language and how this contributes to the build up an atmosphere of fear and tension. Language use covered includes writer’s word choices, figurative language and inference. Answer Key included for time-saving.

A classic poem comprehension suitable for upper KS2, lower KS3. Focus is on understanding and finding relevant information, figurative language, vocabulary and personal responses. Answer key provided. PPT presentation oF poem also included.

Comparing two similar poems - It’s Only the Storm. David Greygoose - Windy Nights. Robert Louis Stevenson - Slide presentations of both poems Worksheets include: - Reading Comprehension on each poem - Comparison task including grid task to help pupils compare and contrast

Extract with vocabulary and literary techniques task to develop understanding of Dicken’s use of languge for effect. Answer Key. Techniques include: • simile • metaphor • onomatopoeia • alliteration • repetition/triplet • list • hyperbole

FOUR SEASONS. MONTHS OF THE YEAR THEMED POEMS. UPPER KS2 Comparing two seasonal poems - January Cold Desolate. Christina Rossetti - The Garden Year. Sara Coleridge - Slide presentations of both poems Worksheets include: - Reading Comprehension on each poem - Comparison task to help pupils compare and contrast

Language Techniques. Worksheets with a two step activity to check understanding of Figurative & Language Devices. Students match device to definition and then device to an example sentence.