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Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 6 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts. Activities and games within the booklet include: - Texts from other Cultures - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Increase their familiarity with a wide range of books, including from our literary heritage, and books from other cultures and traditions.’ - Court Case: Defending a Text, and Room 101 - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Provide reasoned justifications for your views, Explain and discuss and understanding of what has been read, including through presentations and debates, maintaining a focus on topic.’ - Stress Graph - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Understand what you read by drawing comparisons within and between books.’ Plus many more activities (the booklet is over 20 pages in length!) All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)

Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 5 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts. Activities and games within the booklet include: - Word Tennis - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Discuss their understanding of new words, and explore the meaning of words in context’ - Understanding Literary Heritage Fiction - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Read myths, legends, traditional stories, modern fiction, fiction from our literary heritage, and books from other cultures and traditions." - Conventions Bingo - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Identify and discuss themes and conventions in writing.’ - Figurative Language - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Discuss and evaluate how authors use language, including figurative language, to create an impact on the reader.’ Plus many more activities (the booklet is around 20 pages in length!) All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)

These resources enable students to understand and analyse the significance of the ending in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. More precisely, students learn to make clear and accurate interpretations regarding the increasing inequalities on the farm. Furthermore, students analyse how the final events of the novel help Orwell to get his message across to the reader. It is likely that there are enough resources here to be used over at least two hour-long lessons. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating previous knowledge of ‘equality’ through a discussion-based starter task; - Reading chapters 9 and 10 with a particular focus on the increasing inequalities between the different animals, and demonstrating their understanding through a related activity sheet; - Gauging the inequalities between the animals through the design and explanation of an ‘equality graph’ (template and instructions provided); - Understanding how the events of the final chapters help Orwell to get his message across to the reader; - Analysing how the inequalities between the animals are evident through either a character analysis of Boxer or Napoleon (template and success criteria provided); - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Equality graph template; - Two analysis template: Boxer and Napoleon; - Chapters 9 and 10 worksheet (plus teacher answer sheet); - Copies of Chapters 9 and 10. All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

These resources enable students to understand and analyse the character of Squealer in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. More precisely, students learn to make clear and accurate interpretations regarding his role in within the consolidation of Napoleon’s dictatorship. Students also demonstrate their understanding of chapters 7 and 8, with a particular emphasis upon the actions of Squealer. There are easily enough resources here for two lessons. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating previous knowledge of ‘propaganda’ through a discussion-based starter task; - Using an interactive, out-of-seat, group activity to build understanding of the features of propaganda; - Reading chapters 7 and 8 with a particular focus on the character of Squealer, and demonstrating their understanding through a related activity sheet; - Developing their understanding of Squealer’s actions, and finding textual evidence to back this up, through a scaffolded, retrieval activity; - Using their imaginative and creative skills, in addition to their knowledge of Squealer and propaganda posters, to construct their own propaganda poster for Animal Farm; - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Squealer’s Propaganda worksheet; - Four propaganda texts for group analysis; - Template for recording group analysis; - Chapters 7 and 8 worksheet (plus teacher answer sheet); - Copies of Chapters 7 and 8. All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 4 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts. Activities and games within the booklet include: - Word Boxing - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Show an understanding of words that capture the readers’ interest and imagination’ and ‘Use a dictionary to check the meanings of words that you have read’ - FBI Vocabulary Agent - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Show an understanding of words that capture the readers’ interest and imagination.’ - Information Hunter - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ’ Retrieve and record information given from non-fiction texts.’ - Storyboarder - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Maintain a positive attitude towards reading by understanding, listening to, and discussing a range of fiction, plays, poems, non-fiction, reference books and text books.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 20 pages in length!) All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)

Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 3 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts. Activities and games within the booklet include: - Mind Reader - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Work out how a character is feeling in a story from their actions, and explain how you know with evidence from the text.’ - Text Inspector - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Use non-fiction texts to find out information on a subject.’ - Rap Battle - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Read aloud poems, and perform playscripts.’ - Organised Ernie - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Say how a text is organised in order to help you understand it, for example using paragraphs, headings, sub-headings, and inverted commas to show speech.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 20 pages in length!) All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)

