About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
About the author:
I am currently a teacher of English in a wonderful West Midlands secondary school, having prior experience as a Literacy Lead, Specialist Leader of Education, SLT Lead, AQA examiner and Head of English. I am in my fourteenth year of teaching and as such am keen to share resources I have used successfully, both in my own lessons and across my school / MAT.
This resource includes a full lesson on creating a poem featuring a character, using their own voice. It originally formed part of a scheme for year 9 looking at a wide variety of poetry in preparation for their GCSE study, but would be suitable for any GCSE group as light-hearted practice.
The lesson utilises Medusa (Duffy) as a starting point, before getting pupils to create their own poem in the voice of a character of their choice.
The PPT includes:
Introduction to Medusa, by Duffy and discussion of her character
Intro to the creative task, providing suggested characters
Guided planning for the poem
A framework of sentence stems if required, and an exemplar poem in the voice of Homer Simpson
A lesson PPT to introduce pupils to the play ‘An Inspector Calls’. The lesson is designed as a paired or group discussion around a series of objects found in an anonymous dead girl’s home (Eva Smith) the night she died. As detectives, pupils must piece together what might have happened to the dead girl. Updated January 2022!
This experiential lesson enables pupils to interrogate each object practising skills of inference and deduction. It also exercises their close reading skills as some of the objects require careful inspection. The lesson then develops to look at themes of the play and how these relate to the CSI task, but also the title of the play and its significance.
The resource document contains various images building up a crime scene for Eva. Including things such as a home pregnancy test, a bottle of bleach, a cigar, a letter etc.
Resource document is available as a PDF and a Publisher file.
This bundle includes a whopping £24.30 worth of resources on AQA conflict and power poetry for GCSE English Literature. Resource include:
1-2 full lessons on ALL of the power and conflict cluster poems:
Checking Out me History
Emigree
Bayonet Charge
Charge of the Light Brigade
Last Duchess (2 options, including a Halloween / Gothic themed lesson)
Ozymandias
Kamikaze
Exposure
London
Poppies
Storm on the Island
Prelude
Tissue
Remains
War Photographer
Each of the named lessons as above approaches the poems from zero base knowledge, adopting a pupil-centred approach, building skills of analysis rather than teacher dictation of meaning. Many of the lesson PPTs include:
group work/ discussion tasks
video links to aid analysis
language and structure focus questions or hints
exploration of meaning and ideas, with historical/ cultural context where required (building cultural capital)
exemplar paragraphs or responses
examination style questions
possibilities for cross over work to English language
full annotations for poems
Extras as following:
How to write intros and conclusions PPT (focused on Remains)
An intro to poetry PPT - what it is for/ why we study it
15 power and conflict exam questions, written into venn diagrams (worksheets)
A 30 slide PPT on comparing power and conflict poems and how to answer these questions
This resource is a comprehensive revision and teaching tool for AQA focused on boosting grades for English language paper 1: active reading strategies + question 4 and paper 2: question 4. It also covers English Lit paper 1 section A (Macbeth) and paper 2 section B (conflict and power poems) as a bonus.
This PPT is 42 slides and is designed to help pupils move from grade 3 to 4, or grade 4 to 5 through specific, careful tailoring of the key skills required to make the jump. All resources and examples are included.
The PPT works through the following aspects:
active reading strategies
mark scheme tips
annotation skills
exam strategy tips
planning advice
short, sharp tasks
being selective with evidence
methods and what they are
a way to structure responses
exemplar paragraphs
methods for comparing
Linking scaffolds
what can go wrong
suggested revision resources for literature
quote learning advice and strategies
play structure
Ao3 suggestions
using quotes effectively
how to improve responses
grouping poems
analysing a student response
This resource includes a 42 slide PPT (updated Jan 2022) and 2 text extracts (one by Dickens) focused on the ENTIRE reading section of the AQA English language non-fiction paper 2. This sequence of lessons uses 2 texts about traffic collisions (included) and guides pupils through each question with a variety of in lesson activities and strategies to tackle this challenging paper. It covers questions 1 to 4.
