Resources used with whole class reading of the class novel, included a reading and writing (media) assessment. Requires DVD copies of the 1981 BBC Version of the book, as well as the more recent 2009 BBC Version. Class has used the abridge novel, so resources are based on that version.

I didn’t create the idea, but I’ve revised it a bit and created a PowerPoint presentation that you can use with the handouts that I’ve borrowed from another user. This worksheet provide all the information needed to run a Macbeth Murder Mystery and use drama activity to teach a range of dramatic techniques including use of flashback. I’ve used this with my year 8 group, but it can likely be applied to most KS3 groups.

The focus of the unit is around issues of homelessness, so accompanying the unit is a class reading of Robert Swindell's novel ‘Stone Cold’. The assessment, however, isn’t on ‘Stone Cold’, but is on a creative writing piece, that uses description (so not narration) to describe a homeless person in Cambridge (but this can be changed to any city or town, really). The novel is merely being read to them so that they can use it to help them feel empathy etc. I have shown my groups clips from the film ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ as well, to help get their minds working about issues of homelessness.

The following resource, a powerpoint lesson presentation, goes through an introduction to Arthur Miller's play A View from the Bridge, as well as breaks the first Act down, scene by scene. Each scene is followed by comprehension questions to aid in developing a sense of plot and character. The Word document is a simple character grid, where students record character information and then go on quote quests to find corresponding quotes. I am making my group complete this as we finish each section, with the intention that it will be invaluable to them when revising.

The following resources were created as part of a transition unit at the end of KS3. It is meant to revise skills for reading, annotating and analyzing poetry in preparation for the new WJEC English spec. Skills studied in this unit are meant to aid in critical analysis and essay writing. There is also a Speaking and Listening task, which should be assessed using GCSE specifications.

A resource with a series of lessons based around a whole class reading of Louis Sachar’s novel ‘Small Steps’. This is only ‘part one’ of the complete unit, going from an introduction where students watch the film HOLES and discuss (Can do a S&L assessment), and then introduce the novel and read Chapters 1 - 7, with comprehension questions and empathetic writing tasks. I will continue to upload as I create the unit.

Resources for a SOW introducing KS3 students to context and works of William Shakespeare. Students experiment with speaking Shakespearean English, and build confidence with the language. No one play is studied in depth, but rather a selection of his works are briefly discussed and key scenes are read through. (Included here are bits I think I left out from Part 1. If anything is missing that is referred to in PPTs, do e-mail me and I can send you what you need)

I created this lesson to help revise for 'attitude' questions for WJEC English Lanuage reading paper.

A look at the differences between how deodorant products are marketed to men and women. Includes a written analysis as well as a practical production.

A few lessons that I've put together as an end of year study of poetry - poems are quite random, but are ones that I enjoy personally and feel are accessable to KS3 students.

Resources created for the 2013 Creative Digital Media spec. These resources should be taught in conjunction with Unit 2: Digital Publishing. Assignment briefs are uploaded on separate page.

Resources created to use with 2013 Creative Digital Media spec. Unit is actually split in two, and should be taught alongside Unit 3, Planning and Pitching.

8 introductory lessons to the skills required for the Eduqas English Language Component 2A (Reading) exam (19th and 21st century non-fiction texts). These lessons are mostly based on the Eduqas English Language Book 1 text, and are meant to compliment activities and information within the text.

The second part of lessons, for my unit on descriptive writing. The assessment involves students creating a piece of descriptive writing about a homeless person in a big city (Cambridge specifically here, but you can change this). I am currently using with my year 9s, but will likely adapt to use with year 10s as well, in terms of producing descriptive writing coursework. Could also easily be changed to aid in narrative writing, if you tweaked it.

This was an activity that went over really well with my year 9 students. We read Poe’s poem ‘The Raven’, watched the Simpsons version, and then the students were asked to create their own dramatic performance of the poem, which we recorded and screened. Took two lessons.

PPTs I created to support a GCSE study of A Taste of Honey (Shelagh Delaney).

This download contains an entire half-term’s worth of work on poetry from other cultures. The poems themselves are not included in the download, for copyright reasons, but you can easily obtain these yourselves - many are taken from past GCSE poetry anthologies. This scheme of work is fully resourced, including any relevant worksheets and examples needed for each lesson. Suitable for any KS3 group, not necessarily Y8 (which is what I originally created it for).

This powerpoint goes through Act 2 of Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge small sections at a time. After each scene there are comprehensive questions, which are meant to build student understanding of plot, themes, and characterization. There are a few activities mixed in the middle as well, including a task to create a ‘Jeremy Kyle’ style skit. At the end, there is also an opportunity to exlpore the themes, giving points and then finding evidence from the text to support it. This would be essential for revision.

A full scheme of work which explores a variety of short stories from other cultures. Many of the stories are not included in this package, but are available in older KS4 anthologies or from other sources. The resources are aimed at levels 4, 5 and 6 reading skills. Final assessment was an analysis of a short story.

The following scheme was created for use in Year 7 as a way to introduce students to media based concepts including good vs evil, DVD covers, Todorov's narrative, shot types and storyboards. The end result is a film review. Films we use are Cinderella, Tangled and Percy Jackson. Optional lessons exist tailored to film chosen by the teacher. Please visit my website to download entire scheme.