These resources enable students to understand and analyse the characteristics of Napoleon’s dictatorship in George Orwell’s Animal Farm. In addition, students learn to make clear and accurate interpretations regarding the events of the chapters 5 and 6, (as Napoleon’s dictatorship begins to emerge) and make appropriate links to individual characters and their allegorical relationship to context. As these chapters signal the end of the animal democracy on the farm, and the start of Napoleon’s totalitarian dictatorship, a heavy emphasis throughout these resources is placed upon the character of Napoleon - particularly with regards to his similarities with Joseph Stalin. There are easily enough resources for two lessons within this pack. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating prior knowledge through a discussion-based starter task; - Gauging their knowledge of key terms such as ‘totalitarian’ and ‘oppression’ through a collaborative card-sorting activity; - Reading chapters 5 and 6 and demonstrating their understanding through an apt and informative worksheet; - Developing their understanding of the main character of Snowball, and his allegorical equivalent, Joseph Stalin, through a comparison task; - Analysing the links between Napoleon and Stalin in chapters 5 and 6, using a templated writing frame; - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint; - Cards for card-sorting activity; - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Analytical paragraphs worksheet; - Pictures for comparison task; - Copies of Chapters 5 and 6. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

These resources enable students to understand and analyse the rise of the pigs towards power in chapters 3 and 4 of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. More precisely, students learn to make clear and accurate interpretations about the emergence of the various characters as leaders on the farm, with appropriate links to individual characters and their allegorical relationship to context. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating prior knowledge through a discussion-based starter task; - Reading chapters 3 and 4 and demonstrating their understanding through a related group quiz activity; - Developing their understanding of the changing nature of characters, and their allegorical ties, through a quotation retrieval mind mapping task; - Analysing the allegorical nature of the pigs, by further exploring their characteristics in relation to those of the communist Russian leaders of the early 20th century; - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Analytical paragraphs worksheet; - Mind-mapping activity template; - Copies of Chapters 3 and 4. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint.

Now with PDF version included! This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use in guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the Year 2 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children love learning from these resources, whilst they are also of great use to teachers, as there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They are also generic enough to ensure that they are appropriate for use with all texts. Activities within the booklet include: - Word Witch - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Spot when a word has been read wrongly by following the sense of text;’ - Scary Stepping Stones - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Enjoy reading and discussing the order of events in books and how items of information are related;’ - Poets’ Got Talent - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Enjoy reading poems and know some by heart. Say what you like or don’t like about a poem;’ - Story Mountain - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: ‘Enjoy reading and discussing the order of events in books and how items of information are related.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is over 20 pages in length!) All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included.)

These resources enable students to understand and analyse the Old Major’s dream and the events of the animal revolution, in the opening two chapters of George Orwell’s Animal Farm. More precisely, students learn to make clear and accurate interpretations about events and characters, with appropriate links to the Orwell’s allegory and relationship to context. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating previous knowledge through a discussion-based starter task; - Reading the first two chapters and demonstrating their understanding through a related activity sheet; - Developing their understanding of characters and context through a a making links activity; - Analysing the allegorical nature of the opening chapters by further exploring the connections between characters and contexts; - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint (includes links for video) - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Chapters 1 and 2 worksheet; - Making Links Activity Sheet (1x more difficult, 1 x easier); - Copies of Chapters 1 and 2. All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint. Note - internet connection is needed if you plan to use the video.

These resources enable students to understand the context of the Russian Revolution, the predominant subject of Orwell’s allegory within Animal Farm. More precisely, students learn about the key historical events and figures throughout this point in time in Russian history, and begin to comprehend Orwell’s intentions in writing the novella. These resources give students a strong foundation of knowledge which they can then utilise to begin confidently relating the text to its context. There are easily enough resources for at least two lessons within this resource pack. Students learn through the following tasks: - Gauging and collaborating previous knowledge through a discussion-based starter task; - Watching, listening, and demonstrating their understanding of an engaging and informative context video and related activity sheet; - Developing their understanding through in-depth investigative research into the main leaders of the Russian Revolution; - Writing a letter from the viewpoint of a member of the Russian working class, who has lived through the various regimes and revolutions. - Peer assessing their partners’ learning attempts. The following resources are provided: - Engaging and colourful step-by-step PowerPoint (includes links for video) - Teacher lesson guidance/plan; - Context worksheet; - Five investigative research templates: Stalin, Lenin, Trotsky, Marx, and The Secret Police. All images and videos are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the PowerPoint. Note - internet connection is needed for the video activity.

