Dickens 2012 – Celebrating the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens
To celebrate the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’s birth on 7th February, we’ve put together a box of birthday delights for you, which highlight the best teaching resources shared on TES.
Teaching materials include,
- Secondary English classroom resources shared by teachers
- Audio readings including commentaries of and extracts from Dickens’s novels
- BBC Class Clips
See all Dickens teaching resources
Birthday prizes for teachers!
Charles Dickens & Literary Heritage TES Competition
We asked you to share your best Charles Dickens and/or Literary Heritage teaching resources for the chance to win two prizes:
- Major Works of Charles Dickens - Penguin Special Edition Clothbound Boxed Set
- A short theatre break (hotel, dinner & tickets) for two
Thank you to everyone who took part - find out who won and view all the entries.
Charles Dickens BBC Class Clips on TES
A selection of videos on context, Dickens, and his texts from the BBC Class Clips series.
The Childhood of Charles Dickens (1/6)
The Childhood of Charles Dickens (2/6)
The Childhood of Charles Dickens (3/6)
The Childhood of Charles Dickens (4/6)
The Childhood of Charles Dickens (5/6)
The Childhood of Charles Dickens (6/6)
David Copperfield – Dramatised Reading
Hard Times – Gradgrind and ‘Facts’
Hard Times – Extract (contemporary version)
Commentary on Charles Dickens’s Hard Times
Great Expectations – Extract (1/2)
Great Expectations – Extract (2/2)
Great Expectations – Pip’s Benefactor
Great Expectations – Pip meets Miss Havisham
Great Expectations – Pip is manipulated by Miss Havisham
Great Expectations – Pip confronts Miss Havisham
Charles Dickens MP3 Podcasts from Naxos AudioBooks on TES
From Naxos AudioBooks, their special series of Charles Dickens MP3 podcasts. The podcasts include introductions to and excerpts from the books, read by distinguished actors such as Anton Lesser and David Horovitch.
The Old Curiosity Shop: Podcast
The Mystery of Edwin Drood:Podcast
Charles Dickens Teaching Resources, Worksheets & Activities on TES
Dickens and Victorian London – Research & Online Games
Great Expectations and the Gothic
Great Expectations – Range of Homework Tasks
Charles Dickens and Hard Times - Background
Oliver Twist - Reporting the Pick-pocket Extract
Oliver Twist – The Artful Dodger Wanted Poster
Oliver Twist – Nancy’s Motives Pie Chart
Dickens and A Christmas Carol - Background
A Christmas Carol – Sow, Resources, Online Games
Teachers TV – Charles Dickens & Christmas
A Christmas Carol – Plot, Characters & Themes
A Christmas Carol – Scrooge Acrostic
Chantel Mathias | Websites |
| TES welcomes Chantel Mathias, Subject Lead for Secondary English | The Official Dickens 2012 Website |
![]() | Dickens in Context from the British Library |
| TES English Index Page | Naxos AudioBooks |

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Comment (62)
Dear Colleagues,
I hope that you are enjoying our Dickens 2012 collection. I also hope that you will take part in our competition (ends 29 February 2012) by uploading teaching resources for any Literary Heritage author, poet or playwright. If you do, you’ll be in with a chance of winning:
• Major Works of Charles Dickens - Penguin Special Edition Clothbound Boxed Set
• A short theatre break (hotel, dinner & tickets) for two
Please spread the word, and good luck!
Kind regards,
Chantel Mathias
PS. Please post a link to your uploaded resources in the comment area below and we’ll add them to the competition collection.
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15:52
26 January, 2012
TESEnglish
I've just uploaded this lesson on the life and times of Dickens:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Full-lesson-Historical-Context-6170202/
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14:56
29 January, 2012
Miss R
I've also just uploaded this resource for Chapter 2 of Oliver Twist. This is a full lesson Powerpoint with resources:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-Twist-In-the-Workhouse-6170207/
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15:04
29 January, 2012
Miss R
I've just uploaded this resource to the TES too:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-Twist-Learning-about-the-book-6170215/
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15:11
29 January, 2012
Miss R
I've just added this resource for writing about Oliver Twist too:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-Twist-Using-the-book-as-stimulus-6170231/
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15:40
29 January, 2012
Miss R
and this one too:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Who-Wants-To-Be-A-Millionaire-Dickens-6170242/
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15:52
29 January, 2012
Miss R
and this one too:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Oliver-twist-quiz-6170245/
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15:54
29 January, 2012
Miss R
...and lots of pertinent quotations to be displayed in relevant areas of the school...
