A lesson on The Explorer’s Daughter by Kari Herbert - Edexcel iGCSE English Language Anthology. Full PowerPoint with analysis, discussion questions and a creative writing homework activity.

A comprehensive resource pack on Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’. Assessments are tailored towards the OCR A level English course, however, could be adapted for a number of other exam boards. There are a number of practice assessments with model answers.

Lesson Summary: Young and Dyslexic This lesson explores Benjamin Zephaniah’s article Young and Dyslexic? You’ve Got It Going On, where he reflects on his experiences growing up with dyslexia and how he transformed this challenge into a strength. The lesson guides students through an analysis of how Zephaniah uses language to connect with his audience and convey his message of resilience and empowerment for dyslexic individuals. Lesson Objectives: Understand Zephaniah’s perspective on dyslexia and how he uses his experience to inspire others. Analyse the use of language, tone, and anecdotes to connect with the reader and convey a positive message. Reflect on the broader implications of the education system and societal views on learning differences. Activities: Group discussions on personal challenges in learning and the perceptions of dyslexia. Guided reading to identify and interpret key literary techniques, such as metaphor, tone, and anecdote. A creative task where students design a poster summarising Zephaniah’s message, aiming to challenge the stigma around dyslexia. Skills Developed: Analytical reading and interpretation, focusing on non-fiction texts and the author’s use of language and structure. Empathy and understanding through the exploration of learning difficulties and the importance of resilience. Creative expression through visual and written tasks that engage students with the material.

Piano by D.H. Lawrence: A Comprehensive GCSE Poetry Lesson This detailed GCSE lesson on D.H. Lawrence’s Piano is designed to help students analyse the poem’s themes, language, and structure while building essential skills for their English Literature exams. Through a combination of close reading, literary analysis, and contextual exploration, students will gain a deeper understanding of the emotional power of the poem and its reflection on memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time. What’s Included: Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis: A detailed breakdown of Piano, examining how Lawrence uses memory and music to evoke the speaker’s emotions and reflections on childhood. Focus on Literary Techniques: Exploration of key literary devices, including imagery, symbolism, rhyme, and rhythm, highlighting how they contribute to the poem’s mood and deeper meaning. Historical and Biographical Context: Insight into D.H. Lawrence’s life and the societal context of the poem, helping students understand the personal and historical influences behind the text. GCSE Exam Preparation: Structured questions and tasks modelled on GCSE exam-style prompts, helping students practise analytical writing and engage with the poem on a critical level. Creative and Analytical Activities: Activities such as reflective writing, comparison tasks, and close reading exercises, encouraging students to connect the themes of the poem to their own experiences of memory and emotion. Why This Resource? This resource is perfect for GCSE English Literature teachers looking to equip students with the analytical tools necessary for their exams. It provides structured lessons that promote both literary analysis and personal reflection, helping students develop a comprehensive understanding of Piano and its emotional impact. Keywords: GCSE, Piano, D.H. Lawrence, poetry analysis, literary devices, memory, nostalgia, GCSE English Literature, exam preparation, stanza analysis. This resource offers all the tools needed to guide students through a detailed exploration of Piano while preparing them for their GCSE English Literature exams.

A lesson on an extract from ‘The Woman in Black’ (Whistle and I’ll Come to You) from the Edexcel iGCSE English Language Anthology. The PowerPoint includes analysis, discussion questions and homework activities.

A Greek Myth Collection: An Introduction Prometheus and Pandora Demeter and Persephone Theseus and the Minotaur The Golden Fleece Heracles Perseus Orpheus and Eurydice

Lesson Summary: A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat This lesson explores Emma Levine’s travelogue extract “A Game of Polo with a Headless Goat,” which describes a donkey race in Karachi, Pakistan. The lesson engages students in analysing how Levine uses language and structure to create excitement, build tension, and provide a humorous account of cultural experiences. Students will examine literary techniques such as metaphor, hyperbole, and onomatopoeia, and discuss their effects on the reader. Lesson Objectives: Analyse how language and structural choices create excitement and build tension. Understand and identify literary devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification. Explore the cultural and social context of the narrative to deepen comprehension. Activities: Group discussion on the extract’s themes, including cultural differences and the appeal of unusual sports. Identification of literary techniques and their impact through guided reading and annotation exercises. Creative writing task where students craft their own sports commentary using similar devices to those found in Levine’s writing. Skills Developed: Critical analysis of text and understanding of authorial choices. Empathy and cultural awareness through the exploration of diverse experiences. Creative writing skills by applying learned techniques to original stories.

