This resource includes two PowerPoints with activities for students studying Hamlet to prepare for the External Exam. PowerPoint #1 - Helps students to think about writing their own exam questions as practise and preparation for the exam. PowerPoint #2 - Helps students consider how they are going to use their planning time to plan an essay under exam conditions. These resources are suitable for anyone in QLD, Australia who is teaching Hamlet for the External Exam (in Year 11 or 12). The question stems and sample questions given are specific to this syllabus.

In an attempt to move away from the sometimes complex, yet limiting, structure of the traditional plot mountain, I have created a simplified structure which I use with all of my classes to teach narrative. I use these resources at the planning stage, so that all of my students begin drafting with an existing overview of their story that they can refer back to. In this structure, the story is made up of: Where - an orientation of place, context and setting; Who - establishment of character/s and their motivations; Problem - what the problem/conflict is, why the problem occurs, how the character reacts to the problem, and how the problem impacts the character; Tension - the steps the character takes to resolve the problem, which may or may not be successful; and Resolve - how the story is resolved and whether the character succeeds or not. This resource includes both the graphic purple plot mountain which I use with students in years 7-8, and an extended table form (which asks students to also consider audience, theme, tone, and language features in their planning) which I use with students in years 9-10.

Based off the Thinker Keys for Kids (Instruction Booklet) by Tony Ryan. All twenty keys with poetry based questions (questions are general so can be made more specific for own use). My kids are writing a narrative intervention of a poem they have studied, so some questions relate to short stories as well. I printed them onto coloured paper, cut each key/question out, folded them on the solid line, then laminated them and put them on a dollar store metal ring. Students can choose which one to work on as a lesson starter, or as an early-finisher activity. I’ve also had kids complete one for homework as an extension activity for extra class points. Works well for years 8-10 (13-15 year olds).

Often, students in Years 7-10 know what metaphors are. They can give a definition, explain the impact on the reader, and identify an example in a text. However, students can struggle when it comes to writing metaphors of their own. This worksheet includes step by step instructions on how to identify the elements of a metaphor. These elements then come together to help the students to write a deliberate metaphor which makes a meaningful comparison and targets a particular tone.

These posters are designed as an activity for students to make connections to four key aspects of their study: Characters, and how they relate to the theme Symbols, and how they relate to the theme Cultural beliefs and broader world connections from Shakespeare’s time and how they relate to the theme Key quotes they need to remember and how they relate to the theme This is typically a 30 min group activity, where groups work to complete the poster. Or, groups can swap posters every 5 mins so they all get a chance to work on each poster and learning is representative of the whole class.

This handout includes definition, features and examples of the following sub-genres of Speculative Fiction: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Paranormal/Supernatural, Superhero, Dystopian/Utopian, Post-Apocalyptic/Apocalyptic, and Alternate History. Horror was not included, as we were not providing a horror option for this unit. This handout was designed to be a one-stop-shop for understanding the sub-genres, and for our year 9 students to use as a reference when writing their spec-fic short stories.

Created for an Australian Year 10 Poetry unit. Designed for students to choose their homework assignment/s over the 8 week unit. Our unit is based on narratives inspired by poetry, so all activities are narrative/poetry theme.

6 context questions plus BONUS prompt question worksheet, to help students begin their context research on a poet or lyricist. For use in conjunction with poetic analysis.