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dickens-Quotes-6170519/
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9:15
30 January, 2012
natalieanns
Super! Thank you!
Please, all TES users, I want some more!
Best wishes,
Chantel
PS. Your entries aren't restricted to Dickens; entries for resources by ANY writer (poet, author or playwright) from the literary heritage will count, too.
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Rating:
11:56
30 January, 2012
TESEnglish
These 10 word cloud posters make a great competition: name the novel from the characters.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/What-s-the-Dickens-6170518/
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18:48
30 January, 2012
natalieanns
Well, if not restricted to Dickens, here is a useful fact sheet on the life of Edmund Spenser:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edmund-Spenser-Lesson-Powerpoint-6132638/
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17:02
2 February, 2012
Miss R
Here's a Dicken's lesson - ideal for use on World Book Day:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/World-Book-Day-Oliver-Twist-Recreate-Lesson-PP-6172335/
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17:16
2 February, 2012
Miss R
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Differentiated-Oliver-Twist-lessons-6173127/requestAction/add/
Here's a short scheme of work focusing on Oliver Twist. Very differentiated.
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17:31
4 February, 2012
Chocolateteacher
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Comparing-Sonnet-130-6173156/requestAction/add/
I've uploaded a powerpoint which explores 16th century ideas regarding beauty and 21st cebtury ideals. The focus is sonnet 130.
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18:09
4 February, 2012
Chocolateteacher
I have added this resource on Charles Dickens:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Write-a-Biography-of-Charles-Dickens-6175034/requestAction/add/
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10:14
7 February, 2012
CharlieB131
One of my favourite poems from the Literary Heritage:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Full-Lesson-Powerpoint-on-Poem-Elegy-Tichbourne-6132642/
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11:45
8 February, 2012
Miss R
I uploaded this activity to explore the way Dickens creates his characters in A Christmas Carol on 5/2/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dicken-s-Use-of-Physical-descriptions-of-Character-6173744/
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19:32
8 February, 2012
fholt
I've uploaded the following activity with discussion points etc about Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol on 5/2/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-4-A-Christmas-Carol-Part2-6173938/
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19:36
8 February, 2012
fholt
I uploaded this PPT with activities and discussion points for Stave 4 of A Christmas Carol on 5/2/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-4-A-Christmas-Carol-Part-One-6173820/
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19:37
8 February, 2012
fholt
I uploaded the extract style questions for the higher tier WJEC paper on 5/2/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-style-Questions-Stave-4-A-Christmas-Carol-6173975/
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19:39
8 February, 2012
fholt
I uploaded this PPT for VLE activities for independent learning based on Stave 3 of A Christmas Carol on 29/1/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/-A-Christmas-Carol-Stave-3-6170360/
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19:42
8 February, 2012
fholt
I uploaded these extract style questions for the WJEC higher tier paper for Stave 3 of A Christmas Carol on 31/1/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-Style-Questions-Stave-3-A-Christmas-Carol-6171455/
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19:45
8 February, 2012
fholt
I'm not sure if this resource was uploaded too early for the competitio. It was uploaded on 26/11/11. If it was, pleasedisregard it . Concept map of Scrooge - Stave 1 A christmas Carol.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Concept-Map-Scrooge-at-the-start-of-and-quot-A-Christmas-6142977/
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19:50
8 February, 2012
fholt
Not sure if this was uploaded too early for entry - please disregard if it was. Uploaded 26/11/11. Activity PPt Stave 2 A Christmas Carol
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Stave-2-Part1-6143080/
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19:52
8 February, 2012
fholt
Again may be too early for the compettion - uploaded 26/11/11. Activities part 2 for Stave 2 of A Christmas carol
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Stave-2-Part-2-6143085/
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19:54
8 February, 2012
fholt
Too early for competition? Uploaded 26/11/11 - please disregard if too early. PPt with jigsaw activity to explore Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-1-Activities-and-quot-A-Christmas-Carol-and-quot-6142979/
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19:56
8 February, 2012
fholt
5 x Extract style questions Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol for WJEC higher tier paper updated 16/1/12