A detailed unit of work for ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ including lots of articles and extracts for wider reading. There are PowerPoints for each chapter and suggested assignments throughout.

Lesson Summary: Chinese Cinderella This lesson explores an extract from Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah, focusing on her experiences growing up in a wealthy yet emotionally neglectful family in 1950s Hong Kong. The lesson guides students through the analysis of how the author uses language and imagery to convey her feelings of isolation, fear, and hope. Through discussion and structured activities, students will deepen their understanding of autobiographical writing and the historical and cultural context of the narrative. Lesson Objectives: Analyse how Adeline Yen Mah uses literary devices and imagery to convey her emotions and experiences. Understand the cultural and familial context influencing the author’s upbringing. Engage with autobiographical writing to identify its typical features and explore its purpose. Activities: Group discussions exploring students’ own experiences and cultural perspectives on family expectations and education. Guided reading focusing on identifying and interpreting language techniques such as metaphors, similes, and allusions. Creative writing task where students compose a diary entry from Adeline’s perspective, capturing her emotions after learning she will study abroad. Skills Developed: Analytical reading and interpretation of autobiographical texts, focusing on language and structure. Empathy and cultural awareness through examining familial dynamics and societal expectations. Creative expression through writing tasks that encourage personal engagement with the text.

A full guided reading course on ‘Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief’ including passages, discussion questions, videos and homework assignments.

A lesson on the poem ‘Blessing’ by Imtiaz Dharker. The PowerPoint includes analysis, discussion questions, a quiz and a homework activity.

A full scheme of work on Jasmine Warga’s ‘Other Words for Home’, a novel written in free verse about a Syrian family who flee the war and move to the US.

A lesson on the poem ‘The Pig’ by Roald Dahl. The PowerPoint includes analysis, discussion questions and a homework activity.

The Hunger Games Scheme of Work: 13 Engaging Lessons for KS3 English with Creative Final Assessment This comprehensive 13-lesson scheme of work is designed to immerse KS3 students in Suzanne Collins’ thrilling novel The Hunger Games. Through detailed analysis of characters, themes, and literary techniques, students will explore the deeper meanings behind the text while participating in a variety of creative and analytical activities. The scheme culminates in a unique final assessment where students design their own version of the Hunger Games and participate in an interview-style reflection. It was designed during the pandemic for online learning but can easily be adapted for classroom use. What’s Included: 13 Complete Lessons: Each PowerPoint lesson covers specific chapters and themes from The Hunger Games, with structured activities such as reading comprehension, discussions, and group work. Character and Theme Analysis: Lessons focus on key themes like survival, inequality, and rebellion, alongside character studies of Katniss, Peeta, and other significant figures. Literary Devices and Techniques: Exploration of techniques such as symbolism, foreshadowing, and narrative structure, helping students develop a deeper understanding of how the novel is crafted. Creative and Analytical Activities: Varied tasks such as creative writing, role-playing, debates, and group presentations ensure that students engage actively with the text. Contextual Studies: Lessons connect the dystopian world of The Hunger Games with real-world issues, such as political oppression and media manipulation, making the content relevant to students’ lives. Final Creative Assessment: Students design their own Hunger Games as part of the culminating assessment. This task challenges them to create a new arena, rules, and tributes, followed by a reflective interview where they discuss their design decisions and the moral implications of the games. Exam and Assessment Preparation: Opportunities for students to practice analytical writing and respond to GCSE-style questions, preparing them for future exams. Why This Resource? This scheme of work is perfect for KS3 teachers who want to engage their students with a modern literary classic while fostering key skills in critical thinking, creative expression, and literary analysis. The creative final assessment provides an opportunity for students to apply their understanding of the novel in an imaginative and reflective way, making it both an enjoyable and educational experience. Keywords: KS3 English, The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins, literature analysis, dystopian fiction, creative writing, final assessment, design your own Hunger Games, critical thinking, exam preparation. This engaging and versatile resource ensures students not only explore the novel in depth but also express their creativity through a unique final assessment, helping them connect with the story on a personal level.

