‘Using a Thesaurus’ is a 10-slide PowerPoint presentation focusing on how to use a thesaurus to improve writing skills. For use with either Upper KS2 or Lower KS3 depending on ability. This PowerPoint-based lesson explores how the use of a thesaurus can help to develop word, sentence and text level skills in writing. It includes the following activities: Definition of synonyms. Explanation of how a thesaurus works. Using a traditional thesaurus. Using a digital or online thesaurus such as the Microsoft thesaurus in Word, PowerPoint and Publisher. Using a thesaurus to improve vocabulary task. Peer assessment and consolidation of understanding plenary activity.

The Merchant of Venice is a 143-slide PowerPoint-based unit of work with 9 accompanying worksheets. It contains a progressive series of lessons that develop pupil knowledge and understanding of plot, characters, themes, context and language. This KS3 unit contains 12 lessons which cover a range of activities, including: Understanding the play’s plot Analysing the characters Exploring Shakespeare’s language and use of imagery Discussing the key themes and ideas of The Merchant of Venice Studying stagecraft - how Shakespeare creates and resolves conflict Context - women’s rights, Christianity and antisemitism in Elizabethan England Comprehension questions (with model answers provided) for each act. And a lot more. Click the images to preview this unit of work for The Merchant of Venice.

Boys Don’t Cry by Malorie Blackman Boys Don’t Cry is a unit of work containing a 171-slide editable PowerPoint presentation, 22 PDF worksheets and 16 one-hour lessons. This engaging scheme of work explores Malorie Blackman’s novel chapter by chapter, analysing its plot, characters, themes and language through a range of activities. The resource has been designed for GCSE but it can also be used with Year 9 depending on ability. To preview ‘Boys Don’t Cry’ click the images. When you click on an image it will expand, allowing you to view each slide in detail. You can view all 171 PowerPoint slides this way. Activities contained in the lessons include: Engaging chapter by chapter activities to consolidate understanding as learners read through the book. Reading comprehension questions (all with example answers) to assess students’ knowledge of plot, character, language, and themes. Analysis of the characters of Dante, Adam, Tyler, Josh and Aunt Jackie. Exploration of the key themes of teenage parenting, responsibility, family, prejudice, homophobia, toxic masculinity, gender, grief, bravery and growing up. Developing the key reading skills of inference and deduction. Analysing structural techniques such as the novel’s dual narrative and Blackman’s use of suspense and tension. Exploring the author’s use of language for effect. Examining the GCSE question – analysing GCSE exam questions and model answers and completing a formal assessment task Role play - hot-seating to aid understating of characters, plot and themes. Developing understanding of character through empathy writing tasks as well as character and growth arcs. Constructing a Boys Don’t Cry knowledge organiser. ‘Do Now’ activities including a Boys Don’t Cry themed crossword, word search, sequencing task, matching game, anagrams and more. Plus, lots more. To view our Boys Don’t Cry unit slide by slide, click on the images.

Writing Effective Story Openings ‘Writing Effective Story Openings’ is designed to help pupils improve their creative writing skills. Content includes: An editable PowerPoint presentation Activities to support the teaching of this objective Two accompanying worksheets Although it is designed with KS3 pupils in mind, ‘Writing Effective Story Openings’ can be easily adapted for use with upper KS2 or lower ability KS4 pupils.

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells - KS3 Unit of Work (93-slide editable PowerPoint presentation, 14 lesson plans, unit of work overview and 3 worksheets) Our ‘The Invisible Man’ teaching unit explores the popular Oxford Playscripts drama interpretation of the classic C19th H.G. Wells novel. It includes the following activities: Examining the cover and blurb and making predictions Using P.E.A.R. to construct an extended response Writing and redrafting responses to texts Character analysis Writing an empathetic response Understanding the P.A.F. of a text Individual, pair and group activities Exploring and understanding the key themes of the story Creating storyboards and quizzes to consolidate knowledge of the text Uncovering the context of ‘The Invisible Man’ - H.G. Wells research task Role play, Hotseating and other speaking and listening opportunities Writing a review of ‘The Invisible Man’