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-1-Activities-and-quot-A-Christmas-Carol-and-quot-6142979/
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19:58
8 February, 2012
fholt
I may have uploaded this too early - upload on 26/11/12 if so please disregard. 4 x extract style questions based on Stave 2 of A Christmas Carol for WJEC higher tier paper.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-2-Extract-Style-Questions-6143101/
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20:06
8 February, 2012
fholt
5x extract style questions based on Stave 1 of A Christmas Carol updated on 16/1/12 WJEC http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-style-questions-Stave-1-A-Christmas-Carol-6142981/
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20:09
8 February, 2012
fholt
I have just completed the first of my lessons based on Stave 5 of A Christmas Carol and uploaded it to the site.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-5-A-Christmas-Carol-Student-Activities-6176114/requestAction/add/
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21:45
8 February, 2012
fholt
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Charles-Dickens-Quiz-6176122/requestAction/add/
I have just added this resource - a Dickens quiz baed o picture clues suitable for all ages
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22:26
8 February, 2012
oops_vip
Three resources I've had up for a while!
Something for Robert Louis Stevenson- Treasure Island (KS3 speaking and listening assessment)
Siegfried Sassoon- Absolution (for G&T students)
Charles Dickens- A Christmas Carol (KS3 reading assessment)
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Treasure-Island-Speaking-and-amp-Listening-AF3-6169272/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Absolution-by-Siegfried-Sassoon-6146051/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Reading-AF5-and-AF7-6144856/
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9:45
9 February, 2012
Georgia Harris
Wow! Thank you all very much for highlighting your resources on the site.
The competition was launched on 13 Jan 2012 so only resources uploaded on / after that date will be considered. The competition does not end until 29 Feb 2012 so you still have time to add some new resources. Your resources can be on any writer from the literary heritage - not just Dickens. Please, all TES users, I want some more!
The future of dedicated, subject-specific competitions such as this will be guided by the response to this competition, so thank you all for taking part.
Kind regards,
Chantel
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Rating:
10:39
9 February, 2012
TESEnglish
Resources to support KS3 teaching of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Taming-of-The-Shrew-6176545/
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18:06
9 February, 2012
Georgia Harris
I've just uploaded this resource for the teaching of the final part of stave 5 A Cristmas Carol.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Stave-5-Part-Two-A-Christmas-Carol-6176597/requestAction/add/
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20:49
9 February, 2012
fholt
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-Resources-6176864/
Resource I've just uploaded :D
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14:15
10 February, 2012
krista_carson
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Song-about-the-characters-in-the-novels-of-Dickens-6177049/
Ive just added a song about characters from the novels of Charles Dickens.
I hope this won't be the second appearance of this but I'm having difficulty uploading my info.
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17:39
10 February, 2012
pwilloughby3
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-workbook-6177190/
Romeo and Juliet for Year 9 - lots of acitivities
Complete work book
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14:50
11 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Researching-Context-of-Macbeth-and-amp-Frankenstein-6177177/
AQA English Literature Controlled Assessment
Contrast in 'Macbeth' and 'Frankenstein'
Students need to write about context - these research questions should help!
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14:53
11 February, 2012
SuePinnick
Hi,
Yesterday, I uploaded the following resources for Hardy, Dickens, James and Shakespeare:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/200th-Birthday-6178011/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Taming-of-the-Shrew-SOW-6177993/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Oxen-and-The-Blinded-Bird-6178005/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Thomas-Hardy-poems-6178006/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Othello-lessons-for-controlled-ass-6178015/
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Turn-of-the-Screw-Literary-Heritage-6178013/
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18:05
14 February, 2012
N Raheem
Hi - I've just uploaded this resource on Spenser's Sonnet XV:
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sonnet-XV-Edmund-Spenser-Full-Lesson-PP-6179880/requestAction/add/
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8:28
18 February, 2012
Miss R
Romeo and Juliet APP booklet : useful for reading level for all AFs.
