New resources

Discover our most recently published teaching resources, covering English literature and language for key stage 3-5. We hope you love them as much as we do!

Spelling debateNew!

Students explore the two sides of the debate - positivist and  … read more

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KS5 | Language Acquisition | Published: 20/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Written acquisition

Discussion questions: the supernatural and guilt New!

A number of thought-provoking questions for students to explore  … read more

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KS4 | Plays | Published: 20/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Macbeth

Critical essay with prompt teaching ideasNew!

A teacher's critical response to the text, based on the morality  … read more

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KS5 | Prose | Published: 16/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Sentence starts for responding to a textNew!

This resource features useful vocabulary and sentence structures  … read more

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KS4 | Reading | Published: 16/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Critical reading

Building vocabularyNew!

A pre-reading task where students investigate some of the challenging  … read more

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KS4 | Prose | Published: 16/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Connecting ‘Postcard from a Travel Snob’ with other poems in the collection New!

A grid to support students in making comparisons between 'Postcard  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 06/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Anthology poetry for Edexcel (2015 onwards) Time and Place

Analysis of Chapter 9 New!

Students are given a number of prompts to make notes on Chapter  … read more

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KS5 | Prose | Published: 06/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Spies by Michael Frayn

Researching visions of LondonNew!

Pre-reading discussion and presentation ideas for exploring Blake's  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Blake, William ('London')

Pre-reading activitiesNew!

Some ideas for exploring the symbolism of flags.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Flag')

First impressions: form and structure New!

Teaching suggestions for initial reading and discussion activities,  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Wordsworth, William ('Extract from The Prelude')

First impressions New!

A pre-reading activity in which students form impressions of  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Blake, William ('London')

Exploring themes and issuesNew!

A shape poem/visual representation activity and a theme card  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Nagra, Daljit ('Singh Song!')

Drama activitiesNew!

A series of physical activities for exploring and presenting  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Wordsworth, William ('Extract from The Prelude')

Drama activities New!

Explore the theme of poverty in the poem.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Blake, William ('London')

Comparing an extract from 'The Prelude' with 'London'New!

A useful table for students to use as the starting point for  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Wordsworth, William ('Extract from The Prelude')

Comparing 'Cold Knap Lake' and 'The Blackbird of Glanmore'New!

Differentiated support for approaching a comparison of these  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Clarke, Gillian ('Cold Knap Lake')

Comparing 'A Vision' and 'London'New!

Students weigh up statements about these two poems, finding evidence  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Blake, William ('London') | Comparing poems

An unorthodox bride?New!

Rank the bride's characteristics from most to least unorthodox.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 03/08/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Nagra, Daljit ('Singh Song!')

AQA exam style question: ghosts and the supernatural New!

Using an extract from Stave 4 students explore the presentation  … read more

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KS4 | Prose | Published: 30/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Themes in Macbeth: discussion questions New!

Two sets of questions based around the themes of ambition and  … read more

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KS4 | Plays | Published: 30/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Macbeth

Discussion activity: critical interpretationsNew!

Students are given a number of quotations and opinions on the  … read more

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KS4 | Plays | Published: 30/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): The Merchant of Venice

Poetry comparison New!

A template to support students when comparing and contrasting  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 30/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Anthology poetry for Edexcel (2015 onwards) Time and Place | Comparing poems

Comparing 'Home Thoughts from Abroad' and 'Hurricane Hits England'New!

A grid with prompts, allowing students to compare and contrast  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 30/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Anthology poetry for Edexcel (2015 onwards) Time and Place | Comparing poems

WorkbookNew!

A series of comprehension and analytical questions for the play,  … read more

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KS5 | Plays | Published: 30/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller

Word sort New!

A pre-reading activity in which students uncover patterns of  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Carson, Ciaran ('Belfast Confetti')

Tone and structureNew!

Focus on how structural devices help to convey the speaker's  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Carson, Ciaran ('Belfast Confetti')

Writing your own poemNew!

Students write their own poem on the theme of 'flying the flag'.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Flag')

What they don't teach youNew!

Identify the relationship between what 'dem tell me' and what  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Checking Out Me History')

Exploring meaningsNew!

'Home' and 'expert' groups analyse the ideas in each stanza of  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Flag')

Drama activitiesNew!

Work on dramatic readings of the poem and experiment with visual  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Flag')

Comparing 'Flag' and 'At the Border'New!