This booklet contains a variety of unseen passages for the unit on ‘The Immigrant Experience’. Texts include: ‘American and I’ - Anzia Yezierska ‘Exit West’ – Mohsin Hamid ‘Brick Lane’ – Monica Ali ‘Enemies: A Love Story’ – Isaac Bashevis Singer ‘The Assistant’ – Bernard Malamud ‘The Namesake’ – Jhumpa Lahiri ‘The Buddha in the Attic’ – Julie Otsuka ‘The Lonely Londoners’ – Sam Selvon ’The Road Home’ - Rose Tremain ‘Terrorist’ – John Updike ‘My New American Life’ – Francine Prose ‘The Fortunate Pilgrim’ – Mario Puzo ‘The Association of Small Bombs’ – Karan Mahajan ‘Black-Eyed Women’ from ‘The Refugees’ - Viet Thanh Nguyen ‘The Secret River’ – Kate Grenville ‘The Third and Final Continent’ from ‘Interpreter of Maladies’ - Jhumpa Lahiri ’Call it Sleep’ - Henry Roth ‘A Long Way Home’ – Saroo Brierley ‘The Blue Between Sky and Water’ – Susan Abulhawa ‘Shantaram’ – David Gregory Roberts ’Eva’s Story’ - Eva Schloss ‘Girl in Translation’ – Jean Kwok ‘Café Scheherazade’ – Arnold Zable ‘Brooklyn’ - Colm Tóibín I set ‘The Blue Between Sky and Water’ as a Mock Examination so I have included indicative content for this which would work as a mark scheme and two model answers for ‘A Long Way Home’ and ‘Brooklyn’.

Lesson Summary: A Passage to Africa This lesson delves into George Alagiah’s extract from A Passage to Africa, exploring the impact of war and famine in Somalia. Students engage in analysing how Alagiah uses language to depict suffering, as well as the ethical and emotional dilemmas journalists face when reporting on such crises. Through a blend of group discussions, guided readings, and writing tasks, students will develop a deeper understanding of the passage and Alagiah’s message. Lesson Objectives: Understand the context and purpose of Alagiah’s narrative as a journalist’s account. Analyse how language techniques (e.g., metaphors, sensory imagery) are used to convey suffering. Discuss and reflect on the ethical challenges of journalism in conflict zones. Activities: Group discussions on media representation of humanitarian crises and the role of journalists. Guided reading with a focus on identifying key language devices and their effects. Analytical writing tasks using structured approaches like PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation) or PETAL (Point, Evidence, Technique, Analysis, Link) to respond to a question about Alagiah’s use of language. Skills Developed: Critical analysis of non-fiction texts and understanding the ethical dimensions of journalism. Empathy and cultural awareness through exploration of real-world humanitarian issues. Structured analytical writing, focusing on language effects and textual evidence.

A lesson on a poem called ‘Lockdown’ by Brother Richard about the coronavirus pandemic. The critical terminology is quite advanced but could be adapted to suit younger year groups. I taught the lesson to a group of students in China and their responses to the poem were amazing! ADDITION TO LESSON: I’ve now included a PDF of a poem I wrote as a homework activity.

Lesson produced for Park Street Education. https://parkstreetedu.com/ In celebration of Terry Fox day this Sunday, our students will be combining History and English as they learn the history behind Terry’s Marathon of Hope and examine the persuasive writing used in his letter to Adidas for sponsorship. Terry Fox’s determination, hope, and belief in miracles is unparalleled and inspirational to Canadians across the country.

This is a comprehensive lesson on an extract from the poem ‘Out of the Blue’ by Simon Armitage, a poem about 9/11 written for Park Street Education: https://parkstreetedu.com/ The lesson includes: context, discussion questions, images from the attacks, a video clip, a line by line analysis and two options for homework activities. This is suitable for Grade 8 and above, though could be adapted to suit a younger audience. As the lesson contains distressing content, it is advised that teachers and parents assess the suitability of the material based on the individual students they will be teaching.