Lesson uses an extract from the basketball player, Jackie Robinson’s autobiography, ‘I Never Had It Made’. The lesson explores the presentation of relationships and how they change/develop within the extract. Lesson can be adapted to explore genre conventions, or other thematic ideas.

Introductory lesson to the poem, The Right Word. Explores whether there is ever a ‘right word’ for anything. Can also be adapted to use for other lessons exploring language, or for PSHE. Considers how the meanings of certain words shift and change depending on who/how they are being used.

A complete list of all literary terminology students will need to know throughout their study of English Literature. The words are categorised to make it easier for students to know where to get their terminology from when using in a particular lesson/unit of study. 5 pages long, can easily be adapted to suit the particular teacher. The list can even be used in other imaginative ways e.g. spelling tests, taboo, categories, etc.

GCSE lesson on Shelley’s Ozymandias for the AQA Power and Conlict section of the anthology. Includes context, a model paragraph, success criteria.

GCSE powerpoint on the characterisation of Romeo throughout the play. Introduces students to the concept of Petrarchan love and encourages them to apply this to Shakespeare’s presentation of Romeo. Intended to be used for AQA Literature, PPT includes success criteria and a model paragraph to be peer assessed.

Powerpoint on how to use critical opinion at KS5 (in particular looking at Coleridge). PPT guides students through using critical interpretations in their own analysis of the text.

Delve into ideas around what makes someone an Olympic champion. With a focus on literacy and mental health using research skills. Good for KS3 or IB MYP.

KS3 lesson on crafting pathetic fallacy in student writing. This could be two lessons worth of work. Students consider model paragraphs, use success criteria and craft their own piece.

Ten literacy challenges for KS3 - KS4. Each powerpoint slide contains a different challege, mostly focusing at word level. Can either be used as a tutor time activity, or as a literacy starter for English lessons.

GCSE lesson on the characterisation of Hyde in Stevenson’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’. Useful for AQA English Literature, the lesson focuses on the symbolic value of the character, in particular how his external description acts as a metaphor for his innate evil. Lesson includes success ladders, quotation analysis, a writing model and an introduction to symbols.

Unit exploring the impact and inspirations behind gothic literature. Considers: disturbed characters, human imagination, the supernatural, setting, and plots, through a series of extracts. Contains an assessment at the end, 73 slides, approx 15 lessons.

GCSE lesson on William Blake’s London for the AQA Power and Conlict section of the anthology. Includes context, a model paragraph, success criteria. Ideal for KS4. Focuses on skills of analysis and can be adapted.

Stand alone lesson teaching the literary technique extended metaphors. Lesson focuses on: how to recognise an extended metaphor how to analyse an extended metaphor. For this lesson, there are two examples, starting with Frost’s The Road Not Taken, and then zooming into Martin Luther King’s extended metaphor about a ‘bad check’. The lesson develops skills of analysis, critical thinking and lastly creativity. Ideal for ages 11 - 13, teaching reading skills. This is a general lesson on extended metaphors and doesn’t need to be used within a ‘speeches’ unit.

A lesson about symbolism and its role in literature, taught using an extract from the opening chapter of The Beekeeper of Aleppo. Opportunities for critical analysis, global contexts, development of inference/interpretation skills, and research skills. For this lesson students will: Consider commonly known symbols in teen literature Answer questions about symbols Conduct five minute research about Aleppo Comprehension exercise + reading extract from The Beekeeper of Aleppo PEE paragraph Peer assessment There is no need to have studied The Beekeeper of Aleppo, this lesson can be taught stand alone, using the text as an example of successful symbolism. Suggested use for age 13 - 14 but, can be used/adapted for either KS3/4 depending on the ability of the class or IB MYP. Lesson consists of 8 powerpoint slides. All resources needed are included on the slides.

Stand alone lesson exploring the conventions of antagonists in literature. For the lesson students will: Discuss some well known antagonists Explore conventions of antagonists Define the term using a definition of protagonists to create the opposite Read and analyse an extract from Jekyll and Hyde considering how Hyde is presented as an antagonist Apply their understanding by creating their own antagonist This lesson could be used as a stand alone lesson to introduce this concept. Alternatively, it could also be adapted for use in a Unit studying Jekyll and Hyde. Suggested for ages 11 - 14 KS3 or IB MYP, but could be used for lower ability KS4. Lesson consists of 6 powerpoint slides. All resources needed are included on the slides.

Develop exam skills for GCSE English Literature by comparing two unseen poems. The lesson uses Christina Rossetti’s Remember and Dylan Thomas’ Do Not Go Gentle Into The Night. Particular focus on language, structure and form, using the analogy of a house to introduce a way of remembering them. Students are also given a step-by-step way of structuring their comparison. Lesson is designed with AQA English Language exam in mind, but can be used to help teach any poetry comparison.

Develop reading skills by encouraging students to ask questions of texts. Perfect for comprehension/analysis skills. The lesson focuses on: Building skills of reading between the lines Interpretation using text messages Find out about ‘thick’ and ‘thin’ questioning Apply their understanding to the Emperor’s clothes with modelling Finally individually consider a short poem by Tupac Shakur. Useful for ages 11 - 14 KS3 students or IB MYP students and developing inquiry. Lesson consists of 7 powerpoint slides. All resources needed are included on the slides.

Unit of lessons exploring the theme of ambition and concept of evil in Macbeth. Each lesson explores different relationships and characters around ‘what makes a person evil?’ There are 42 slides, approximately 10 lessons, with an assessment at the end of the unit. Can be used for MYP or KS3.

Unit exploring themes of authority and power in Act 1 of The Tempest. Students will consider the key relationships that are influenced by power, make links to context (exploration and colonialism), and develop an understanding of Shakespeare’s language. Works well with KS3 or MYP. 36 slides in total, including an end of unit assessment.

45 powerpoint slides divided into a number of lessons, each with their own learning objective focused on developing critical reading at KS3. Lessons aim to develop students’ ability to understand the difference between general comprehension and starting to make analytical interpretations of a text. In particular working on the key skill of ‘reading between the lines’.