Ruby in the Smoke: Power, Class & Empire

KS3 English • Year 9 • Fully Resourced Lesson (PowerPoint + Worksheet)

A thought‑provoking lesson introducing the central themes of Power, Class and Empire in Ruby in the Smoke. Students explore how social hierarchy restricts character opportunities and analyse how the legacy of British imperialism shapes the mystery surrounding the Ruby. This lesson encourages critical thinking, contextual understanding and thematic analysis.

• Editable PowerPoint
• Printable worksheet
• Peer and group discussion tasks
• Retrieval starter + exit reflection
• Clear learning objectives and success criteria

Students will:

• Define the central themes of Power, Class and Empire.
• Explore how social hierarchy limits character opportunities.
• Analyse the legacy of British imperialism within the story of the Ruby.

• Builds strong thematic understanding essential for deeper novel study
• Encourages collaborative exploration through structured peer and group tasks
• Strengthens students’ ability to connect historical context with narrative meaning
• Helps learners recognise how power structures shape character motivations and conflict
• Ideal for Year 9 and a strong foundation for GCSE‑style thematic analysis

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.