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Humble English Teacher hoping to cut down on teachers' workload by providing high quality resources (from primary to secondary - mostly English but some other subjects too). Please share and review if you like what you see here.
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Humble English Teacher hoping to cut down on teachers' workload by providing high quality resources (from primary to secondary - mostly English but some other subjects too). Please share and review if you like what you see here.
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Animal Farm: Complete Lessons
This bundle includes lessons for all 10 chapters of George Orwell’s ‘Animal Farm’ as well as a detailed introduction to the novella’s social and historical context.
Lessons analyse the novella’s key characters, themes, and ideas, while offering close scrutiny of Orwell’s language. Close attention is paid to the novella’s function as an allegory of the Russian Revolution and subsequent rule of Stalin over the Soviet Union.
Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students throughout. Extract-based questions are also featured, as well as creative tasks.
This bundle also includes a crossword on ‘Animal Farm’, to be completed as an engaging revision/starter/homework task, and a ‘Seven Commandments Tracker’ for students to analyse when and how each commandment is broken as the novella progresses.
These lessons are ideal for KS3 or GCSE students (ages 12-16).
PowerPoints saved as PDFs.
Buyers of this bundle save 65% of the resources’ combined total price.
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 6
This 18-slide lesson explores Chapter 6 of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’.
Students are encouraged to think about the iconic ending of the novella, considering how Steinbeck has led to this moment. George and Lennie’s relationship is discussed at length, and the key themes of dreams, hope, fate, loneliness and friendship are debated. Students always love to dissect the ending in detail!
Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. An extended essay question and creative writing tasks are featured at the end of the lesson.
Ideal for upper-KS3 or GCSE students.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
The Tyger: William Blake
This 30-slide lesson analyses William Blake’s ‘The Tyger’ from the ‘Songs of Experience’.
Blake’s ambiguous poem is deconstructed via its various interpretations - as an exploration of faith, revolution, and industrialisation. Key themes, language, and imagery are unpicked, and Blake’s political context and radical views are explained. Discussion points, questions, and tasks are included throughout, and the lesson ends with an extended essay question in which students compare ‘The Tyger’ to other poems in Blake’s ‘Songs’.
This lesson is perfect for A level students studying the collection as part of AQA’s Political and Social Protest Writing course.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
I Am Very Bothered: Simon Armitage
This 22-slide lesson explores Simon Armitage’s poem, ‘I Am Very Bothered’.
The lesson encourages students to analyse Armitage’s poem as a subversion of typical love poetry, thinking about its ironic use of the sonnet form and the speaker’s distorted sense of romantic imagery.
The poem’s language, structure, and form is considered. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. An extended essay question (including an exemplar introduction and analytical paragraph) is featured at the end of the lesson.
A copy of the poem is also included.
This lesson is ideal for Key Stage 3 or GCSE analysis.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
Porphyria's Lover: Robert Browning
This is a thorough and comprehensive 30-slide lesson on Robert Browning’s poem ‘Porphyria’s Lover’, which is studied as part of AQA’s GCSE Literature anthology on ‘Love & Relationships’.
This lesson unpicks key themes of obsession, possessiveness, delusion, control and violence with close analysis of language, form and structure. Students are also encouraged to consider Browning’s use of the dramatic monologue form and how the poem’s gender dynamics might act as a mode of satirising masculinity.
Also included are many small questions, tasks and discussion points for students, as well as a ‘mock’ essay question in which students must compare ‘Porphyria’s Lover’ to another poem, just like in the real AQA exam.
The lesson is aimed at GCSE students but could be adapted for KS3.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
Jekyll and Hyde: Chapter 1
This 26-slide lesson explores the first chapter (‘The Story of the Door’) of Stevenson’s ‘Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde’.
To accompany the class reading or recapping of Chapter One of the novella, this lesson provides analytical discussion of and questions on how Stevenson begins the famous novella. Characters, setting, and key themes are analysed, with particular focus on Stevenson’s language and atmosphere.
Tasks and discussion points are included for students, and an extract from the chapter is included for students to conduct linguistic analysis.
This lesson is ideal for GCSE analysis of the text (eg. AQA), but could work for high-attaining KS3 groups too.
PowerPoint and Word Doc. saved as PDFs.
Holes: Extract & Questions (AQA GCSE)
This resource includes an extract from and questions on Louis Sachar’s ‘Holes’, based on AQA’s English Language GCSE Paper 1.