This resource was written originally for a high ability year 9 group, but is suitable for years 10 and 11. ‘The Crossing’ extract in particular is quite a challenging and lengthy read so is not as suited to lower ability pupils without some differentiation. The second extract is an account from Dickens about a train wreck he was involved in and is suitable for all abilities.
The 42 slide PPT guides pupils through the following:
inference and retrieval skills Q1
summary and synthesis Q2
An example of a summary for Q2 based on the Dickens text
Comparing the 2 texts in terms of feelings Q2
Use of the acronym PEI (comparative point, evidence, inference)
Mark schemes
How to approach language analysis Q3
How to structure a Q3 response, using the acronym PEEZL (point, evidence, explain effect, zoom, link)
Examples of a band 4 vs a band 2 response for Q3
How to compare writers’ POVs Q4
An examplar Q4 response
A really great way to prepare pupils for the non-fiction English Language AQA GCSE paper 2.
This resource is a Macbeth booklet including key scenes necessary for GCSE study. The booklet can be used flexibly, highlighting further scenes that can be omitted, should you wish to work with less of the text with a lower ability set.
The full play has been carefully edited, removing parts of dialogue not entirely necessary for GCSE pupil understanding, whilst maintaining the integrity and flow of the narrative. There is a cover page and the booklet totals 27 A4 pages, helpfully formatted into columns with a contents page for easy navigation.
The original text sits at 18121 words, whereas this edited version brings it down to 11754 - far more manageable with the time constraints of GCSE.
The scenes included are as follows:
Act 1 scene I: witches
Act 1 scene II: camp after battle **
Act 1 scene III: Macbeth and Duncan meet witches
Act 1 scene V: Lady Macbeth – the Raven
Act 1 scene VII: Lady Macbeth and Macbeth argue
Act 2 scene I: Macbeth and Duncan
Act 2 scene II: Lady Macbeth covers up
Act 2 scene III: Porter and discovery of Duncan **
Act 2 scene IV: Old man and Lennox **
Act 3 scene I: Banquo betrayed
Act 3 scene II: shielding Lady Macbeth
Act 3 scene IV: banquet and ghost
Act 4 scene I: Witches and Macbeth – prophecies
Act 4 scene II: Macduff’s castle
Act 4 scene III: Macduff meets Malcolm **
Act 5 scene I: Doctor tends to Lady Macbeth
Act 5 scene II: soldiers **
Act 5 scene III: Scotland is sick **
Act 5 scene IV: Birnam wood moves
Act 5 scene V: Young Siward **
Act 5 scene VI: The ending
** these scenes can also be omitted entirely for lower ability pupils.
A 28 page revision booklet for Lord of the Flies, jam-packed full of interactive activities for pupils to use, either in lesson, or as a homework activity. Equally suited to other exam boards in terms of content, but specifically geared toward AQA for exam questions.
Covers the following aspects in great depth:
Plot, character, symbols and themes, key quotes, form and structure, setting, context, exam preparation and sample questions, key terminology.
Contains plenty of ideas and activities for extending more able pupils, and can work to either support in-lesson study, as homework tasks, or as an independent revision resource.
**Please note, all images contained within this booklet have been reproduced in good faith to enhance study, and are for intended use in an educational setting, for teachers and pupils only.
This resource is a fully comprehensive scheme of work on Christmas Carol, designed for higher ability pupils with plenty of challenge and stretch (grades 5-9).
It was originally designed for AQA but can easily be tweaked for other boards. All resources are included along the 191 slide PPT, with everything you need to teach the novel. It also utilises language paper cross-over tasks and non-fiction resources to build contextual knowledge/ cultural capital and provides a focus on core vocabulary to aid understanding. Updated Jan 2022.
