A double-sided, detailed context sheet for ‘A Christmas Carol’. As this doesn’t seem to show on the preview, the reverse side of the sheet contains a section on working conditions in the Victorian age and the ideas of Thomas Malthus. There is an accompanying worksheet on which students can write their notes. If preferred, these resources can be purchased as part of a larger unit of work on Stave One: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/a-christmas-carol-stave-one-11996048

A ready-to-go lesson on ‘Remains’ in the P&C Anthology. It is aimed at low ability learners whose primary goal is understanding the poem. The lesson includes: A starter that encourages learners to think about PTSD and how they might advise someone who is showing symptoms of PTSD Feedback slide What is trauma? What events could be considered traumatic? Discuss in pairs. Feedback slide with link to YouTube video A storyboarding activity in which learners read the poem and then label the nine scenes with quotations from the poem. This comes with two additional challenge tasks. A straightforward comparison table with ‘Poppies’, by Jane Weir, on the subject of internal conflict. Review. A free lesson on ‘Poppies’ can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/poppies-for-lower-ability-12073600 You may wish to undertake this lesson before moving onto ‘Remains’.

A lesson on Ted Hughes’ ‘Bayonet Charge’ for lower ability learners, It includes: Starter - a short explanation of what a bayonet is and how they were used in WW1. Learners then answer ‘Why do you think the bayonet was considered to be a suitable weapon for infantry attacks?’ Feedback slide Basic contextual information about the poet. A link to a relevant YouTube video Learners then read the poem and use choose quotations to caption six images on a storyboard depicting the main events of the poem. This is followed by a worksheet in which learners are asked to make three basic comparisons with ‘The Charge of the Light Brigade’ (this will have to have been covered beforehand). The table is partly filled in. Review

Learners should cut up and match the descriptive techniques to the correct examples, focusing in on the emboldened words and phrases.

A two-page guide to writing a discursive essay. The topics covered are: The purpose and content of the introduction The role of topic sentences Different forms of evidence Concluding sentences The use of counterargument The content and purpose of the conclusion This revision sheet is suitable for upper-ability learners at GCSE.

A lesson on John Agard’s ‘Checking Out Me History’ aimed at lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now task (shown on cover slide) Contextual information regarding the historical figures and events referenced in the poem, with corresponding worksheet. Link to relevant video + the meaning of ‘Eurocentric’ Quotation Hunt + Challenge Task Imagery in the poem worksheet Comparison table to complete with ‘My Last Duchess’ in terms of the presentation of the abuse of power. Review learning with challenge question.

This lesson focuses on the creation of interesting and believable characters. It is aimed at lower ability KS3 and follows on from the ‘Developing Skills in Creative Writing’ series: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/developing-skills-in-creative-writing-12079150 However, it can stand alone. Lesson Structure: Do Now Task - see cover image Feedback slide How many of the following statements in relation to fictional characters do you think are true or false? Feedback slide The importance of creative interesting and believable characters, with two examples. The major ‘Do’s’ and ‘Do Not’s’ of character creation Character planning worksheet task Tell a friend about your character Write an extract from your character’s story, with WAGOLL. The WAGOLL is about a penguin who has never learnt to swim. Peer Assessment Review

This lesson is aimed at middle-upper ability learners and focuses on broadsheet article writing for AQA English Language 8700/2. The questions is: “Those who are obese have nobody to blame but themselves.” Write an article for a broadsheet newspaper in which you explain your point of view on this statement. The lesson includes: Do Now Task: learners use their general knowledge to match seven health-related terms to their definitions. Teacher answers provided. Extension task included. Feedback slide For the following slides, learners use a designated note-taking sheet to record information on: Key points about AQA Question 5, Paper 2 What an AQA Paper 2, Question 5 will look like The basic differences between broadsheets, tabloids and the middle-market dailies The difference between an article and a news report Broadsheet readers Layout features of an article (heading, strapline, lead photo, by-line and date + main body) Basic language requirements of a broadsheet article From this point on: Learners look at the question again and come up with arguments for and against the statement. Feedback slide They then consider what makes a good heading, with several made-up examples What is the strapline? (Example provided) The internal structure of an article e.g. introduction, main body with PEC (point, evidence and comment) paragraphs, counterargument and conclusion. Learners take notes on a designated sheet A WAGOLL The writing task is set for homework (basic planning sheet included) Review Initially, I wrote one WAGOLL and it turned out to be too long, so I shortened it! Both are included. The shortened version has been broken up into sections on PPT slides, which you can print out and use as a carousel and group work activity, if you wish.

