A PPT presentation detailing the story of Beowulf. Includes detailed contextual information, discussion of language variation and a fun task of creating Kennings.

AS/A LEVEL revision quiz for A Streetcar Named Desire. Teacher copy with answers included.

A lesson to encourage discussion on critical responses to William Blake. Pupils discuss the quotes on the PPT, read the critical reception handout then using notes/research complete the quote table. During class feedback pupils agree on the most useful quotes to create revision cards.

A Year 12 presentation on literary theory. An introduction to the main theories and detailed information on colonalism, post-colonialism and feminism. Lots of areas for discussion, pupils record key information. I provide pupils with a handout of Conventry Patmore’s poem ‘The Angel in the House’ - wikipedia, this is used for some ‘unseen’ poetry analysis and then to prompt class discussion on Victorian ideals. I also give pupils a copy of 'An extinct Angel’ by Charlotte Perkins Gilman - as this is a ‘talk back’ to Patmore’s poem it goes well with the study of Rhys’s response to Jane Eyre.

Pupils discuss the painting ‘In the Night Cafe’ by Vincent Van Gogh, as mentioned in the opening stage directions to the scene. They then go on the look at the 1947, Thomas Hart Benton painting based on the scene from the film version of the play. Annotating both images to find links to the characters, themes and setting. The PPT details presents pupils with information about the characters and symbols in this scene, for discussion and text annotation. Pupils are given an extract to analyse the stage directions to prompt discussion of William’s unusual descriptive use of the technique. The lesson ends with pupils completing a written task.

A PPT with analysis of quotes and symbols from Scene 2 of William’s A Streetcar Named Desire. Produced for Year 12 AS study of the play, pupils discuss and annotate own copies of the text. Includes a detailed presentation of speech theory.

A discussion of illusion versus reality in Scenes 7&8 of A Streetcar Named Desire. Starts with listening to Ella Fitzgerald’s ‘It’s Only a Paper Moon’ and pupils annotating the song lyrics in relation to Blanche and illusion. Pupils go on to write a detailed paragraph comparing the song to Blanche and explaining how it illustrates her emotional state. Pupils read Scene 8 and answer True/False questions about race and class before discussing this in greater detail.

KS3 Assembly - although would also be relevant to older year groups. PPT details the connection between attendance and attainment - illustrating how 'odd days off' add to make a significant difference.

A Year 8 scheme of work for David Grant’s play Free The play tells the story of a Year class with no teacher and the adventure of their ‘free’ lesson. The PPT guides pupils through setting, characterisation, dramatic tension and themes. Various tasks encourage class discussion, independent writing and a final group task producing a programme for the schools own production. Pupils throughly enjoy this short play. It can easily be read and studied over a few weeks.

50 questions - revising context, plot, narrative and quotations. Teacher copy with answers. I am using to re-test every week until pupils get 100%

A PPT introduction to The Odyssey, comprised of twenty-four books or chapters, it presents universal human situations from many different viewpoints as Penelope and Telemakhos struggle to maintain their home and Odysseus struggles to return to it. I use a selection of images to inspire discussion and prediction. Pupils then link to modern situations.

Assembly what Summer Solstice is and what we spend all of our time doing. Sleeping: 24 years (approximately one third of our lives!) Eating: 6 yearsWatching TV: 9 yearsWaiting in a queue (including at traffic lights): 5 yearsHousework: 4 yearsToilet: 18 monthsKissing: 2.5 weeks Purpose is to encourage pupils to make the most of every day. Hands up revealed some of my pupils spend more time on the xbox than sleeping.

Introduction to William Blake, specifically Songs of Innocence and Experience. The presentation provides biographical contextual information before asking pupils to consider what the title means. Focusing on the quote ‘Being the two contrary states of the human soul’ the PPT explores Blake’s influences: IndustrIal Age, Romanticism, Science, Religion and Revolution.

A lesson guiding pupils to consider pace, tone, accent and body language in performing poetry. Ideal for group work and a fun task. Pupils are encouraged to apply the different aspects to their own poem throughout the lesson.

The lesson objective is to understand why many young men like Tommo were so eager to go off to war. Pupils will identify the ways that men were persuaded to enlist in the army, and produce a piece of work which persuades people to join up for something. The lesson encourages analysis of War posters the Sergeant Major's speech and Jessie Pope's poem Who's for the Game?

Lesson aimed at Year 8 or 9. Pupils consider Persuasive /propaganda techniques using Squealers speech. Groups/pairs create their own speech to deliver to the class.

Year 7 lesson - Pupils read the myth Persephone and the pomegranate seeds and then answer comprehension questions. The PPT invites them to consider what a monologue is - Taylor Swift recorded a ‘Monologue song’ I play this to pupils to give them the idea. The main task is to write a monologue for one of the characters in Persephone and the Pomegranate Seeds Pupils need to imagine that they are that character and write an imagined extract from their autobiography explaining how their character felt about the situation. Volunteers read their responses to the class.

Read/act Scene 1 then use this PPT to walk pupils through an annotation of the scene. Includes discussion questions and finishes with pupils writing about how Williams’ presents the contrast between Stanley and Blanche is Scene 1. There is a epigraph worksheet somewhere on Tes that works well with this lesson.