This highly engaging and informative double lesson (around 1.5 to 2 hours of teaching materials) helps build students’ ability at using varied and imaginative techniques to describe emotions in their creative writing. Specifically, students learn how to create in-depth paragraphs detailing the emotional state of their narrator and characters, both implicitly and explicitly. I wrote this lesson because I noticed that there are an extremely high volume of students that approach creative writing tasks (even in their GCSEs) offering little depth or detail in terms of their characters emotions. Even though they have clearly learnt a number of writing techniques from their teachers, their emotional writing often merely explicitly states how a character feels, using the same four or five emotions. In this lesson, students learn: - To define what emotions are; - To understand and use the vast range of emotional vocabulary and synonyms available in the English language; - To investigate different emotions, including how they can manifest themselves; - To understand how emotions can be communicated utilising a range of descriptive devices; - To create an imaginative and emotionally-driven piece of creative writing; - To self-assess their creative writing attempts; Included are all worksheets, and detailed and visual PowerPoint presentation, which explains each concept clearly, and a lesson plan for teacher guidance.

This lesson aims to build students’ understanding of E.E Cummings’ key messages in ‘next to of course god america i,’ with a particular focus upon the language and structure of the poem. By the end of the lesson, students demonstrate their knowledge of the text analytically, through assured, appropriate, and sustained interpretations. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Defining the key term ‘patriotism’ and considering its pros and cons; -Understanding key information about E.E Cummings’ life; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Investigating the structural make-up of the poem, and considering how this links to the poet’s message; -Identifying the language features used throughout the poem, and considering how these link to the poet’s message; -Analysing how language and structure create meaning through the poem; -Peer assessing each others’ learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlinks to informative and engaging videos) - Copy of poem; - Structure key questions task (answers on the PowerPoint); - Analysis template with success criteria for creating well-structured responses; - Comprehensive lesson plan. There are also opportunities for group learning, peer assessment, and whole class discussion. This was originally taught to middle-ability year 9/10 groups, but can easily be differentiated for groups of different ages and abilities. All images are licensed for commercial use, and image rights are listed on the last page of the presentation.

This lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of the key themes throughout William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth:’ ambition, power, and fate. In particular, students learn how the combination of these three ideas contribute to Macbeth’s eventual downfall, whilst drawing on their analytical reading skills to understand how the themes interweave with the plot throughout the play. The lesson utilises a range of tasks, that require students to be visual and interactive learners. It follows this learning journey: - Defining the key terms ‘fate’ and ‘free will’, and establishing their relevance within the play; - Reading and interpreting Act 5 Scene 8, and establishing how Macbeth’s death was set in motion long before the battlefield; - Mapping Macbeth’s demise, from his early success as a brave and respected warrior, to his death as a tyrant king; - Understanding and analysing how the key themes of ambition, power, and his belief in fate contributed to his downfall; - Peer/self evaluating the learning in the lesson. Included in this resource pack are: - A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Resources for the reading and interpreting activity - full scene transcript with space for notes; - A template and instructions for the ‘Mood Mapping’ task; - A template to help scaffold the main task, complete with P.E.E instructions; - A comprehensive teacher guidance form/lesson plan to assist delivery. All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation.

