2 lessons revising magazine articles for English Language GCSE focusing on the topic of boxing. Resources include a starter proof-reading activity, advice on structure, how to write an introduction and developing main argument using persuasive techniques. Examples are provided for the introductions and main paragraphs.
3 lessons exploring ‘In Cardigan Market’ by Brian Morris in preparation for the WJEC Welsh Poetry Non-Examination Task. The first lesson starts with an activity thinking about market stalls/ stall holders and then allows pupils to clarify any difficult vocabulary before analysing the first 5 lines in detail. The second lesson has a crossword as a starter activity and then explores lines 6-14 of the poem. The third lesson explores the form of the sonnet starting off with a mix and match poetic terms starter before focusing on a double sided worksheet looking at two different sonnets, one Italian and one Shakespearean, analysing sonnet structure/rhyme/ rhythm. The plenary explores how ‘In Cardigan Market’ uses the sonnet form and the effect it has.
Two lessons exploring Gillian Clarke’s ‘My Box’ in preparation for the WJEC Welsh Poetry NEA.
Lesson 1- Stanza one- This lesson has a range of activities from a prediction task to a drawing activity as well as a number of questions pupils can use to annotate the poem in detail. There are answers to the questions to help pupils add more detail during a class discussion.
Lesson 2- Stanza two/three and form- This lesson has a proof-reading starter activity with information about Gillian Clarke’s life before asking pupils to consider the significance of that information in the poem. Pupils annotate the rest of the poem using questions to prompt them before having a class discussion with answers to the questions on the PowerPoint. The final part of the lesson looks at what a ballad is and what features ‘My Box’ has of a ballad.
2 lessons exploring ‘A Marriage’ by R. S. Thomas in preparation for the WJEC Welsh Poetry Non-Examination Task.
Lesson 1- Exploration of the poem- The lesson has a starter looking at pictures thinking about the significance of marriage. Pupils then annotate the poem using a series of detailed questions. Plenary is a discussion and answers (to the questions) for pupils to annotate the poem in further detail.
Lesson 2- Focusing on AO2- The starter activity is a crossword about the poem ‘A Marriage’. Pupils then look at assessment criteria for this assessment (On WJEC website-GCSE English Literature Specification) and pupils will break down how they gain marks in each assessment objective. After that pupil complete a task look at two examples focusing on AO2 and what band pupils think that it would achieve and why. Pupils then complete a paragraph focusing on AO2 themselves.
Two lessons for a Year 8 mixed ability class linking into the Globe Theatre. The first lesson looks at a video clip of the Globe Theatre and explores what makes a good piece of descriptive writing using two examples. The second lesson is planning and writing a piece of description writing.
3 lessons focusing on developing descriptive writing linked to Dracula’s Castle with different activities on adjectives, similes and the use of the senses. The lessons are perfect for KS3 lessons for halloween. There is a plan to follow, success criteria and examples of paragraphs to use with class.
An useful lesson exploring a WJEC ‘Of Mice and Men’ mood and atmosphere extract question. PowerPoint offers step by step advice on how to approach and structure the answer. There is also examples of how to write overview and use PEEL to add detail to your response.
2 lessons for I made for year 8 mixed ability but could work well with all years at KS3. Lessons focus on developing the skill of PEE in the opening of 'Examination Day'.
4 Lessons exploring the poem ‘Caroline: A County Life’
Lesson 1- Activities linked to the vocabulary of the poem.
Lesson 2- Activities focusing on the first half of the poem.
Lesson 3- Tasks exploring the second half of the poem.
Lesson 4- Looking at the assessment objectives and how to achieve band 5 in AO1 and AO2.
3 lessons focusing on the poem ‘In Chapel’ by John Pook for the WJEC Welsh Poetry NEA
Lesson 1
Starter activity- Thinking about the 5 senses linking to describing a church/chapel (picture and video link)
Main activities- Clarifying challenging vocabulary/ reading of poem / How the poem links into the pupils’ ideas of a church/chapel
Plenary activity- Summarising ideas of the lesson
Lesson 2
Starter activity- Crossword
Main activities- Annotate the poem and then annotate one quotation in more detail/ recap how to gain band 5 for AO2
Plenary activity- Writing activity
Lesson 3-
Starter activity- Compare connectives activity
Main activities- Recap of assessment objectives/ Make links and plan Welsh Poetry NEA
Plenary activity- Write a comparison paragraph about the poems
Two lessons exploring the poem 'Hard Frost' used with a high ability year 9 class- would also be suitable for GCSE pupils if adapted. The first lesson looks at the vocabulary and annotating the poem and the second looks at exploring quotations in detail- considering different meanings to help pupils reach level 6.
Two lessons focusing on the poem 'The Tom-Cat' by Don Marquis focusing on the skill of PEE. Suitable for any KS3 class. First lesson looks at difficult vocabulary and the content of the poem and the second lesson looks at picking out examples and explaining those examples.
Great worksheet to use with any KS3 year group after studying the fight scene act 1, scene 1. Links in well to watching the Baz Luhrmann version of the film.
Lesson used with year 7 mixed ability- with a number of lower ability pupils who need extra support. Lesson has literacy starter and then focuses on the part of act 1, scene 2 when Prospero and Miranda visit Caliban. Lesson works well for first approach at using PEE.
3 lessons suitable for KS3 or KS4. Lesson 1 focuses on the structure of narrative writing including a worksheet looking at examples of plans. Lessons 2 and 3 look at what makes an effective opening paragraph looking at 3 different examples- you could give pupils all 3 or give different ones to different groups. Pupils can then write their own opening paragraph based on success criteria.
A lesson observation with a low ability class- A great way to study 'Of Mice and Men' but develop English Language skills. This lesson focuses on the impressions question.
A few tasks and activities linking to the Elizabethan era and William Shakespeare's life. Resources include a PowerPoint on Elizabethan life pupils can make notes on, a biography of William Shakespeare's life with comprehension questions (link to PowerPoint too), A 'what is the question activity' and a question loop game.
3 lessons using the fight scene in act 1, scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet as a stimulus to write a formal letter- a letter of complaint to Prince Escalus from a civilian of Verona who is fed up of the violence caused by the Montagues and Capulets.
Resources include a starter proof-reading activity, use of senses activity and formal letter layout starter. There is also advice on structure, how to write an introduction and developing main arguments using persuasive techniques. Examples are provided for the introductions and main paragraphs.
7 lessons on exposition writing I designed for a year 9 SoL exploring the topic of capital punishment. It focuses on pushing pupils to achieve level 6 but could be easily adapted for GCSE.
4 lessons focusing on a 'how' question exploring the topic of stereotyping teenagers. Lessons explore an article a Daily Mail article looking at the 'Feral Youths' of the gangs of Brixton London. Previously used for GCSE non-fiction controlled assessment I have now adapted up for the new GCSE style questions. These lessons look at a 5 mark question but it could be easily expanded to 10 marks and more time spent on it.