This comprehensive unit lasts approximately one term and includes a variety of short stories from acclaimed authors. Each story has related comprehension and writing (both fiction and non-fiction) activities, as well as some grammar, spelling and related research tasks. Taught to a mixed ability Year 7 class, but could easily be adapted for Y6-Y8. Unit includes: Key Ingredients of story writing** Key ingredients of short stories looking at ‘Boo’ by Kevin Crossley-Holland Spotlight on vivid characters, looking at various extracts Spotlight on evocative settings, looking at various extracts Spotlight on engaging openers, looking at various extracts A selection of short stories and related activities ‘Charles’ by Shirley Jackson (comprehension questions and letter writing activity) ‘The Doll’ (analysing the author’s use of foreshadowing and writing a story) ‘I Used to Live Here Once’ by Jean Rhys (comprehension questions and story from the POV of a ghost) ‘The Wife’s Story’ by Ursula le Guin (comprehension questions and a twisted fairytale) ‘Lamb to the Slaughter’ by Roald Dahl (comprehension questions and a story focusing on dramatic irony) ‘Examination Day’ by Henry Slesar (comprehension questions, script writing and a discursive essay) ‘All Summer in a Day’ by Ray Bradbury (comprehensive analysis of figurative language) PLUS Short Stories extended reading list to allow pupils to read around the topic Look at my free resource ‘Spotlight on engaging openers’ to preview content in this pack

A bundle of comprehension and writing activities to support a reading of ‘The One and Only Ivan’ by Katherine Applegate. This was delivered to a mixed ability Year 5 group, but suitable for any KS2 class. The bundle includes: COMPREHENSION Comprehension questions on the following chapters of the book: Bob Stella Artists Protector/A Perfect Life A New Beginning Plus comprehension questions about two related non-fiction articles: Christian the Lion The Real Ivan from ‘The One and Only Ivan’ Each comprehension activity contains the passage and related comprehension questions, focusing on VIPERS skills. Every comprehension contains an extension activity. **PLUS **A suggested reading list: books similar to ‘The One and Only Ivan’ to enable children to read around the class text COMPOSITION Worksheets (and some accompanying PowerPoints) for the following writing activities, all linked to the text: Description of a circus focusing on sensory language Story about visiting a zoo focusing on using a story mountain Mixed up animal poems Description inspired by a famous artwork Rewrite of Ruby falling into the well, focusing on how to build suspense Discursive essay: Should Zoos Be Banned? Article writing: Ivan’s Billboard Script writing: Interview with Mack, George and Julia** Writing worksheets contain success criteria, planning sheets and an extension task. Therefore, in total, this bundle contains 7 comprehension activities and 8 writing activities, as well as an extended reading list.

A set of revision notes for ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte. This is tailored to the GCSE AQA course, but applicable for anyone studying the novel. The notes consist of the following: key contextual information split into historical, social, literary, biographical and religious subsections up to five key quotations for each of the main characters and themes in the novel, with reference to Bronte’s intentions language devices (please note there is purposely crossover with these quotations to enable students to more realistically remember them under exam conditions) key symbols in the novel and their significance past paper questions

I made these resources myself when tutoring an 11+ pupil interested in sitting the City of London School for Girls 11+ exam. The exam format has recently changed, and now consists of a short extract from a text with only one comprehension question, and then a related short writing activity. Since there was only one sample paper online, I created some of my own in a similar style. I was told by my student that the first mock I created, taken from ‘The Marriage Portrait’ by Maggie O’Farrell, was actually used as the City English exam in 2023. These are very useful for anyone working towards the City of London 11+ exam, but also for anyone taking a written English 11+ examination. This resource contains seven mock papers, each with a comprehension and a composition task.

A set of revision notes for key themes in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo & Juliet’. This is tailored to the GCSE AQA course, but applicable for anyone studying the play. The notes are for the themes of love and marriage, fate, masculinity/violence/ honour and youth and age/parents and children. Each set of notes consists of the following: a generic introduction which can be tailored to any theme key context for the theme key concepts for that theme 4-5 key concepts within that theme explored in greater depth, each with relevant quotations, authorial intention and literary/dramatic devices highlighted

A set of revision notes for ‘Lord of the Flies’ by William Golding. This is tailored to the GCSE AQA course, but applicable for anyone studying the novel. The notes consist of the following: an outline of the AQA question and how to structure your response key contextual information split into historical, social, literary, biographical and religious subsections five key quotations for each of the main characters and themes in the novel, with language analysis and explanation, as well as reference to Golding’s intentions and links to key symbols (please note there is purposely some crossover with these quotations to enable students to more realistically remember them under exam conditions) key symbols in the novel and their significance past paper questions a level 9 model student response

A lesson focusing on what makes an effective story opening. Children will analyse published openings (extracts from ‘Noughts & Crosses’ by Malorie Blackman; ‘Watership Down’ by Richard Adams; ‘The Final Journey’ by Gudrun Pausewang; ‘Blart: The Boy Who Didn’t Want to Save the World’ by Dominic Barker; ‘Silverfin’ by Charlie Higson’) and categorise them by technique used to engage the reader, rating each out of 5. Children then experiment with these techniques (character, setting, dialogue, action and sound) using picture prompts to help them. Plenary/extension task: Play the teacher and mark another pupil’s attempts. If you like this resource, please look at my full ‘Short Stories’ unit of work. https://www.tes.com/resource-detail/resource-12952914

A glossary of literary devices, perfect for GCSE Language and Literature revision. These are split into the following: general literary devices structural devices poetic terms structure of poetry