Enhance students understanding of Charles Dickens’ timeless novella A Christmas Carol with this comprehensive resource, focusing on the role of the supernatural. This study guide is designed to support GCSE, English Literature students in exploring key themes, character analysis, and Dickens’ use of vivid imagery and symbolism.
Key Features:
Extract and Question: Includes two questions and extracts.
Model Answers and Phrases: Step-by-step guidance and exemplar responses help students develop insightful answers, using evaluative language and subject-specific terminology. A list of phrases taken from the model answer is provided for students to familiarise themselves with the language used in a literary essay.
Themes and Symbolism: Detailed exploration of the supernatural elements in each stave, including the moral and societal messages conveyed by the ghosts.
Critical Questions: Thought-provoking questions for every supernatural event in each stave, encouraging deeper engagement with the themes, such as social inequality, reflection, and transformation.
This resource equips students with the skills to analyse Dickens’ narrative techniques and effectively address exam questions, making it an essential tool for GCSE success.
This A Christmas Carol resource is designed to help GCSE, English Literature teachers guide students in analyzing the theme of redemption in Charles Dickens’ novella. An extract from Stave Two is provided alongside the question: ‘How does Dickens present the theme of redemption in this extract and in the novella as a whole?’ This allows students to focus their analysis on specific text examples while linking back to the novella’s broader themes.
Tailored for both classroom learning and independent study, the resource includes:
Model Essay Response - A detailed and well-structured exemplar response that explores how Dickens presents redemption through vivid imagery, symbolism, and character development. The essay addresses the novella as a whole, focusing on the role of each Spirit in Scrooge’s transformation.
Key Vocabulary and Analytical Phrases - A curated list of phrases such as “transformative power of redemption,” “motif of light as a symbol of enlightenment,” and “systemic inequalities of Victorian England.” This vocabulary aids students in developing high-quality responses.
Storyboard summaries of Stave Two to provide visual and contextual support for the extract. Ideal for paired discussions and comprehension.
Independent Extract Tasks - Another extract is provided to assess students’ understanding of text analysis and thematic understanding.
This resource equips students with the tools to critically evaluate the text while ensuring they meet assessment objectives. Perfect for building analytical skills and boosting confidence for exam responses.
These resources are crafted to enhance students’ analytical and evaluative skills for GCSE, English Language, offering structured guidance and practice materials tailored to meet curriculum demands. This unit focuses on reading response, PEEL paragraphs and using evaluative language to categorise behaviour and setting.
Using Evaluative Language in PEEL Paragraphs
This booklet is a step-by-step guide to mastering the PEEL paragraph framework. It includes:
Introduction to Evaluative Language: Explains how to move beyond description to analyze texts critically.
Framework Breakdown: Detailed guidance on structuring Point, Evidence, Explanation, and Link, with emphasis on evaluative vocabulary.
Model Examples and Exercises: Includes extracts and sample paragraphs to illustrate effective analysis of setting, behavior, and character.
Self-Assessment Tools: A checklist to help students refine their responses independently
Evaluative Words for Describing Different Settings (Alphabetical List)
This resource provides an extensive list of evaluative words categorized alphabetically to help students accurately describe and analyze:
Settings: Words like “foreboding,” “serene,” and “sinister” to capture mood and atmosphere.
Characters and Behaviors: Adjectives like “empathetic,” “impulsive,” and “enigmatic” to discuss traits and motivations.
Extract-Based Analytical Practice
Centered around the extract The Platform, this resource includes:
High-Quality Extract: Engaging text with rich sensory and emotional detail.
Targeted Questions: Prompts that focus on tension, character conflict, mood, and thematic exploration.
Model PEEL Paragraph Responses: Examples for each question to illustrate advanced analytical techniques.
This comprehensive guide is designed to help GCSE students excel in both the reading and descriptive writing sections of the AQA English Language Paper 1. It provides clear, practical strategies for approaching each type of question, with step-by-step advice and model responses tailored to exam requirements.