The PPT covers the following:
core vocabulary categories and booklet
atmosphere through language
imagery based tasks (Gothic conventions)
Scrooge’s nomenclature
context - Victorian times
A range of task styles including group, independent, paired work and videos
Summary skills
Quote finding and analysis
Links to Literature (London poem)
creative writing opportunities
character study for all key characters
connotation and layers of meaning
Using PEEZL to construct exam responses
peer assessment opportunities
allusion and allegory
symbolism and metaphor
Utilitarian philosophy, Malthus and Bentham
Authorial intent
inference
exemplar responses
key plot developments
irony
drawing comparisons
structure - framed narrative, foreshadowing
Writing intros and conclusions
tracking change
guided exam planning
thesis statements
reference to mark schemes
This resource is a mammoth 100 slide PPT scheme (+ resources) for the novel Of Mice and Men, designed to be studied with mid to high ability year 9 students. It is an excellent novel for wider reading in order to build pupils’ knowledge and skills in preparation for GCSE English Literature. Approx 15-18 lessons worth
The PPT explores the following aspects of the novel:
Initial setting and atmosphere
Language analysis/ effect
Quote finding examining
Themes
Characterisation - George and Lennie
Character relationships
Context - The Great Depression and itinerant workers
Character mini quiz
The bunkhouse
Crooks and Candy analysis and quote discussion
Tracking changes in character
Conflict
Cyclical structures
The brush
Examples of literature style analytical writing
Curley’s wife
Focus on imagery, language and key extracts
Further examples of literature style writing on CW
Crooks’ room and the importance of all settings
The ending - prediction and reflections
Microcosm
This resource includes an 8 slide PPT (full lesson) on how to write effective introductions and conclusions, with a focus on AQA’s poetry element of the examination. The examples used are from the power and conflict cluster (Remains) and could be used as a way to teach unseen poetry intros/ conclusions or comparative poetry intros and conclusions - the PPT is flexible and allows for both.
The PPT covers the following aspects:
example introductions and discussion of their effectiveness
a formula for writing a strong intro
a practice task for writing a main body essay paragraph focused on the question provided
an exemplar main body paragraph using PEEZL and an opportunity for pupils to link to another poem
A summary of what a good conclusion entails
an exemplar conclusion
This resource includes a mammoth 95 slide PPT walking pupils through questions 1, 2 and 3 of the reading section of AQA’s GCSE English Language Paper 1 element, updated March 2022. There are also several links to paper 2 skills where cross-over exists, and an introductory slide to Q4. All resources referred to in the PPT are included.
The PPT was originally made for a low ability year 10/11 group, all of whom had targets of grade 4 or below, but would be suitable for middle ability with a few tweaks. Each question is broken down and formulae provided for the pupils to access what can be quite a challenging paper, with a range of reading materials reminiscent of the exam challenge. A break down of what is included can be seen below:
Exam format and AOs
Technical vocabulary / language and structure terms
A reading strategy for challenging texts
Q1-3 practice
Quotation analysis and using PEEZL to write a response to Q2
Structure discussion and using PEEW to write a response to Q3
Extracts from: Harry Potter, Of Mice and Men, Woman in Black, Dracula, The Crucible. Great Expectations
Cultural capital boost - migrant workers, American midwest, Gothic literature, witches in literature
exemplar responses for Q2 and Q3, plus scaffolded sentence stems
Quote finding and retrieval practice
Peer assessment using rough mark criteria
Extracts 2a and 2b - non-fiction cross over to migrant workers; 5a cross over to modern Gothic
How to write a good point/ what makes a good point
Exemplar responses from AQA for the Jamaica Inn practice paper (available form eAQA)
Vocabulary for writing about effect
Intro to Q4
This resource includes a complete lesson looking at analysing the language of an extract from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for AQA English language paper 1, Q2. It is suitable for low to mid ability GCSE learners, as an introduction to the language analysis question or as a revision activity.
The PPT included guides pupils through the process as follows:
break down of the question and how marks are awarded
guided reading of the extract
an approach to answering an exam style question (PEEZL)
a help sheet for lower ability learners (gap fill)
a modelled example paragraph
Peer assessment using marking criteria
The main contextual information for Macbeth, condensed into 1 side of A4, suited to mid-high ability pupils at GCSE level.
In colour and designed to be visually appealing. For use as a lesson handout or revision aid.