A lesson ‘Storm on the Island’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now task: learners examine an image of storm in a coastal area, identifying how it represents power and conflict. Context sheet with corresponding tasks Quotation hunt Comparison with Exposure in terms of 1) power and 2) conflict Review

A PPT that enables an exploration of Blake’s ‘London’. It is aimed at lower ability learners whose primary focus is understanding with some analysis of language and contextual ideas. The starter/Do Now task is a multiple-choice, general knowledge quiz about London as a city. Learners then read a context sheet for the poem and respond to the associated tasks. They then read a translation of the poem and annotate their copies in their anthology. Suggested annotations included. After this, they compare ‘London’ with ‘Tissue’ in terms of the presentation of human power. The PPT concludes with a learning review. Estimated time required: 1.5 hours.

A PPT that teaches ‘My Last Duchess’ from the Power and Conflict Anthology. It covers: The contextual background What is a dramatic monologue? The poem, broken down into manageable chunks and annotated. A series of questions for group work. Suitable for upper-middle ability learners. An alternative lesson for the same poem is available here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/my-last-duchess-11933556

A lesson on ‘The Prelude’ for lower ability learners. It includes: Multiple choice starter based on the Romantic Movement What is ‘The Prelude’? Context sheet + tasks Suggested annotations for lower ability learners True or false to test understanding Comparison task with ‘Storm on the Island’ Review

A lesson that follows on from this introduction to speech writing for KS3: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-introduction-to-speech-writing-for-ks3-12049010 This is a speech-writing lesson based on the issue of gender equality. It includes: Starter - learners say to what extent they agree with a series of statements relating to men and women. Feedback slide Key Facts about Gender Equality sheet Links to Emma Watson’s HeForShe speech Planning sheet task Sample GCSE question (AQA-style) Writing time Peer assessment and review This lesson is aimed at lower-middle ability learners and should take about two hours. **UPDATE: WAGOLL now included and Slide 9 question corrected. **

This is a lesson on ‘Ozymandias’ in the Power and Conflict Anthology. It is aimed at lower ability learners and includes: Do Now Task: Learners look at a photo of an Egyptian pharaoh and respond to three questions Feedback slide Learners read a sheet detailing the poem’s contextual background and use it to complete a mind map Suggested annotations for lower ability learners An essay on how the poem reflects Shelley’s feelings about power Comparison with ‘The Prelude’ table to complete Review Estimated completion time: 1.5 hours

This is the eleventh in the KS3 Creative Writing for lower ability learners. It follows on from this introduction to creative writing techniques: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/introduction-to-creative-writing-la-ks3-12065152 This lesson includes: Do Now Task (see cover image) Feedback slide An introduction to flashback as a device + what is a flashback? Links to YouTube videos in which flashback is used in 3 different films. Learners watch the clips and then say at what point the flashback occurs An introduction to flashback as a structural technique + the difference between language and structure Different ways of incorporating a flashback (worksheet) Feedback slides Flashback writing task with basic and challenge success criteria Peer assessment Review Estimated time 1:5 hours

An extended lesson that follows on from this introduction to speech writing for KS3: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/an-introduction-to-speech-writing-for-ks3-12049010 This lesson can stand alone but assumes some pre-teaching of AFOREST. A starter tasks invites learners to examine a range of images relating to plastic waste (see cover image). They then examine a list of keywords and attempt to match them to the correct definition. This is accompanied by a challenge task for more able learners, in which learners attempt to make connections between the keywords. The answers to the definitions tasks are provided. After this, learners discuss in pairs whether there is a need to ban plastics in the UK. A YouTube video link on the ‘plastic problem’ is also provided but optional. Learners then read the arguments for and against a plastic ban and transform these onto a summary sheet of six boxes. The aim is for each box to contain one point, one relevant image and one piece of evidence. They go on to thinking about how they could apply their knowledge of AFOREST to this debate. There is a sample GCSE question (AQA style) with a WAGOLL for annotation according to 5 success criteria. Learners then write their own speech in relation to the plastics debate. The lesson ends with learners peer assessing each other’s work. The material is aimed at middle-ability KS3 but could be used with KS4 with some tailoring.

Mark schemes for all sections of the AQA 8702 English Literature papers translated into more accessible English.

An introduction into Victorian morality. Useful in the pre-reading of Jekyll and Hyde and other 19th Century novels.

A powerpoint that teaches Duffy's 'War Photographer'. Suitable for GCSE English Literature.

A collection of extracts from Canonical 19th Century fiction texts. Could be used as a basis for GCSE reading/writing practice questions.