Key Features
Reading Section:
Extract and Practice Questions: The extract is taken from a thriller novel set in the 1950s. Typical AQA questions are provided to assess comprehension.
In-Depth Question Guidance: Detailed advice on how to respond to each question type, from basic information retrieval to deeper analysis and evaluation.
Model Answers: Example responses to show students how to structure answers, use subject-specific vocabulary, and apply evaluative language.
Topic Sentences and Analytical Vocabulary: Tips on crafting solid topic sentences and incorporating evaluative and descriptive words to build strong, clear answers.
Exam Skills: Strategies to help students identify key information, understand how to interpret language and structure, and analyze the writer’s techniques effectively.
Descriptive Writing Section:
Step-by-Step Writing Plan: A writing plan template that breaks down the process of crafting a descriptive piece based on a picture prompt, guiding students through each section - foreground, background, and action.
Sensory and Figurative Language: Practical examples and exercises to help students develop their use of sensory details and figurative language, such as similes and metaphors, to create vivid, atmospheric descriptions.
Exam-Specific Tips: Tailored advice for AQA Paper 1, focusing on breaking down the task, using strong topic sentences, and structuring responses to maximize marks.
Model Descriptive Paragraphs: High-quality example paragraphs that demonstrate effective use of descriptive techniques and language choices.
Self-Assessment Checklist: A checklist to help students review and refine their work, ensuring they meet exam criteria for high marks.
Perfect For:
Teachers seeking comprehensive resources for teaching both reading and descriptive writing skills
Students aiming to improve their understanding of reading comprehension and creative writing techniques
Tutors looking to support students with exam preparation for AQA English Language Paper 1
This guide will help students build confidence in their reading and writing skills, offering structured guidance and practical tools for exam success.
These two booklets provide comprehensive resources designed to support GCSE, English Literature (AQA) students in exploring and analyzing unseen poetry. Focused on key poems like The Voice by Thomas Hardy, Remember by Christina Rossetti, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth, and Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley, these guides help students deepen their understanding of how poets convey emotions and complex themes through language, structure, and imagery.
Booklet 1: Poetic Analysis Framework & Exam Practice
This booklet introduces a versatile and easy-to-remember framework for analysing unseen poems. It equips students with the tools to examine subjects, themes, tone, imagery, language devices, and emotions systematically.
Featuring a model essay about The Voice by Thomas Hardy this booklet helps students practice and develop their ability to answer the poetry question effectively. A plan to compare the poems is also provided.
A fully-structured exam practice section is included, offering a clear plan for students to follow when writing their responses.
Booklet 2: Practice Paper - Nature in Poetry
Building on analysis skills, this booklet focuses on two iconic poems, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud by William Wordsworth and Ode to the West Wind by Percy Bysshe Shelley. It is designed for students to practice their skills.
Ideal for in-class lessons, this resource includes structured question prompts, detailed model responses, and revision tips to strengthen students’ analytical writing skills in line with AQA, GCSE English Literature requirements.
This unit includes a series of 11 plus, reading passages from well-known literary works, along with comprehension assessments tailored for dyslexic 11 plus students or students with additional needs such as autism or ADHD. The key features are:
Dyslexia-Friendly Design: The texts and activities are formatted to be accessible for students with dyslexia, including the use of double spacing and different colors for syllables in multisyllabic words.
Focus on Key Vocabulary: It highlights challenging words from the texts, breaking them down into syllables to aid spelling and pronunciation practice.
Key Phrases for Practice: Select phrases are provided for students to rehearse, enhancing their understanding of language use and meaning.
Comprehension Questions: Each text is followed by a series of questions designed to assess students’ understanding and analytical skills. These questions include identifying literary techniques, discussing the use of language, and continuing narratives using descriptive language. The comprehension assessment is in a similar format to the 11 plus exam.
Understanding Metaphor, Simile, and Personification
This resource focuses on the use of figurative language, specifically metaphors, similes, and personification, within literary texts, a key feature of the 11 plus assessment. The key aspects include:
Definitions and Examples: Clear explanations of metaphors, similes, and personification are provided, along with examples from literature.
