I am a Secondary English Teacher on a mission - to produce the highest quality lessons I possibly can with the intention of saving precious time for teachers!
I am a Secondary English Teacher on a mission - to produce the highest quality lessons I possibly can with the intention of saving precious time for teachers!
This resource is to support Science Fiction, Horror and Dystopian fiction lessons.
It is packed with writing prompts, research tasks and creative projects.
I ask students to gain 35 points across a half term, handing in one piece of homework per week.
These flexible choice homework menus allow students to take control of their own learning and pursue their own interests.
This is a four-sheet organiser for the main characters in William Golding's Lord of the Flies.
It includes space for:
Ralph
Piggy
Simon
Jack
The Twins
Roger
The Lord of the Flies
Beast.
It asks students to fill in any physical descriptions, inner desires and important traits of the characters. It is an excellent resource to use alongside reading and to make students accountable for their own notes while still giving them some structure.
TWITTER ISSUES - Correct the Spelling and Grammar of Celebrities!
This great starter activity includes 25 grammatically incorrect tweets from famous celebrities. Pop one on the board and get your students to correct them!
A mixture of spelling and grammar issues #Twissues on one fun PPT.
I made this into a TuesdayTwissue activity and the kids LOVE it!
This could also be used in any subject area for Literacy across the curriculum.
Welcome to Word Birds, a weekly lesson and resources to build higher-level vocabulary in your 8th Grade students.
These weekly lessons include the following:
• a single word plus definition as a PDF designed to be printed as a poster and displayed in your room
• a PowerPoint slide to accompany the poster, with an example of how to use the word in a sentence
• 6 entertaining task cards to get your students using the word in a variety of ways including my trademark comic strip!
• a Word Bird helpsheet explaining the differences between verbs, adjectives, nouns and adverbs.
• a record sheet to go in student exercise books to help them keep track of the words they have learnt.
Most school years run for 38 weeks, but I’ve included 40 words in case you don’t fancy using any of them or you want to use them on other occasions too.
Package includes:
40 slides PowerPoint
40-page PDF of words plus definitions for student handouts or posters
6 mini task cards
1 record sheet
1 help sheet to be used as a student handout.
NOTE: This set will be followed with Word Birds for grades 8-12 shortly, along with a complete bundle of all six sets!
A whole lesson analysing the poem 'A Poison Tree' from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE)
Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.
A whole lesson analysing the poem 'What Were They Like' by Denise Levertov from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE)
Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.
A whole lesson analysing the poem 'Extract from The Prelude' by William Wordsworth from the Edexcel Conflict Cluster (1-9 GCSE)
Includes language analysis, vocab, context and questions.
This is a homework menu for Lord of the Flies - containing a huge range of tasks and activities with a points value attached to each.
I usually assign a number of points that the students must achieve across the unit and collect in one piece per week.
This is a two-page worksheet - one side containing analysis and comprehension questions around Dahl's short story 'Skin' - the other an extended writing activity to encourage students to write in Dahl's style.
Students respond really well to this, particularly when they realise that Soutine the artist was real!
Full text is available online as a PDF.
Obesity is second only to smoking as the biggest killer in the United States. Morgan Spurlock's award-winning documentary highlights the dangers of fast food in a hilarious and shocking way.
This two-page worksheet is a comprehensive way to ensure that students are watching the 'Super Size Me' documentary with purpose.
This information can then be used for informative or persuasive writing outcomes - my students generate an awareness campaign for other teenagers.
Entirely print and go - no preparation needed!
-NOTE- This documentary is 'PG-13' rated in the US and '12' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some brief incidents of bad language and some graphic footage of surgery, along with one conversation of a sexual nature (nothing visual; this is a discussion on Morgan's impeded 'performance' as a result of his diet.)
This lesson is part of an Imaginative Writing Scheme of Work focused on Science-Fiction and Dystopian short stories.
This lesson guides students through a reading of Supertoys Last All Summer Long by Brian Aldiss. I usually complete this unit with a viewing of A.I. by Steven Spielberg.
PLEASE NOTE:
You will need to download my FREE short story anthology for use with this lesson.
