This lesson enables learners to explore ‘Kamikaze’ by Beatrice Garland. It includes: Lesson Starter (see cover image) An image of the sinking US Arizona with the question, ‘When do you think this photograph was taken’? Learners discuss and then feedback. A context sheet contained a simplified explanation of the Pearl Harbour attack and the rise of Kamikaze pilots. There is a corresponding worksheet for this. A link to a BBC interview with a surviving Kamikaze pilot with three questions to answer. A sheet of questions to prompt annotation of the poem. The lesson is aimed at lower ability learners whose primary goal is understanding.

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 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

A lesson on Browning's 'My Last Duchess' aimed at lower ability learners. It includes: Do Now Task: Learners read four context-related questions and say to what extent they agree and why. Feedback slide A conxtext sheet with accompanying true or false activity (answers included) A summary of the poem + storyboarding activity Link to YouTube video of the poem being performed The poem broken down into eleven slides with suggested translation and annotations Comparison with Ozymandias table to complete Learning Review

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 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

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 46-slide PowerPoint that provides a short course in narrative and descriptive writing for GCSE. It is aimed at middle-ability KS4 and is oriented towards AQA English Language 8700, Paper 1, Question 5. The PowerPoint covers: The writing AO’s, unpacked and turned into 7 ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions The structures of 8700 Papers 1 & 2 The difference between narrative and descriptive writing Descriptive techniques organised into the acronym MRS VAN SOAPS Descriptive writing success criteria Sample descriptive writing tasks (students choose 1 of 2) A teacher-written response (presented as an extract from a full response) Peer assessment Short story structure (Freytag’s Pyramid) Exploring Freytag’s Pyramid in relation to ‘A Christmas Carol’ Sample narrative writing tasks with planning activity Narrative writing success criteria Showing and telling in fiction 4 showing tasks with sample responses DIRT tasks Narrative choice: 1st or 3rd person with picture prompt activity Self-assessment Final writing tasks (descriptive or narrative) Peer assessment Reflection opportunity. This resource incorporates others that have previously been on sale in my shop, either in their current form or slightly tweaked. If you already have these but wish to purchase this unit of work, please contact me at and we’ll try to work something out. Resources also sold separately: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/descriptive-writing-techniques-match-up-activity-11749389 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/descriptive-writing-techniques-summary-mat-11747011 https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/short-story-planning-flow-chart-11747165 These files were last saved in Office 2016.

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.

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’.

The sixth in the KS3 Basic Literacy Series. It includes: A starter based on the homophones there, their and they’re, effectively revising the material covered in the previous lesson. What is an inference + several examples A series of photos as a basis for whole class discussion on the inferences that can be made from different visual cues. A worksheet: read ten short extracts and make inferences from them, with extension task Review This lesson can stand alone but it assumes some pre-teaching of there, their and they’re.

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

Aimed at middle-upper ability GCSE groups, this PowerPoint teaches the layout and language of a formal letter. It is oriented towards AQA 8700/2/Question 5 but could be adapted for other boards. In order, the PowerPoint contents are: A multiple-choice entry task AQA advice on features of format A sample AQA-style question. Students identify PAF and reflect on the importance of being mindful of PAF in relation to Question 5. Extension task included. The layout of a formal letter, which students copy. Extension questions included. Notes regarding the formal greeting and formal sign-off A re-cap on the features of formal and informal language. Students cut the features out, organise them under two headings and stick them into their books. An example response to the given question. Students read and identify different features (differentiated) An opportunity for independent writing, with success criteria provided. Peer assessment and self-reflection. These files were last saved in Office 2010.

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.

This is a newly-differentiated version of the following resource: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/macbeth-annotated-act-one-11875448 This lower-ability version contains: The full text of Act 1, translated (same as original) Several key extracts for study Scene summaries for Scenes 2-7 A range of activities to develop understanding. Simplified contextual notes with a corresponding worksheet Key information with corresponding worksheet. This resource is aimed at lower-middle ability learners.

This lesson provides an introduction to leaflet writing for GCSE English. Do Now Task Students identify the purpose of different pieces of short text, giving reasons for their answers. Main Task Students plan and write their own leaflet. There is a planning sheet which can be used in your own, independent lessons in the future, should you wish to revisit the topic of leaflet writing at a later date. The exam style question focuses on the idea of parents helping students with revision in Year 11, and a sample answer is provided. Learning Review Revisiting the learning objective and checking understanding through questioning.

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

A knowledge organiser for AQA Paper 1, Question 4 (the evaluation question). It is based on a past paper, so please take this into account if you are using it for a mock. The WAGOLLs on the reverse side demonstrate Levels 3, 5 and 7. Full colour and black and white copies included.

Two revision clocks on PowerPoint slides: one blank and the other tailored to ‘Macbeth’.