Analytical Questions: The document includes questions that prompt students to identify and analyze the use of these figurative language elements in given passages. This helps in developing a deeper understanding of how authors use language to convey meaning and create imagery.
Practice Tasks: Students are encouraged to find their own examples and create sentences using metaphors, similes, and personification, fostering creativity and application skills.
These resources are designed to enhance literary comprehension and critical thinking skills among students with additional needs, making them well-prepared for the analytical demands of the 11 plus Examinations.
Aimed for GCSE (AQA) English Language teachers, this resource is ideal to teach the different elements of Paper One. It includes model responses to the practice questions which will help students understand what is required of them and provides a useful resource for examination preparation!
The practice paper, reading material is a detailed, engaging extract about Claire, a young woman returning home after a tiring day at work. It allows students to practice skills such as understanding characters, setting, and emotions while responding to AQA-style questions. The paper contains typical Section A questions. focusing on reading comprehension and analysis, with questions addressing language techniques, structure, and character evaluation.
Section B provides creative writing prompts, encouraging students to either describe a rainy city scene - picture prompt - or write a story about feeling invisible in a crowd.
An included mark scheme clearly outlines how to assess student responses, with level descriptors for analyzing language, structure, and critical evaluation. These can be shared with students.
Model answers are included to give students examples of high-quality responses, guiding them on how to structure answers and use evidence effectively. Students will be able to see the type of language they need to use to respond to the text.
Additionally, a checklists is included as a separate document to support both reading and writing tasks. These cover:
Language features like strong verbs, metaphors, and personification.
Structural devices such as chronological order, flashbacks, and cyclical structure.
Creative writing features such as varied sentence structures, figurative language, and punctuation for effect.
These resources ensure comprehensive preparation for the AQA Paper 1 exam, helping students develop critical reading skills and produce creative, well-structured writing!
Aimed for GCSE (AQA) English Language teachers, this resource is ideal to teach the different elements of Paper One. It includes model responses to the practice questions which will help students understand what is required of them and provides a useful resource for examination preparation!
The practice paper, reading material is a detailed, engaging extract taken from a mystery novel. It allows students to practice skills such as understanding characters, setting, and emotions while responding to AQA-style questions. The paper contains typical Section A questions. focusing on reading comprehension and analysis, with questions addressing language techniques, structure, and character evaluation.
Section B provides creative writing prompts, encouraging students to either describe an atmospheric room - picture prompt - or write a story about a mysterious event.
An included mark scheme clearly outlines how to assess student responses, with level descriptors for analyzing language, structure, and critical evaluation. These can be shared with students.
Model answers are included to give students examples of high-quality responses, guiding them on how to structure answers and use evidence effectively. Students will be able to see the type of language they need to use to respond to the text.
Additionally, a checklists is included as a separate document to support both reading and writing tasks. These cover:
Language features like descriptive speech, dialogue, imagery, repetition and tone.
Structural devices such as character focus, shift to dialogue, withholding information, gradual revelation, climactic moment and progression of tension.
Creative writing features aspects such as varied sentence structures, figurative language, and punctuation for effect.
Aimed to be used for students studying the WJEC, English Language, GCSE examination, this pack provides a practice paper, marking scheme and guidance and model answers for the writing section.
The Welsh exam board follows a unique exam structure and this paper will assist in navigating the questions. The practice paper is based on five texts about walking. The questions are typical in style as those found in the examination. A marking scheme is provided along with some indicative content paragraphs.
For the writing questions, two model answers are provided which can be used to discuss successful features. A follow up activity is given in which students discuss the features in terms of the assessment objectives.
An additional summarising booklet is included to be used to demonstrate how to approach this question.
The bundle is ideal for teaching Macbeth to learners with additional needs.
It includes language activities to learn key phrases, sentences and paragraphs that are needed to talk and write about the text. Ideal for dyslexic students, it utilises colour codes to remember spelling patterns and important details.