This interesting and stimulating lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of Shakespeare’s use of figurative language in Macbeth, focusing particularly on similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, and euphemisms. Students learn to analyse the intended effect of these devices through a close-reading and interpretation of Act 5 Scene 1: The sleepwalking scene involving Lady Macbeth. The lesson utilises a range of tasks, that require students to be visual and interactive learners. It follows this learning journey: - Defining the key term ‘figurative language’ and establishing its importance as a literary technique; - Defining and exemplifying each of the key terms ‘simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and euphemisms through collaborative group opportunities; - Understanding how and why figurative language is used to add depth to writers’ ideas; - Reading and interpreting Act 5 Scene 1, and establishing how figurative language impacts upon the scene; - Reflecting upon why this may/ what effect this may have had on audiences at the time; - Summarising the events of the scene; - Peer/self evaluating the learning in the lesson. Included in this resource pack are: - A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Resources for the reading and interpreting activity - full scene transcript with space for notes; - A template to help scaffold the main task, complete with P.E.E instructions; - Cards for the card sorting group activity - A comprehensive teacher guidance form/lesson plan to assist delivery. All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation.

This lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of one of the key scenes in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth – Act III Scene IV. In particular, they learn to make insightful interpretations about the changing nature of Macbeth’s tone throughout the scene, and are enabled to understand how this would have affected Shakespearean audiences. The lesson utilises a range of tasks, that require students to be visual and interactive learners. It follows this learning journey: - Defining the key term ‘tone’ and establishing its importance as a literary technique; - Understanding how tone is used to depict mood and attitude across a range of fiction; - Reading and interpreting Act 3 Scene 4, and establishing how Macbeth’s tone alters throughout; - Reflecting upon why this may/ what effect this may have had on audiences at the time; - Summarising the events of the scene; - Analysing Shakespeare’s intentions in sharply altering Macbeth’s tone throughout; - Peer/self evaluating the learning in the lesson. Included in this resource pack are: - A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Resources for the reading and interpreting activity - full scene transcript with space for notes; - A template to help scaffold the main task, complete with P.E.E instructions; - Cards for the card sorting group activity - A comprehensive teacher guidance form/lesson plan to assist delivery. All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation.

Within this varied, interesting, and engaging lesson, students aim to build their knowledge of two of history’s most famous explorers: Christopher Columbus and Ibn Battuta. Students utilise their independent learning skills to research the two travelers, utilise map-reading and geographical skills to improve their knowledge of their journeys, and draw comparisons and contrasts between the two. The lesson follows a clear and logical learning journey, which requires students to: - Consider the skills and characteristics required to be a learner, and apply them to real life contexts; - Share what they already know about the two explorers, and use their curiosity to devise new questions about them; - Employ their independent learning skills to find out the key events and journeys in the lives of the two explorers; - Plot the locations of their expeditions on a world map, and consider questions about their journeys based upon what they see; - Compare and contrast the key features of each explorer, using connectives and key facts; - Peer assess each others’ learning using the simple but appropriate success criteria. Included in this lesson are: - Comprehensive, informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Helpful recording template for the research task; - World map for tracking their expeditions, with questions as an extension task; - Helpful and thorough teacher guidance/ lesson plan document, to assist implementation; - Cut-out copies of the learning objectives, to save time in the lesson. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide.

This lesson aims to improve students’ understanding of one of the key scenes in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth – Act II Scene II. In particular, they learn to make insightful interpretations about Shakespeare’s use of symbolism, and are enabled to understand how this would have affected Shakespearean audiences. The lesson utilises a range of tasks, that require students to be visual and interactive learners. It follows this learning journey: - Defining the key term ‘symbolism’ and establishing its importance as a literary technique; - Understanding the different objects that were used as symbols in Shakesperean times through a multiple choice team game; - Reading and interpreting Act 2 Scene 2, and establishing how symbolism is utilised throughout; - Summarising the events of the scene; - Analysing Shakespeare’s intentions in using literary techniques, and considering the audience reactions to them; - Peer/self evaluating the learning in the lesson. Included in this resource pack are: - A well-presented, thorough, and informative, whole-lesson PowerPoint presentation; - Resources for the reading and interpreting activity - full scene transcript with space for notes; - A template to help scaffold the main task, complete with P.E.E instructions; - A comprehensive teacher guidance form/lesson plan to assist delivery. All images in this resource are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on the final slide of the lesson presentation.