Kamikaze - AQA GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology This two-lesson unit teaches students about Beatrice Garland’s ‘Kamikaze’ in detail. Designed for GCSE pupils studying AQA Power and Conflict poetry, the resource explores the poem in depth and explains how to compare it to other poems from the anthology. It is made up of a 56-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 5 accompanying worksheets. The lessons contain the following: Lesson One Context - An introduction to Beatrice Garland and Kamikaze pilots in World War Two. First Reading - A reading of ‘Kamikaze’ with comprehension / consolidation questions - answers included. Language and imagery - Analysing the poem line by line. Exploring language and answering questions that delve deeper. Model answers provided. Essay Writing - An essay question to assess students’ initial understanding of the poem. An example response is included. Lesson Two Imagery - Analysing Garland’s use of imagery. Themes - Discussing Kamikaze’s themes. Structure and Form - Considering how Garland uses form, structure, rhythm and rhyme. The GCSE exam - Comparing ‘Kamikaze’ with ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ and explaining how to write a comparison essay in the exam. This is a comprehensive resource containing a range of activities, however it can also be edited, personalised and differentiated to suit your teaching needs. To preview 'Kamikaze’, please click on the example images from the 56-slide PowerPoint presentation.

Modal Verbs - Year 5 and 6 Years 5 and 6 - Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation In this KS2 English grammar teaching resource, pupils are introduced to modal verbs as per the curriculum objective in the years 5 and 6 English programme of study. They learn how to recognise modal verbs and how to use them in their writing. This animated PowerPoint lesson contains: A modal verb explanation with examples of commonly used modal verbs Why we use modal verbs in our writing explanation Activities to support the teaching of these objectives with 1 accompanying worksheet A further worksheet with answers ‘Modal Verbs - Year 5 and 6’ can be edited so teachers are able to adapt the resource, if needed, to suit the requirements of each class they teach.

Using a Dictionary Writing - transcription In 'Using a Dictionary ’ pupils practise their dictionary skills. Content includes: An animated PowerPoint presentation Activities to support the teaching of this objective with 2 accompanying worksheets 1 further worksheet ‘Using a Dictionary’ is fully editable allowing teachers to adapt the resource if needed to suit each class they teach.

Identifying Parts of Speech English Grammar Teaching Resource ‘Identifying Parts of Speech’ is an English grammar teaching resource focusing on identifying the 8 parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, interjections) and understanding their function in a grammatically correct sentence. Content includes: An explanation of each part of speech with examples An activity for each part of speech with accompanying worksheets 2 further worksheets with example answers ‘Identifying Parts of Speech’ is fully editable giving teachers the freedom to adapt the resource, if needed, to suit each class they teach.

A Christmas Carol - Scrooge’s Death (PowerPoint based teaching resource with 4 worksheets) This lesson enables learners to explore Dickens’ presentation of Scrooge’s death bed in Stave Four. It begins with a true or false task that focuses on the events of the previous scene (Old Joe’s). Learners will then read from, ‘“Spirit,” said Scrooge, shuddering from head to foot…’ down to, ‘“I beseech you.”’ After reading the passage, learners will undertake a worksheet that includes a range of differentiated questions. Suggested answers are provided for all tasks.

War Photographer - AQA GCSE Power and Conflict Poetry Anthology This two-lesson unit teaches students about Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘War Photographer’ in detail. Designed for GCSE pupils studying AQA Power and Conflict poetry, this resource explores the poem in depth and explains how to compare it to other poems from the anthology. It is made up of a 50-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 4 accompanying worksheets. The lessons contain the following: Lesson One Context - An introduction to the poet Carol Ann Duffy and the poem’s inspiration and context. First Reading - A reading of ‘War Photographer’ with comprehension / consolidation questions - answers included. Language and imagery - Analysing ‘War Photographer’ in detail. Exploring language and answering questions that delve deeper. Model answers provided. Essay Writing - An essay question to assess students’ initial understanding of the poem. An example response is included. Lesson Two Imagery - Analysing Duffy’s use of imagery. Themes - Discussing the poem’s themes. Structure and Form - Considering how Duffy uses form, structure, rhythm and rhyme. The GCSE exam - Comparing ‘War Photographer’ with ‘Poppies’ and explaining how to write a comparison essay in the exam. This is a comprehensive resource containing a range of activities, however it can also be edited, personalised and differentiated to suit your teaching needs. To preview ‘War Photographer’ in detail, please click on the images.