The bundle includes the extract from the novel and a PowerPoint with questions and tips for how to answer three questions. Two exemplar paragraphs are given in response to Question 2 (analysing the writer’s use of language).
The focus is on the first three questions of Paper 1 in the exam.
This resource is perfect for introducing students to the exam specifications. It works well for a LA set or SEND GCSE group. It is also suited KS3 groups, if your school chooses to get students used to the exam early.
Things Fall Apart: Context
This 20-slide lesson introduces the key themes and context behind Chinua Achebe’s ‘Things Fall Apart’.
Students are encouraged to think about colonialism and cultural erasure, learning about Nigeria’s history since the 19th Century. Achebe’s life and work is discussed, and students are given an introduction to the Igbo (or ‘Ibo’) people.
Key vocabulary and themes linked to the novel are explained, including the novel’s allegorical status.
Questions, discussion points, and tasks are featured for students.
Students are encouraged in this lesson to reflect upon the impacts of Western Colonialism - a practice seemingly more important now than ever in the wake of recent international conversations surrounding race and privilege.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
An Inspector Calls: Theories of Time
Perfect for stretch and challenge, this 24-slide lesson considers how Priestley was influenced by various theories of time when writing ‘An Inspector Calls’.
The ideas of P.D. Ouspensky and J.W. Dunne are explored here, as well as questions about the nature of the Inspector’s curious relationship with time and how the significance of time is emphasised throughout the play. Stephen Daldry’s 1992 production of the play is considered in view of time theories, and the play’s key characters and stagecraft are analysed in terms of their relationship with time.
Frequent questions and discussion points are included for students, and the lesson ends with an extended essay question on Priestley’s use of time.
The resource is included in two versions here: as a PDF with saved fonts and formatting, and the original PowerPoint file so that the resource can be edited.
A Doll's House: Context
This lesson is a sophisticated and thorough introduction to the context and key ideas behind Henrik Ibsen’s ‘A Doll’s House’.
This 23-slide PowerPoint lesson is perfect for those studying the play as part of AQA’s Political and Social Protest Writing course at A level, but easily adaptable to other A level courses (including Theatre Studies) too.
The lesson includes biographical information about Ibsen, an explanation of Norway’s social history in the 19th century (with particular focus on the rights of women), and an introduction to the key themes and ideas in ‘A Doll’s House’. Questions and tasks are also featured for students.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
The Kite Runner: Context
This 20-slide lesson provides a comprehensive introduction to the context of Khaled Hosseini’s ‘The Kite Runner’.
It features an overview of 20th century Afghan history and the rise of the Taliban, plus a brief synopsis of the novel and Hosseini’s intentions/message in writing it.
Also included is a list of key words for students to research, some topical questions for classroom debate, and some key vocabulary.
This is a useful first lesson for those reading the novel for their A level studies (particularly for AQA’s Political and Social Protest paper).
Also included is a brief geo-political summary sheet of Afghanistan to help pupils to understand the nation’s context.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
Macbeth: Context
This 30-slide lesson offers the perfect introduction to the context of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’.
In the lesson, students explore Jacobean ideas of Kingship, looking closely at the reign of James I, the Divine Right and Great Chain of Being, and the atmosphere created by the Gunpowder Plot. We then look at Renaissance and Medieval ideas of gender (especially on the stage) and Aristotle’s rules for tragedy.
The play’s key themes and ideas are explored, and students are encouraged to reflect on power and its relationship to corruption and even tyranny. Important vocabulary is explained, and students are tasked with researching other key words and ideas.
Questions, discussion points and tasks are included for students.
Also included in this resource is a copy of James I’s speech to Parliament in 1610 for the purpose of analysing the King’s attitudes to his Divine Right.
Ideal for students reading the play at GCSE or upper-KS3.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
The Chimney Sweeper Poems: William Blake (Innocence & Experience)
These two lessons are perfect for analysing William Blake’s two ‘Chimney Sweeper’ poems from the 'Songs of Innocence and ‘Experience’.
Both lessons contain detailed explorations of language, context, themes and ideas, especially in relation to Blake as a protest writer.
Each stanza is deconstructed individually, and questions/tasks are included for students, including comparative and extended essay questions.