Compare the ideas about patriotism in 'Flag' and 'At the Border'.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Flag') | Comparing poems

Word quarryNew!

A creative pre-reading activity. Students write a poem of their  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Sheers, Owen ('Mametz Wood')

What happens whenNew!

Ideas for getting to grips with the poem's structure and appreciating  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Hughes, Ted ('Bayonet Charge')

TV documentaryNew!

A role play activity based on the historical background to 'Mametz  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Sheers, Owen ('Mametz Wood')

Thinking like a soldierNew!

Tasks to help students understand the soldier's thoughts and  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Hughes, Ted ('Bayonet Charge')

Teaching ideasNew!

A series of suggestions for exploring the poem 'Mametz Wood'  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 27/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Sheers, Owen ('Mametz Wood')

Teaching ideasNew!

A series of suggestions for exploring 'Checking Out Me History'  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 24/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Checking Out Me History')

Word sort New!

A pre-reading activity in which students uncover patterns of  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 24/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Tennyson, Alfred ('The Charge of the Light Brigade')

Teaching ideasNew!

A series of suggestions for exploring 'The Charge of the Light  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 24/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Tennyson, Alfred ('The Charge of the Light Brigade')

Contextual research New!

Students research the historical figures mentioned in Agard's  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 24/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Checking Out Me History')

Analysing 'Before You Were Mine' by Carol Ann DuffyNew!

A task for students to work in groups to analyse one stanza of  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 23/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Anthology poetry for AQA (2015 onwards) Love and relationships | Duffy, Carol Ann

Analysing 'Mother, Any Distance' by Simon ArmitageNew!

A group task for students to analyse the poem in depth, suggested  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 23/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Anthology poetry for AQA (2015 onwards) Love and relationships | Armitage, Simon

Comparing the presentation of relationshipsNew!

Duffy's poetry: a comparison grid with prompt questions and keywords  … read more

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KS5 | Language and Literature | Published: 23/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): AQA Views and voices

Edexcel style exam question on Chapter 1New!

An exam style question for Edexcel, with supporting preparatory  … read more

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KS4 | Prose | Reading | Published: 23/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Critical reading | Silas Marner by George Eliot

The creature: top 10 quotations New!

Key quotations for students to revise and analyse.  … read more

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KS4 | Prose | Published: 23/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Question grid New!

Based on higher order questioning, students roll a dice or pair  … read more

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KS4 | Prose | Published: 23/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): The Woman in Black by Susan Hill

Teaching ideas

A series of suggestions for exploring 'Belfast Confetti' with  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Carson, Ciaran ('Belfast Confetti')

Metaphor mapping

Activities to explore the use of metaphor in the poem. There  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Agard, John ('Checking Out Me History')

Teaching ideas

A series of suggestions for exploring 'Bayonet Charge' with your  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Hughes, Ted ('Bayonet Charge')

Research tasks

A selection of pre-reading tasks to introduce context and themes.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Sheers, Owen ('Mametz Wood')

Pre-reading activities for 'Singh Song!'

A series of ideas for engaging with the themes, form and structure  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Nagra, Daljit ('Singh Song!')

Pre-reading activities

Teaching ideas that will prepare students for reading and appreciating  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Hughes, Ted ('Hawk Roosting')

Power and cruelty: a creative response

Get students to write their own dramatic monologue for another  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Hughes, Ted ('Hawk Roosting')

Peer teaching

Students work in pairs to explore one aspect of the poem's structure,  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Weir, Jane ('Poppies')

Past and present

Questions exploring how time is structured in the poem. There  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Sheers, Owen ('Mametz Wood')

Odd one out

Choose quotations to support a point and explore how the writer  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Sheers, Owen ('Mametz Wood')

Just the words

A pre-reading activity in which students consider a selection  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Weir, Jane ('Poppies')

Investigating form

As a way of exploring and understanding form and structure, students  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Shelley, Percy Bysshe ('Ozymandias')

Imagery posters

Create a series of posters around quotations from the poem, as  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Shelley, Percy Bysshe ('Ozymandias')

Imagery in the poem

Consider key images from the poem and discuss their effectiveness.  … read more

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KS4 | Poetry | Published: 20/07/2018 | From the resource collection(s): Carson, Ciaran ('Belfast Confetti')