Adding Adverbs - KS3 This KS3 Essential English Skills resource is a great little lesson for helping Year 7/8 pupils consolidate their understanding of the use of adverbs in reading and writing. Content includes: Definitions and explanations of adverbs How adverbs improve our writing Activities to support the teaching of this objective with one accompanying worksheet One further worksheet with answers ‘Adding Adverbs - KS3’ is fully editable so teachers are able to adapt the resource to meet the needs of each class they teach.

Personal Pronouns - Years 3 and 4 ‘Personal Pronouns - Years 3 and 4’ is an English grammar teaching resource that covers the pronoun objectives in the English programme of study for years 3 and 4. This animated PowerPoint lesson includes: What are personal pronouns explanation Why we use personal pronouns explanation A subject and object pronouns explanation Activities to support the teaching of these objectives with 2 accompanying worksheets 1 further worksheet with answers ‘Personal Pronouns - Years 3 and 4’ is fully editable giving teachers the freedom to adapt the resource, if needed, to suit each class they teach.

Neutral Tones - Edexcel This two-lesson mini-unit explores Thomas Hardy’s ‘Neutral Tones’ in detail. Designed to teach pupils studying the poem at GCSE with the Edexcel exam board, this resource analyses the poem in depth and explains how to write an essay comparing it to another poem. The resource is made up of a 64-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 8 worksheets. The two lessons contain the following: Lesson One Making predictions – From the title alone, what do you think the poem is about? Context – Learning the importance of context. How knowledge of context helps us understand the poem in detail. Here we explore Hardy, his world view and his literary influences. First Contact – An initial reading of the poem with a glossary included and comprehension questions with answers to assess understanding. Exploring Meaning – Analysing the poem in detail. Exploring key quotes and discussing them with comprehensive questions that delve deeper. Model answers are provided. Essay Writing – An essay question task to assess initial understanding. Includes a model answer and peer assessment opportunities. Lesson Two Themes – Analysing the poem’s themes: love, loss, memory and emotional trauma. Language – Exploring Hardy’s use of language, poetic techniques and the semantic field. Includes an exploration of imagery and a line-by-line annotation of the poem and questions with detailed answers. Structure and Form – How Hardy uses the lyric form, perspective, punctuation, rhyme, rhythm, and enjambment and how he organises the stanzas and uses a cyclical structure. The GCSE Exam – How to write an exam-like comparison essay. To preview the resource please click on the images.

My Last Duchess - Edexcel This two-lesson mini-unit covers Robert Browning’s ‘My Last Duchess’ in detail. Designed for students studying the Edexcel GCSE Relationships poetry anthology, this resource explores the poem in depth and explains how to compare it to other poems. The resource is made up of a 55-slide editable PowerPoint presentation and 5 worksheets. The lessons contain the following: Lesson One Context – A brief outline of Robert Browning’s life. First Reading – A reading of ‘My Last Duchess’ with glossary and comprehension / consolidation questions - answers included. Language and imagery – Analysing ‘My Last Duchess’ in detail. Exploring language and answering questions that delve deeper. Model answers provided. Essay Writing – An essay question to assess students’ initial understanding of the poem. An example response is included. Lesson Two Imagery - Analysing Browning’s use of imagery and poetic techniques in the poem. Themes – Exploring the themes of ‘My Last Duchess’ – power, control, possessiveness, the objectification of women Structure and Form – How Browning uses form, structure, rhythm and rhyme. The exam – Comparing ‘My Last Duchess’ with another anthology poem and explaining how to write an effective extended answer. This is a comprehensive resource containing a range of activities, however it can also be edited, personalised and differentiated to suit your teaching needs. To preview our ‘My Last Duchess’ teaching resource, please click on the images.