Each resource includes visuals to help students and reinforce concepts. There is a model essay, study notes and in depth speaking and listening activities. The language activities set the booklets apart from other resources.
The bundle is a great set of resources to teach Macbeth for GCSE English Literature in an accessible way.
This resource provides comprehensive guidance for tackling GCSE, English Language (AQA) - Paper 1, Question 5, which focuses on descriptive and narrative writing.
Inside, you’ll find three engaging picture-based tasks designed to inspire creative responses, complete with detailed, extended model answers that demonstrates effective use of language techniques. The resource emphasizes the importance of literary devices, sensory detail, and structure to craft vivid descriptions.
Key features include:
Literary Device Breakdown: Explore how similes, metaphors, personification, and other techniques can enrich your writing.
Sensory Language Focus: Learn to incorporate sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste to create immersive scenes.
Model Answers: Analyze high-level responses that exemplify how to develop atmosphere, character, and setting.
Independent Writing Activities: Three additional picture prompts are provided to assess student responses after completing the unit.
An additional checklist is provided to assess the successful features of writing. A short play is also included in which students reflect on the process of developing successful description.
This resource is ideal for students seeking to refine their creative writing skills for the final exam, ensuring that their descriptions captivate the examiner from start to finish.
These booklets on A Christmas Carol provide a versatile, dyslexia-friendly resource set, tailored to support GCSE English Literature teachers in engaging diverse learners effectively. Each booklet uniquely targets different aspects of the text, with a strong emphasis on accessibility and comprehension
Spelling and Vocabulary Guide: This booklet uses a color-coded method to help dyslexic students remember and spell key vocabulary. Each word relevant to A Christmas Carol is divided by syllables and color-coded, enhancing visual memory and recall. This is particularly beneficial for students who struggle with traditional spelling approaches, as it leverages visual strengths and helps them build confidence with challenging terms related to the text.
Summary and Comprehension Practice: Designed for fluency and retention, this booklet provides a structured summary of each significant event in A Christmas Carol, from Scrooge’s miserliness to his transformation. Teachers can use this as a timed reading exercise, allowing them to monitor student progress on both accuracy and reading pace. This structure supports comprehension by breaking down the plot and main ideas in manageable steps, ideal for revision sessions.
PEEL Essay Writing and Vocabulary Quiz: This booklet offers a PEEL (Point, Evidence, Explanation, Link) essay scaffold focused on how Dickens uses setting to illustrate social inequality. By breaking down essay construction, students can learn to analyze the text methodically, improving their critical thinking and writing skills. A vocabulary quiz reinforces key concepts, ensuring students grasp essential terms related to the themes of poverty, compassion, and change.
Each booklet integrates unique tools and structured exercises to cater to students with varying needs, from vocabulary building to critical analysis. This set is perfect for GCSE English Literature teachers aiming to make A Christmas Carol accessible, memorable, and engaging for all students.
The booklet provides an extract and model answer with key vocabulary which is colour coded so that students can practice reading and spelling. It also provides the colour code to enable teachers to write further key vocabulary for their student to practice.
The booklet starts with an extract from Act 2, Scene 2. Difficult words are coded to practice fluency.
Then there is a model paragraph with a key word list.
The rest of the essay is provided for students to read.
Finally, students have opportunity to write a response for themselves.
The booklet is an excellent template for teachers to use to make further resources!
With its easy to read format, this exceptionally presented version of The Signalman will make all the difference for students who struggle to read GCSE texts.
Packed with pictures based on the story, the version also includes comprehension questions to help discussion. The subheadings provide a clearer structure for readers to navigate the text.
Prior to reading, there is a list of complex words for students to practice their fluency and comprehension.
At the end there are some suggested drama, art and writing activities. There is a vocabulary list to support students in analysing character and setting, as well as providing a scaffold for understanding the reaction of the reader.
The book is a great addition to help language/literature students understand the well known GCSE text. It provides the necessary differentiation for them to access DIckens’ classic story.
