A model to show pupils before they present their own talks exploring protagonist, antagonist, conflict etc. in a film.

A really fun exercise to assess listening based on a great wee story - 'Mary's Hair' by Eoin Colfer. Questions and answer key included Text published by Barrington Stoke.

A great helpsheet to ensure a worthwhile group discussion with first year (secondary school) pupils

This is a close reading activity that forms part of a larger unit of work based on the film ‘Lion’ starring Dev Patel. (See my other resources which have been developed to help pupils write ‘Lion’ film essays for the Scottish National 5 and Higher English exam) This extract allows discussion about the book which inspired the film.

After studying ‘The Highwayman’ poem by Alfred Noyes, this is a fully scaffolded helpsheet to enable pupils to write a detailed evaluation of the poem, focusing on poetic techniques used to create atmosphere.

I know this is just a single page sheet, but it’s been really useful in supporting pupils with the development of effective opening paragraphs for critical essays on a film. To be used with my other resources on ‘Lion’

A detailed set of notes about Caliban, focusing on his pivotal role throughout the whole of the play. Important quotations recorded in bold with text references. Summary of his key contribution to the drama. My pupils collaborated on this, in preparation for writing an essay about significant characters in two plays (see my other notes on Camillo and Paulina from 'The Winter’s Tale).

A unit of work - designed to be used with any level of secondary school class - that lasts for 3 weeks. Our pupils enjoyed doing this online over lockdown, but also suitable for a homework booklet or classroom work. Choices of tasks for each week : one writing task and one design task from lists of options. Thoughtful instructions to aid reflection.

A quiz for 6 teams based on the Scottish set text poems: Originally Valentine Mrs Midas War Photographer The Way my Mother Speaks In Mrs Tilscher’s Class My class really enjoyed this as a revision activity

A template to help pupils write down their observations of camera work, sound etc. during a key scene in My Left Foot. Excellent preparation for writing a film essay about a key scene. Pupils can then collate their notes into a final document.

Some starter questions to use as an introduction to a project about gun crime. Based on the short youtube film 'Evan'. Pupils find this topic really interesting.

Booklist to support pupils with titles, authors and brief plot summary. A lot of groundwork has gone into this, and it could be amended to suit your class. It includes a range of challenging and easy titles to suit mixed ability classes.

A booklist with titles, author name, and brief plot summary to support pupils in the selection of texts for personal reading. A lot of groundwork has gone into this, and it could be amended to suit your own class. There is a range of challenging and easy texts to suit a mixed ability class. Will print effectively as an A5 booklet.

My senior class has been watching the fantastic film 'The Imposter' as a stimulation for creative writing activities. This sheet offers 3 options for an imaginative piece of writing.

A useful resource for a thematic unit of work on bullying. From the drama series called 'Moving On' available on Amazon.

A paragraph plan to support pupils writing a critical essay about a key scene in My Left Foot. See my other resources - template for pupils plus model template by teacher.

A whole note-taking booklet, with support notes, to help pupils write a novel study on the book of their choice. Covers: plot summary, choosing a focus, genre, structure, setting, characterisation, theme, narrator, and style. This has worked extremely well with my senior pupils.

A great resource for World Book Day that I made up for all of first year at secondary School. Would also suit primary 6 and 7. Five rounds of questions for teams, answer grids, answer sheets and a picture round.

Pages of important quotations for each character, essay plan , group discussion questions, setting and symbolism notes.

A simple but useful presentation of information for pupils to copy down, then an exercise on using similes.