This is a PowerPoint lesson focusing on the poem Bayonet Charge by Ted Hughes (AQA Anthology).
The lesson focuses on language, symbolism and interpretations of the poem.
Study Shakespeare's Macbeth using these high-interest, rigorous worksheets on key scenes! Packed full of tasks to inspire and engage both creatively and analytically, focusing on characters, plot, language and themes.
The sheets include focus on the following sections:
-The Witches
-Act 1 Scene 2
-Act 1 Scene 3-5 (two pages)
-Act 1 Scene 7
-Act 2 Scene 2 (two pages)
-Act 3 Scene 4
-Act 4 Scene 3
-Act 5 Scene 1
-Act 5 Scene 8 and 9
PLUS
Two pages of literary terminology and questions relating to their use in the play.
Enjoy using these resources for grabbing your students attention when studying the remarkable Scottish Play!
This is a bundle of lessons covering award-winning documentaries BLACKFISH, BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE and SUPER SIZE ME.
PLUS - two worksheets - one on Aristotle's Means of Persuasion, and one that introduces students to begin working on their own persuasive campaign.
SUPER SIZE ME: Obesity is second only to smoking as the biggest killer in the United States. Morgan Spurlock's award-winning documentary highlights the dangers of fast food in a hilarious and shocking way.
-NOTE- This documentary is 'PG-13' rated in the US and '12' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some brief incidents of bad language and some graphic footage of surgery, along with one conversation of a sexual nature (nothing visual; this is a discussion on Morgan's impeded 'performance' as a result of his diet.)
BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE:The Columbine tragedy affected the world. It was the first in a wave of school shootings and people have fought to understand why and how it could have happened.
Michael Moore's award-winning documentary seeks to unearth the background to America's gun crimes and questions everything from causes to culpability.
-NOTE- This documentary is 'R' rated in the US and '15' in the UK. Prior-viewing is advised. There are some incidents of bad language and some graphic footage, but I strongly believe that the importance of this documentary outweighs any potential concerns.
BLACKFISH:This documentary explores SeaWorld's treatment of killer whales and interviews past and present employees and orca trainers. A hard-hitting look at the treatment of animals in captivity, this documentary is a perfect way to introduce students to the rules of rhetoric.
These vocabulary quizzes are designed to help students understand the complex vocabulary in Lord of the Flies.
They are in three parts -
#1 is for chapters 1-2.
#2 is for chapters 3-8.
#3 is for chapters 9-12.
I usually give my students half an hour to find the definitions of the words (you may need to help with a few that aren't in contemporary dictionaries) and then do a quiz to use the words correctly in a sentence OR find them in the novel.
This is a massive 'A Christmas Carol' Crossword Puzzle for revision and consolidation - it is full of key quotes, characters, plot points and motifs.
It should take a considerable amount of time (and probably some research) to complete it, so would be perfect to set for homework or while you are working 1:1 with students.
Also includes a complete answer key so that you can check answers with ease.
The third lesson in my imaginative writing SOW focuses on how Dickens subverts reader expectations through the character of Miss Havisham.
There is an extended descriptive piece of writing for students to complete.
Please note: You will need to download my free short story anthology from my store to use with this lesson.
This lesson is part of an Imaginative Writing Scheme of Work focused on Science-Fiction and Dystopian short stories.
This lesson guides students through the seven types of tension with examples and video clips to spark their interest.
PLEASE NOTE:
You will need to download my FREE short story anthology for use with this lesson.
As English teachers, one of the most challenging tasks is ensuring that students see the relevance of Shakespeare's work. I LOVE Shakespeare with every fragment of my heart, and I spend an inordinate amount of time developing resources to make my kids feel the same way!
This worksheet is a psychoanalysis of Lady Macbeth. A modern interpretation could view her as suffering from mental health issues - have your students analyse her actions and 'diagnose' her potential illness.
This can open up debate about the human nature of Shakespeare's work and also a wider conversation about mental health; a tricky but necessary topic to cover in your classroom.
I sincerely hope you enjoy this resource and that it buys you a little breathing space!