23 Lessons with Edexcel GCSE Assessment Objectives for Y9 class

A comprehensive study of the novella (over 100 slides) including revision materials, over 50 possible essay questions, quote banks, context revision, etc. All initial lessons are planned chronologically to use alongside reading the text. Revision materials then look at character, theme, context, etc.

The ‘Of Mice and Men Bundle’ is a complete resource package for a profound understanding of John Steinbeck’s novella. It includes seven essential documents: Revision Workbook (25 Pages): Scene-by-scene analysis, questions, author and setting details, character profiles, favorite quote reflections, and an exploration of heroes/villains. Character Charts: Character images and questions to reveal character motivations and roles. End of Novel Test: 25 multiple-choice and critical thinking questions, plus Junior Cycle question options with a teacher’s answer key. Junior Cycle Sample Answers: 13 pages of sample answers to past questions. Key Moments: Detailed analysis of five pivotal moments with suggested questions and supporting quotes. Key Quotes: Exploration of 12 significant quotes with brief explanations. Key Themes: In-depth examination of five central themes in the novella. This bundle is your ultimate companion for a comprehensive study of ‘Of Mice and Men,’ suitable for students and teachers.

A set of 27 PowerPoints aimed at a low ability year 9 class. Ideal for students to prepare for GCSEs. Reading each lesson. Key quotations throughout. Scaffold for exam style answers.

A series of four lessons on chapter 2 of Of Mice and Men, looking at characters, hierarchy and building up to writing an essay - with an example. The first of these lessons focuses on the setting, with pupils comparing the setting of the second chapter to the more tranquil and peaceful opening. In the second lesson, pupils focus on the concept of hierarchy, and as they start to meet characters they start putting them into hierarchical order. In the third lesson, we meet Curley’s wife and Slim, and consider how they are presented as characters that the reader is supposed to either like or dislike. There is opportunity to discuss the extent to which the reader’s opinion of Curley’s wife is tainted by the expectations we have of her following Candy’s description of her as a ‘tart’ previously. In the fourth of these lessons, pupils plan and prepare to write an essay looking at the society of the ranch. They return to the previous ideas about ranch hierarchy and there is opportunity to see if their ideas about the hierarchy have changed now that they have read a little more: you could make this as interactive as you like, depending on the class. I’ve provided a planning sheet with clear paragraph ideas, and an example essay that perfectly matches it: you could use it prior to writing the essay, or use it as a self-assessment tool following essay writing. I’ve created these lessons for GCSE pupils, and they could be easily tweaked up or down to suit your group.

This 28-slide lesson on ‘Of Mice and Men’ introduces the key context vital to understanding Steinbeck’s classic novella, as well as functioning as a general introduction to studying the text. The lesson includes key information about the Depression, the Dust Bowl, racism, patriarchal pressures and other prejudice during the 1930s in America. Steinbeck’s own life is also covered, as well as the meaning behind the text’s title, and students are invited to analyse various book jacket designs for the novella. Key themes are explored alongside a comprehensive introduction to the American Dream and its role in the novella. Questions and tasks are also included for students to tackle. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

Detailed and close analysis of the descriptive opening in Of Mice and Men. Includes: - Themes of loneliness and isolation - Presentation of light - Themes of the American Dream - Animal vs Human presence - Unsustainability of the Edenic scene Key and clear text analysis.

A series of four lessons on chapter 3 of Of Mice and Men, with focuses on Slim, Candy’s dog, dreams, and the fight at the end of the chapter. This series of lessons starts with a lesson on Slim, which compares him to Curley and then goes on to look at why Slim has as much power as he does. There is opportunity for pupils to analyse some key quotations, which therefore provides a useful quotation list for revision. The second lesson looks and Candy’s dog’s death and the concept of survival of the fittest, and ends with a comparison between the relationship between Candy and his dog with that between George and Lennie, allowing pupils the possibility to predict what will come later in the novel. The third lesson focuses on the description of the dream that we see in this chapter, in which George goes into much more detail about what their plans are. There is a worksheet with an extract for pupils to annotate, with some questions to guide their annotation as a support. Finally this series of lessons ends with a look at the fight scene at the end of the chapter, and considers how Candy, who has been an observer for much of the action of this chapter, has reacted to it all with a diary task. I’ve used these lessons for a couple of years now, with classes of mixed ability. Prompt questions can be removed to make things more challenging for the more able. Moreover, I’ve used these lessons when we’ve been working in the classroom and remotely, and have found that they’ve translated quite well into remote-learning: for example, the annotation activity can be done on Google Docs or similar, with pupils using the comments function to make their notes.

This 21-slide lesson explores Chapter 3 of John Steinbeck’s ‘Of Mice and Men’. Students are encouraged to think about the pathos created via the death of Candy’s dog, and how George and Lennie’s fate continues to be foreshadowed. Significant focus is placed on Lennie’s fight with Curley, which leads students to an extract-based essay question to answer. Top tips for how to approach the extract question are included here, plus an exemplar introduction and analytical paragraph as a model for students. Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. The extract-based question is also included in this resource. Ideal for upper-KS3 or GCSE students. PowerPoint saved as PDF.

This detailed and visually-appealing resource offers a complete reference point for students learning or revising John Steinbeck's 'Of Mice and Men.' It contains comprehensive sections on: - Context; - Chapter by Chapter Summary (with quotes); - Main Characters; - Themes; - Literary Features; - The Origins of the Book Title. Key words and ideas are underlined for easy reference. The resource is designed to be printed onto A3, and is provided as both a PDF and a Word version (so that you can edit if you want to). All images used are licensed for commercial use and are cited on a separate document (included).

We look at Of Mice and Men and Chapter One, with a focus on the relationship between Lennie and George and how John Steinbeck uses his language to get across their relationship and their personalities to the reader at the beginning of the novella. Additionally, we look at how Steinbeck uses foreshadowing to hint at the rest of the plot. A really useful lesson for students preparing for Literature exams but easily adaptable for younger students as well. Fully differentiated and resourced.

A fully differentiated and resourced lesson that introduce students to the context surrounding Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. We look at ideas about the American Dream, and how the Great Depression impacted on American society after the Roaring Twenties. Additionally, we look at how Steinbeck introduces setting and character at the start of the novel and how these are linked to the idea of the American Dream. Designed for Literature students but easily adaptable for younger ages.

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.

5 PowerPoints focusing on Chapter 2 of the text. A variety of activities, including close textual analysis and a mid unit assessment on the presentation of Curley's Wife. Designed for a mixed ability Yr 9 class.

revision aid

This booklet has been designed to assist pupils in their study of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. Each chapter has been broken down into separate sections, each with specific questions to help guide pupils through their reading of the novel and extract important quotes to document and analyse in their exercise books / notebooks. There is also a “Theme Tracker” throughout each section to help students engage thematically with the novel and organise thieir notes.

A workbook of resources to help analyse the book and the characters and themes. Designed for working towards the AQA GCSE syllabus.

A helpful revision or learning activity focusing on mindmapping elements of John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men. This map is structured with reference to both themes and characters in the novel.