This GCSE (AQA), English Literature practice paper, model answer and vocabulary support sheet focuses on the theme of secrecy in Robert Louis Stevenson’s “The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.” It provides an in-depth analysis of how secrecy functions as a destructive force within the novel, revealing the duality of human nature and the psychological strain it causes.
The practice paper based unit is structured to help students understand key elements, such as:
How secrecy affects Dr. Jekyll’s emotional and physical state, influencing his relationships and morality.
Detailed examination of an extract from Chapter 3, highlighting Jekyll’s physical reactions and attempts to evade discussions about Mr. Hyde.
Exploration of the wider novel, discussing how Jekyll’s transformation into Hyde symbolizes hidden desires and the eventual loss of control.
The impact of Victorian societal norms on characters like Utterson and Lanyon, who prioritize maintaining appearances over confronting uncomfortable truths.
The structural role of secrecy, using documents and letters to gradually reveal the truth, creating suspense and highlighting the tragic consequences of concealment.
The guide includes a model answer and an indicative content section to assist students in crafting well-supported responses in exams.
The vocabulary resource is designed to enhance students’ understanding of key vocabulary related to the theme of secrecy in Stevenson’s novel. It includes a list of essential words and phrases used in the model essay, such as “concealment,” “hidden desires,” “psychological strain,” and “respectable facade,” each crucial for interpreting the text’s deeper meanings. Students are required to find definitions and explanations of how these terms relate to the novel’s context. An exercise is provided for students to write sentences using these words, reinforcing their comprehension and ability to discuss themes effectively in essays.
This unit offers valuable tools for students preparing for the AQA, GCSE English Literature exam, providing both analytical frameworks and vocabulary mastery to excel in their studies.
Ideal for teaching An Inspector Calls to dyslexic students, this bundle contains model answers, reading fluency tasks, keyword spelling activities and essay questions.
The units focus on the characters Gerald, Eric, Birling, Eva Smith and Sheila, offering differentiated activities ideal for students with additional needs.
There is a colour-code spelling activity to help students read and remember words to describe each character, along with gap fill activities to use these in context.
Each unit contains a typical English Literature exam question, a model, PEEL paragraph and extension activities to write their own paragraphs.
Key quotations and reading texts are provided to further support students.
This is an ideal resource to teach Inspector Calls to students with additional needs and deepen an understanding of how to write about the key characters!
This resource is designed for GCSE English Literature teachers looking to deepen their students’ understanding of key themes, character development, and dramatic techniques in J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls, particularly focusing on the themes of responsibility and generational conflict. It includes a comprehensive set of key vocabulary and phrases, a detailed essay analysing how Priestley explores these themes, and a range of discussion questions to encourage critical thinking and class debate.
Key Features:
Key Vocabulary and Phrases: A carefully curated list of essential terms, such as “responsibility,” “generational conflict,” and “moral failings,” alongside character traits and literary devices. These will help students grasp important concepts and enhance their analytical skills.
Detailed Essay: A model essay exploring how An Inspector Calls critiques generational attitudes to responsibility, focusing on the contrasting perspectives of the older and younger characters. The essay discusses the dramatic techniques Priestley employs, including dramatic irony, foreshadowing, and cyclical structure, as well as the symbolic use of characters like Mr Birling, Sheila, Eric, and Mrs Birling.
Key Phrases from the Play: A selection of notable quotes from the play, offering insight into the themes of responsibility, societal change, and moral conflict. Each quote is accompanied by a discussion question to help students analyze the significance and implications of the dialogue.
Discussion Questions: Thought-provoking questions exploring the generational divide in the play, helping students to critically engage with the text. These questions focus on character development, moral responsibility, and Priestley’s social critique, offering opportunities for deeper analysis and class discussions.
Reflection on Relevance Today: An exploration of how the generational conflict in An Inspector Calls mirrors societal attitudes during Priestley’s time and its continued relevance in today’s world, prompting students to consider the ongoing importance of social responsibility and change.