These lessons are ideal for those A level students who are analysing Blake’s poetry as part of the AQA Political and Social Protest Paper, but easily adaptable for other exam boards too.
The lesson on the ‘Chimney Sweeper’ of ‘Innocence’ is 36 slides in length. The lesson on the ‘Chimney Sweeper’ of ‘Experience’ is 26 slides in length.
Two PowerPoints (saved as PDF) included.
The Language of Advertising
This is a perfect stand-alone lesson aimed at KS3 or KS4 for thinking about how language is used every day in advertising.
Have you ever thought about how many adverts you read in a day? What are the most powerful words in advertising? Are you aware of when and how advertising tries to entice you? This lesson uses a wide range of adverts to demonstrate the different techniques used by advertisers.
At the end of the lesson, students are tasked with creating their own advert/brand.
PowerPoint saved as PDF. 23 slides in total.
4 Persuasive Speeches: Language & Rhetoric
This resource contains four well-known recent speeches by famous women (Angelina Jolie, Emma Watson, Michelle Obama and Theresa May) which are excellent for linguistic and rhetorical analysis.
This is a useful exercise for pupils studying persuasive writing and effective rhetoric. Not only do these speeches allow students to analyse how famous orators have used language, but they also inspire and teach how pupils can use language in their own persuasive writing too.
Each speech is transcribed here and some contain designated space for analysis and answers to questions based on common GCSE exam tasks.
This resource bundle is ideal for those studying English Language at GCSE, but is equally useful for KS3 language analysis or any other unit on rhetorical or persuasive writing.
Don't Ask Jack: Neil Gaiman
This 15-slide lesson on Neil Gaiman’s horror story, ‘Don’t Ask Jack’, is ideal for KS3 classes studying short stories or genre writing.
Students are encouraged to consider common elements of the horror genre and key vocabulary associated with ‘horror’ and its atmosphere. Conducting close analysis of Gaiman’s language and structure, students are then tasked with creating their own piece of creative horror writing, inspired by ‘Don’t Ask Jack’. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included in the lesson.
A copy of the story is included in this resource.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
Search for my Tongue: Sujata Bhatt
This 36-slide lesson explores Sujata Bhatt’s poem ‘Search for my Tongue’.
The lesson provides detailed analysis of the poem and includes: biographical information about Bhatt, analysis of the poem’s use of language and poetic techniques, analysis of the poem’s structure, form & rhyme, as well as a range of questions, discussion points, and tasks for students to complete. Students are encouraged to think about the significance of language and its relationship to cultural assimilation and identity.
The final task at the end of the lesson is an extended writing activity.
This lesson is ideal for KS3 pupils, but could be used for GCSE too.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
Nettles: Vernon Scannell
This 32-slide lesson explores Vernon Scannell’s poem ‘Nettles’.
The lesson provides detailed study of the poem and includes: biographical information on Scannell, analysis of the poem’s use of language and linguistic/poetic techniques (including extended metaphor), analysis of the poem’s structure, form & rhyme, as well as questions, discussion points, and tasks for students to complete.
The final task at the end of the lesson is a piece of creative writing in which students write their own poem.
This lesson could be used for KS3 or GCSE pupils.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
Of Mice and Men: Chapter 5
This 14-slide lesson explores Chapter 5 of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’.
Students are encouraged to think about the tragedy of Curley’s wife: her dual role as a both a femme fatale and a victim. The key themes of dreams and hope are considered alongside the fatal turning point in George and Lennie’s dream. A non-fiction creative task is included for students at the end of the lesson.
Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students.
Ideal for upper-KS3 or GCSE students.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.
The Sea: James Reeves
This 28-slide lesson explores James Reeves’ poem, ‘The Sea’.
This poem is a brilliant example of extended metaphor and poetic craft; it is a beloved staple of many Key Stage 3 poetry lessons.
The lesson deconstructs Reeves’ use of metaphor and other linguistic techniques, paying attention to the poem’s rhyme and rhythm too. Biographical information about Reeves is provided, as well as a series of questions, discussion points, and tasks for students.
Students are asked to write a short analytical response to the poem, and an exemplar response is included in the PowerPoint.
The lesson ends with a creative writing (poetry) task that could be used either as a homework activity or class-based task.
This lesson is ideal for KS3 pupils, but could be used for GCSE pupils - especially those who find poetry challenging.
PowerPoint saved as PDF.