Highlights:
King James I
Women
Great Chain of Being
Gunpowder Plot
Witches
Importance of monarch
Preview shows a zoomed in section of the full handout
Updated Feb 2022 and designed for high ability pupils (targets of grade 6-9), this resource is for the full play of Macbeth (AQA GCSE English Literature). It includes a monster PPT of 155 slides, which can be divided into MANY lessons - an absolute bargain!
This unit is designed to be studied with the whole text - the edition we used was the Cambridge school’s version. It works from zero prior knowledge of the play, but could also be used with any pupils who might have previously studied the play, in order to supplement, challenge and stretch their learning further.
This resource includes:
A range of tasks and activities on the vast majority of the play (including 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7; 2.1, 2.2, 2.4; 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6; 4.1, 4.2, 4.2; 5.1, 5.1, 5.3, 5.5, 5.8)
Any scenes not included as explicit tasks can be read with and discussed with pupils at the appropriate time as all lessons are clearly labelled for which act and scene they refer to
Any resources referenced in the PPT, including handouts and sample work from pupils
Full lesson PPT covering the majority of the play (key ideas and analysis for in lesson use)… including:
-Activities include work on character, theme, context, plot, lang/structure analysis
Practice exam questions
the opening of the play and Shakespeare’s intent
Built in homework tasks
Links to various videos to enhance learning
Snippets on tackling exam questions, with reference to mark schemes and key skills
Context links (religion, witches, James I, regicide, primogeniture, Great Chain, other plays)
Symbolism and key critical philosophy that links to the play
dramatic irony
power balances
structure
the play’s ending
Sample exam responses
Exam technique and reference to mark schemes
Updated Feb 2022 to include acts 4 and 5 plus further bonus resources and tweaks to previous lesson tasks.
This resource includes a complete lesson looking at analysing the structure of an extract from Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets for AQA English language paper 1, Q3. It is suitable for low to mid ability learners, as an introduction to the structure question or as a revision activity.
The PPT included guides pupils through the process as follows:
break down of the question and how marks are awarded
key terminology
guided reading of the extract
an approach to answering an exam style question (PEEZL)
a help sheet for lower ability learners (gap fill)
Peer assessment using marking criteria
Also includes text extract for analysis.
This resource includes a mammoth 83 slide PPT scheme of work on the novel Martyn Pig, updated March 2022 and containing everything you need for the teaching of the text. Originally written for a middle ability year 8 group, it is also suitable for year 9. The scheme combines reading study with creative writing cross-over tasks.
The scheme of work includes the following topics and tasks:
the novel’s title
connotation
Character profiling
characterisation
monologue writing task
inference
quote analysis
plot development
language analysis
themes
extract based exam style questions and practice
PEEZL method (point, evidence, explain effect, zoom into language, link)
structure
writing intros and conclusions
vocabulary choices
creative writing suggestions and practice
drama around character intent
foreshadowing
pathetic fallacy
moral dilemmas
socratic talk
impressions v reality (duality)
cyclical structures
endings
letter writing
All resources have been tried and tested with pupils.
Updated March 2022
This resource is for GCSE Business Studies, written by a subject specialist with advice sought from an English teacher on how to best structure this evaluate question to achieve higher marks.
17 slide PPT (around 2-3 lessons worth), focused on the following:
exam key words (evaluate)
A business case study (Shirtz Limited)
exam style evaluate question
peer and self assessment opportunities using mark scheme
varied range of exemplar responses with marks awarded
advice on planning through a table
advice on linking ideas for a stronger, more cohesive response
key connectives to help with linking ideas
a structured response handout
extension activity linked to the lesson topic (online quiz)
This resource contains 12 examination questions for Inspector Calls. They have all featured on past AQA papers and so are suitable for revision and for seeing what sort of question might be asked.
20 key quotes selected from A Christmas Carol to assist with revision of the text. Quotes chosen to be reflective of key themes and characters.
Formatted as a Word doc
This resource compiles 3 Christmas themed drama games into a word document, clearly explained. Can take up to around 40 minutes of lesson time to complete