Hard to Swallow by Mark Wheeller 26 page revision guide with revision activities, key information, practice questions and scene by scene break down.

An excellent KS4 resource for GCSE drama AQA 8261 specification on texts in practice with a complete and ready to go twelve lesson SOW which includes all additional worksheets. If you purchase this scheme of work you get access to twelve lesson powerpoints with around 80 to 100 slides over the complete SOW that help students to access and succeed at the twelve core outcomes which are designed for this module. In this twelve lesson SOW students will learn about: Lesson one: In this lesson students learn to introduce and understand the play Hard to Swallow by looking at the different issues that affect young people today with a particular focus on eating disorders. Lesson two: In this lesson students learn to develop and explore a piece of drama that is based on eating disorders through freeze frames, thought tracking and role play. Lesson three: In this lesson students learn to understand eating disorders and how they affect people using Mark Wheeler’s Hard to swallow as an exemplar. Lesson four: In this lesson students learn to understand the characters of Maureen and John Dunbar and how their relationship has affected Catherine. Lesson five: In this lesson students learn to understand Catherine’s relationship with her parents through the use of a flashback and physical theatre. Lesson six: In this lesson students learn to explore the naturalism in scenes five and six from Hard to Swallow. Lesson seven: In this lesson students learn to explore the naturalism and stylisation in scenes seven, nine and ten from Hard to swallow. Lesson eight: In this lesson students learn to understand Catherine’s relationship with her immediate family through the use of physical theatre and through section twelve. Lesson nine: In this lesson students learn to develop and explore the epilogue of Hard to swallow and take an issue from Mark Wheeler’s play and devise a performance based from it. Lesson ten: In this lesson students learn to select and rehearse an extract for a mock assessment from Hard to swallow. Lesson eleven: In this lesson students complete a summative assessment on their selected extracts for their final performance of Hard to swallow. Lesson twelve: In this lesson students to complete a research project into the impact of eating disorders.

“While ‘Hard to Swallow’ presents a challenging and often disturbing narrative, it offers a valuable opportunity to engage students in critical discussions about body image and the destructive nature of eating disorders like bulimia. Wheeler’s unflinching portrayal, though graphic, can serve as a powerful catalyst for empathy and understanding, prompting students to explore the underlying psychological and social pressures that contribute to such struggles. By analyzing the story’s extreme depiction, we can foster a safe space for open dialogue, encouraging students to recognize the importance of mental health awareness and the need for compassionate support systems.”

A knowledge organiser for Hard to Swallow of some of the key points needed for the WJEC EDUQAS Drama 9-1 GCSE exam.

This quiz is designed for a double lesson or 100 minute lesson, covering all bases for the written GCSE WJEC Eduqas paper. On the tables of the groups I would place crisps and apple juice to give more of a ‘Pub Quiz’ feel, rather than just a test. My students loved this idea and preferred it a lot more that just a typical quiz.

This lesson aims to address the problem of students not linking an explicit contextual factor into paragraph writing. I follow the WJEC Eduqas exam board for drama but this could also be used in English too. This lesson was produced with the purpose of adopting the principles of WALKTHRUs (Tom Sherrigton and Oliver Caviglioli) for good teaching. This structure is aimed at KS4 students. It contains lots of resources and principles that I use as well as a Socrative quiz (you can delete as appropriate).

I have taken a selection of monologues from ‘Hard to Swallow’ to give to GCSE pupils as performance opportunities. I have added youtube links to examples for those that have them.

A detailed Knowledge Organiser exploring Motivation, Voice, Movement, Interaction, Key Terminology, Original Performance Conditions, Costume, Light etc

This is a lesson in which pupils work in 2s/3s working around the room to complete tasks on the main characters in the play. There is a worksheet provided in the lesson resource that can be printed out.

This is a response to the 15 mark question on the Eduqas Gcse Drama paper for Mark Wheeler’s Set Text. It is set out clearly for the main 4 elements required to include: Motivation Voice Movement Interaction It was not written by a pupil. It was written by the teacher as an exercise in what I would write if asked to sit the exam myself. Any feedback appreciated. I have answers for all 5 main characters to come!

Here is an essay which is top marks for the 10 mark question in the exam.

A writing frame guide for students to help them write about using Rehearsal Techniques with Hard to Swallow

Eduqas GCSE Drama Revision Pack covering both Sec A Hard to Swallow and Sec B Live Theatre This 22 page Revision Pack covers the following: Requirements of the exam Breakdown of the Play ‘Hard to Swallow’ (Sec A) Information about the original play (Sec A) Example Sec A questions Rehearsal Activities/ Techniques (Sec A) Example paragraphs/ exam technique (Sec A) 9 Practise Exam Questions (Sec A) with guidance Example Sec A mark scheme Key information regarding ‘Things I Know To Be True’ by Frantic Assembly (Sec B) Writing structure for Sec B questions Example Sec B exam paragraph 2 Practise Sec B Exam Questions with guidance Easy to print and students can complete work in the booklet itself!

This is a response to the 15 mark - playing the role of Anna in two contrasting parts. It covers the 4 elements required from the question. Motivation Voice Movement Interaction It is not written by a pupil. It is written by myself. I wanted to go through the experience that pupils have to go through and answer the question myself. I welcome some feedback and hope it is helpful to your pupils.

This is an extract of a larger response to the 15 mark question in the exam. The full answer reflects on playing two contrasting extracts from the play.

An essay response to the exam question. It is set out clearly and explains how as an actor I would approach two contrasting extracts. It was written by myself, not a pupil and I would hope a response like this would generate 15 marks! I hope your pupils find it helpful for their revision. This extract just covers motivation and voice for one extract. The essay itself is much longer than this.

A play in a day lesson plan that allows KS3 students to create an abridged version on A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare as a part of activities or enrichment week. Plus a play in a day lesson plan for KS4 on Hard to swallow or Too much punch for Judy by Mark Wheeller. Also included is promotion posters for students to sign up to one of these two activities in your department.

Eduqas GCSE Drama Revision Pack covering both Sec A Hard to Swallow and Sec B Live Theatre. A great revision pack as each activity contains a set number of points (easier tasks = lower points) students have to make up to atleast 30 points but can do more. This works brilliantly as students feel they have a choice and become more motivated to complete the work. This 22 page Revision Pack, tasks include: Revision of the play ‘Hard to Swallow’ and what happens (Sec A) Practise of own set designs for each stage type (Sec A) Information about the original play (Sec A) Example Sec A questions - including smaller mark questions as well as higher mark questions Revising structure to follow for Sec B questions Example Sec B exam paragraph for lighting - students can analyse and use to help their own work Example Sec B Exam Questions including acting and design focus Easy to print and students can complete work in the booklet itself!

This resource includes Lesson plan, 34 slide PowerPoint and 14 page Student Activity Booklet for 3 hour’s worth of teaching time. It is designed for Eduqas GCSE Drama in particular Sec A ‘Hard to Swallow’ and Sec B ‘The Comedy About a Bank Robbery’ (Live Theatre) however; the tasks can be easily adapated for other set texts/ productions. The student activity booklet is great as all handouts/ resources are in 1 place so students can use it for additional revision as well keep the work all together.