Focus on key scenes. Can be done using film and extracts.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-APP-style-workbook-6181030/
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15:27
20 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dracula-Oxford-Play-Bram-Stoker-and-amp-David-Calcutt-6181689/
Lots of useful vocabulary-based starter activities to help students access more difficult vocabulary in the play.
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13:18
21 February, 2012
SuePinnick
I've just uploaded 2 extract style questions based on Stave 5 of 'A Christmas Carol'. Aimed at WJEC Higher Tier.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Extract-Style-Questions-Stave-5-A-Christmas-Carol-6181962/requestAction/add/
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20:40
21 February, 2012
fholt
I developed a webquest for young people to learn about Charles Dickens. Perhaps, you may find it of value: http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Charles-Dickens-Happy-200th-Birthday-6163782/
Other webquests can be found at my website:http://www.gailhennessey.com
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23:02
22 February, 2012
gailhennessey
Sonnet 43 Powerpoint for Relationships Cluster
Includes link to short BBC video to help with context, plus a reading by Judi Dench
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sonnet-43-from-Relationships-Cluster-6182870/
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20:32
23 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/The-Farmer-s-Bride-by-Charlotte-Mew-Relationships-6183793/
The Farmer's Bride Powerpoint for Relationships Moon on the Tide AQA Literature
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19:42
25 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Sister-Maude-by-Christina-Rossetti-Relationships-6183796/
Sister Maude by Christina Rossetti Powerpoint for Relationships Moon on the Tide AQA Literature
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19:43
25 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Tell-Tale-Heart-Edgar-Allen-Poe-6097856/
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11:04
27 February, 2012
he4therlouise
I've just finished and uploaded a task looking at empathy questions set by WJEC board.
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/-A-Christmas-Carol-Empathy-Questions-WJEC-6185170/requestAction/add/
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20:28
27 February, 2012
fholt
I've just uploaded a revision lesson(s) for the themes of 'A Christmas Carol'
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/-A-Christmas-Carol-Themes-Revision-6185176/requestAction/add/
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20:35
27 February, 2012
fholt
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Midsummer-s-Night-s-Dream-6185450/
Various language activities good for a year 8
The whoosh is a great way of introducing them to the whole play.
Put them in a circle. Read out the text and every time there's a character, get them to come into the centre and say the words in bold. At every 'whoosh' (end of a scene), they sit down and you continue around the circle with the next student.
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9:44
28 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Dr-Jekyll-and-Mr-Hyde-6185472/requestAction/add/
Student workbook with range of extracts, language and context activities.
Could be adapted for AQA Literary Heritage Controlled Assessment
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10:56
28 February, 2012
SuePinnick
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Christmas-Carol-Film-Task-6185869/
S1 task for A Christmas Carol - looking at creating a new film version
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18:57
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/A-Christmas-Carol-chains-task-6185868/
Another Christmas Carol one hot off the press
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18:58
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Scrooge-Character-Study-6185865/
...and another
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18:59
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-Prologue-Task-6185982/
Lesson looking at the Prologue of Romeo and Juliet - used with a Standard Grade class.
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20:22
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-In-the-Snackbar-6172040/
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20:30
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-King-Billy-resources-6172041/
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20:30
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-Glasgow-5-March-1971-6172042/
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20:31
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Edwin-Morgan-unit-for-Standard-Grade-6172044/
I'm pretty certain that Edwin Morgan qualifies as Literary Heritage - based on a definition I read in the TES forums- but since I've never heard of this term before (since I teach in Scotland) apologies if his work doesn't qualify!
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20:33
28 February, 2012
mrwatt1
http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Romeo-and-Juliet-6186359/requestAction/add/
Things to do once finished studying 'Romeo and Juliet'
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15:01
29 February, 2012
SuePinnick