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This activity uses a short excerpt from Dickens’s non-fiction writing and guides the students up to and through the writing of a model paragraph, after which the expectation would be that they would then apply the model to the writing of their own paragraph. The focus is on recognising the writer’s viewpoint and then explaining how that viewpoint is communicated through the language choices made.

This is a simple and straightforward revision powerpoint using William Howard Russell’s recount of a hurricane during the Crimean War (public domain) and taking the students through three steps in order to write an answer to the exam-style question: how does the writer use language to describe the storm. A model answer is provided for use after the students have had an attempt at their own response. Planned for a lower ability class of students with targets of 3. Could be useful for re-sit groups.

This was planned for a lower ability group at GCSE (targets of grade 2 or 3) and it aims to guide the pupils through some close reading of two non-fiction texts (very short extracts) where writers express their thoughts and feelings about pet dogs. The powerpoint culminates in an AQA style question 4.

This powerpoint contains 21 starter activities suitable for students studying gothic fiction at key stage 3 or key stage 2.

This was planned for a lower ability KS4 class (targets of 2 and 3) who were working towards AQA English Language GCSE. The focus of the lesson is on inferring the writer’s viewpoint and explaining why the writer’s choices help to communicate that viewpoint. The subject-matter is Smithfield (meat) market and the writer’s viewpoint is not hard to detect. The powerpoint guides the students through the selection of evidence and demonstrating comprehension by framing the writer’s ideas in their own words. The final slide invites the teacher to model the most challenging part of the answer - explaining why the quoted words convey what they do.

This is a multiple choice quiz (answers provided) based on a short extract from “The Lady of the Shroud” by Bram Stoker. This quiz fits neatly into a unit on gothic literature, ghosts or spooky stories. It could be used as homework. It could also be useful as a lesson starter or as a diagnostic tool to identify gaps in knowledge or reading comprehension. Alternatively, the questions could be used to structure a guided reading session.

This multiple choice quiz uses an excerpt from “The Old English Baron” by Clara Reeve. There are 12 questions and answers are provided. This could be set as a homework task to support a unit of work on gothic fiction. Alternatively, it could be used in class as a starter, as a diagnostic tool to check for gaps in key knowledge and comprehension. The questions could be used to structure a guided reading session.

This is a straightforward multiple-choice quiz (answers provided) based on a short excerpt from “White Fang” by Jack London. There are 11 questions which test some key knowledge as well as comprehension and reading fluency. This could be set as homework or used as a lesson starter. Alternatively, it could be used diagnostically to identify gaps or the questions could structure a guided reading session.

Planned for a year 7 class who were confused about similes and metaphors, this simple quiz was used for homework but could also be used as a starter or within a lesson as a way of identifying learning gaps. Answers are provided.

Created for KS4 classes as a revision/cover/embedding/hw activity. There are 7 very short extracts (all public domain texts) with activities focusing on the reading skills that are assessed at GCSE: inference, analysis and evaluation. These are on PowerPoint - I’d suggest duplicating the slides if you intend to print them out for students.

This is a very short and simple powerpoint aimed at students targeting grade 4/5. The extract uses two short extracts from Jack London’s short story “A Piece of Steak”. The focuses are on question 2 (language analysis) and question 4 (evaluation). Suggested responses at level 4/5 are provided. Could be useful as homework or revision as well as being used in class as a teaching resource.

Planned for a class preparing for AQA GCSE English Language, this powerpoint has a week’s worth of starters, all focused on the same, short text (Dickens’s description of Greenwich Fair, from “Sketches by Boz”). The starters use the READ acronym (recall, evidence, analysis, develop) and focus on some key reading skills. Good preparation for AQA Language Paper 2, questions 3 and 4.

This is a short and simple lesson in which pupils are invited to explore Blake’s poem “The Sick Rose” as an extended metaphor (after a recap on simile and metaphor). Planned for a mixed-ability year 7 class as part of a unit on poetry but would work at KS2.

A short and simple lesson, planned as part of a unit on gothic fiction for a lower ability class in year 8. This lesson uses Blake’s “The Sick Rose” and invites the students to pick out the gothic elements of the poem, explain why a student might have interpreted it in one way and then add their own interpretation.

This is a short comprehension exercise focusing on polishing skills of inference and analysis. Useful to pair with the literature of the first World War. Planned as a homework activity for a year 9 class but could be used as cover or even to structure a guided reading session for those students who are less confident readers. Suggested responses are provided.

This is a straightforward task created as cover for a group studying “Journey’s End”. It uses a non-fiction description of a raid from the diary of an officer during WW1. There are six tasks, increasing in demand. Could be used as homework.

Created for a key stage 3 class (year 8) as part of a unit on gothic horror, this is a straightforward task grid from which (if you use an adaptive approach) children can choose the tasks they find accessible. Alternatively, it could be used as homework or for cover.

Created as a revision homework for a group of year 11 students with targets of 2, 3 and 4, this uses a short extract in which Arthur Conan Doyle describes a trip up an African river. There are ten questions focusing on the reading skills that will be tested in the English Language GCSE exam. Could be used in a face to face revision session or could be used with less confident readers to structure a guided reading session.

This is a short extract written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, in praise of cycling, originally published in 1895. There are 9 questions intended to increase student confidence in dealing with pre-1914 non-fiction writing. Originally created as a revision homework for a set with target grades of 2 and 3, but could be used in class. The questions would work to structure a guided reading session with less confident readers.

This uses an article from an American publication, Demorest’s Family Magazine, published in 1895. There are ten, straightforward questions, intended to guide students’ understanding. Created as a homework task for less confident learners preparing for GCSE English Language.