An additional resource is provided which focuses on understanding the key moment when The Inspector leaves. Students have to write in speech bubbles about what each character would say in their disagreement.
This resource pack provides comprehensive materials to support the teaching of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at GCSE level. Designed to enhance students’ understanding of the novella, the resources focus on Dickens’ masterful use of setting to reflect mood, theme, and character development.
Key Features
-Detailed extracts from the novella, including vivid descriptions of settings such as Victorian London, Scrooge’s home, and the Cratchit household.
-Structured question with a PEEL model to guide students in analysing how Dickens uses language to create atmosphere and deepen themes.
-Carefully curated word banks for each key setting, such as “grim, foreboding, and shadowy” for Victorian London or “cozy, warm, and inviting” for the Cratchit household. These lists support students in expanding their vocabulary and writing sophisticated responses.
Thematic Connections that explore how Dickens’ settings mirror Scrooge’s emotional transformation—from the bleak, foggy streets of London to the warmth of the Cratchit home and the grim finality of the graveyard.
Comparisons between different scenes (e.g., Scrooge’s office vs. the Cratchit home) help to build skills for higher-level responses.
This pack saves planning time by providing ready-made resources that are aligned with the GCSE assessment objectives. The structured tasks and model examples cater to a wide range of abilities, supporting differentiation in the classroom. By immersing students in Dickens’ evocative settings, the pack ensures a thorough understanding of how these contribute to the novella’s enduring themes and character arcs.
This dyslexia friendly, Year 6 SATS resource is designed to help students with additional needs familiarise themselves with the SATS Reading Paper. It contains three texts along with activities to help students read and understand the type of texts they will encounter in the exam.
Key Features:
Spelling and Vocabulary Development: Students will learn to spell complex words through a syllable-based color-coding system, making challenging vocabulary accessible and memorable. This approach not only improves spelling but also boosts pronunciation and fluency.
Meaning Exploration: Each text is accompanied by a vocabulary section, encouraging students to tick unfamiliar words and engage in dictionary skills or discussions with peers and adults. This deepens their understanding of language and fosters a love for words.
Fluency Practice: With timed reading exercises, students can track their reading speed and accuracy, promoting fluency and confidence. Multiple readings encourage improvement, allowing students to see their progress over time.
Engaging Texts: Featuring three captivating extracts - The Majestic Blue Whale, Against the Ramp, and Whispers of the Hive - students will be immersed in diverse topics that inspire curiosity and discussion. These texts are designed to resonate with students, sparking their imagination and enhancing comprehension skills.
SATS Style Questions: Prepare your students for assessments with shorter questions that mimic the SATS format. Students can collaborate in pairs to tackle comprehension questions, reinforcing their understanding while building teamwork skills.
An additional SATS tips text is provided to share with the students prior to the exam.
Equip your students with the tools they need to excel in reading while fostering a passion for literature. Our resource is not just a tool; it’s a pathway to building lifelong learners who are confident in their reading abilities.
Support your GCSE, English Literature students to write about the themes of fate and bravery in Shakespeare’s Macbeth with these teaching resources. Designed with GCSE assessment criteria in mind, these resources help students understand key moments in Act 5, Scene 7, while refining their analytical skills and building confidence for essay writing.
The pack includes:
Detailed Extract Analysis - Explore how Shakespeare portrays Macbeth’s entrapment, reliance on prophecy, and ultimate downfall.
Includes scaffolding questions to guide students in breaking down key quotations, perfect for PEEL paragraph development.
Model Answers & Essay Writing Guide - A step-by-step framework for writing about fate in Macbeth. A high-quality model essay demonstrating a top-grade response is provided.
Glossary of Terms Related to Fate - A comprehensive glossary covering terms like “prophecy,” “wyrd,” and “foreboding,” helping students enhance their vocabulary and explore fate’s influence on Macbeth and the play’s other characters.
The resources help students craft strong topic sentences, embed key quotations, and analyse Shakespearean language.