This lesson enables students to build their knowledge of the content, language, and structure of William Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 116.’ In particular, students learn how metaphor, the sonnet structure, rhyme, and iambic pentameter help the poet to get across his message about love. Students learn through a logical and step-by-step learning journey, including: -Exploring the key concept of 'love' and its many meanings; -Understanding key information about William Shakespeare and his sonnets; -Reading and interpreting the poem; -Understanding the poem, with a particular emphasis upon the content, language, and structural features; -Writing an extended analysis piece based upon how Shakespeare gets across his messages about love in the poem, through the use of language and structure; -Peer assessing each other's learning attempts. Included is: - Whole lesson PowerPoint - colourful and substantial; (including hyperlink to a reading of the poem) - Copy of poem; - Structural devices worksheet - Analysis template with in-built 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 video will take you through one of Shakespeare’s sonnets with text and visual annotations. Line by line, you’ll explore Shakespeare’s gift for language and invention. For more, check out my videos here: http://bit.ly/2J5VtH5 A big thank-you to the following resources. Without such resources, this video would not have been possible: No Fear Shakespeare, the Oxford Shakespeare, the Arden Shakespeare, and the artists whose work appears here. Please get in touch if you’d like to know the source of any illustration, clip-art, photograph, or animation.

The Complete BUNDLE: Including 5-6 week teaching units to accompany the reading and study of Macbeth in preparation for the NEW GCSE English Literature Specifications (first examination 2017). 1. Macbeth, Complete Reading Unit - (3 - 4 weeks): A Complete 5 – 6 week teaching unit to accompany the reading and study of Macbeth. This organised series of 25 lessons (depending on pace of delivery/ability) breaks the play down into 11 manageable key phases with engaging videos, images and recordings (all included) used to hook pupils into the core themes and message of each particular phase before reading/teaching. Additionally, targeted reading focusses and questions ensure a thorough and focused reading that guides pupils into making their own interpretations and applying them to the writer’s context, but more importantly their own context! Model responses are used to support this throughout. Likewise, carefully placed discussion points, videos, images etc facilitate this. 2. A Complete Series of Independent Reading Companions and study guide/revision for GCSE English Literature students studying 'Macbeth’ in preparation for the NEW GCSE English Literature specifications (first examination 2017). Perfect for summer revision and independent study! This organised series of guides (ebooks compatible with all smartphones, tablets and computers) breaks the play down into 11 manageable key phases with engaging free video links , images and recordings (all included) used to hook pupils into the core themes and message of each particular phase which is contained within its own ebook. Whilst tailored to the New AQA specification (Paper 1 Section A: Shakespeare) this course is easily transferable to meet the requirements of OCR and WJEC specifications. The Assessment Objectives and skills (AO1-3) are transferable with very little editing needed. https://www.facebook.com/createdlive/ https://twitter.com/creatEDlive

A Complete Series of 11 Independent Reading Companions and study guide/revision aid ebooks for GCSE English Literature students studying 'Macbeth' in preparation for the NEW GCSE English Literature specifications (first examination 2017). Perfect for summer revision and independent study!  This organised series of guides (ebooks compatible with all smartphones, tablets and computers) breaks the play down into manageable key phases with engaging free video links , images and recordings (all included) used to hook pupils into the core themes and message of each particular phase which is contained within its own ebook. Additionally, targeted reading focusses and questions ensure a thorough and focussed reading that guides pupils into making their own interpretations and applying them to the writer's context, but more importantly their own context! Model responses and annotations are used to support this throughout.  https://www.facebook.com/createdlive/ https://twitter.com/creatEDlive COMPATIBLE WITH SMARTPHONES, TABLETS PC/MAC! MAKING REVISION ACCESSIBLE! 

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint of Shakespeare’s Richard II for A level English Literature B, Paper 1A Literary genres, Aspects of Tragedy, Part C These are my notes used with a mid/high A level class. Each scene of Richard II has an individual slide covering the following: structural points, language choices, thematic points. The first two points are significant in making sure students cover ‘the ways in which…’ Shakespeare explores themes. There is also reference to the dramatic tragedy genre as appropriate with thoughts and comments on peripeteia, anagnorisis and catharsis on some slides At the beginning of the PowerPoint there are two additional slides: 1) contextual ideas that students should research prior to reading in order to understand kingship 2) an outline of some dramatic methods within the play to continue to explore the significance of ‘the ways in which…’ the play is constructed / crafted. The PowerPoint might be used in the following ways: as a starting point for you as a teacher new to the play; as a starting point for pupils to read through prior to their own group reading; as a basis for initial ‘teacher-talk’ followed by class discussion (a group could take an area each to build upon - structure, language, theme); as support for independent study of a scene outside of class time; as a starting point for revision. The PowerPoint is fully-adaptable for you to add your own ideas or insert additional slides as needed. Ideas are not definitive, but rather act as a thorough spring-board for further discussion and exploration of Shakespeare’s method and themes. An introduction to Tragedy as a dramatic genre can be found at my shop here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/dramatic-tragedy-genre-an-introduction-12019491 I hope you find this useful. Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which offers an introduction to the study of dramatic comedy as a genre (most likely useful with the study of Shakespeare). The lesson offers visual and practical tasks for pupils to work through in order to explore and begin to understand the concept of comedy as a genre. The activities should take one lesson, but may take two. There is also an opportunity for pupils to apply their learning to an extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Much ado About Nothing’ at the end. This PowerPoint will be most useful with higher-level GCSE students aiming for grades 7,8 and 9 in their study of Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, enabling them to explore method and genre as they read, which will help in their reaching higher levels in the examination. Could be adapted for aspiring grade 6 students. The PowerPoint might also be used as a starting point for A Level English Literature students although further reading and research will be necessary. It will certainly aid less able A Level students who benefit from visual and practical tasks, and discussion (I have used a version of this PowerPoint as a starting point with an AS group for coursework under an old spec). Best wishes, Englbee x

A fully-adaptable PowerPoint which offers an introduction to the study of dramatic tragedy as a genre. As well as some didactic commentary, the lesson offers visual and practical tasks for pupils to work through in order to explore and begin to understand the concept of tragedy as a genre. The activities should take one lesson, but may take two. There is also an opportunity for pupils to apply their learning to an extract from Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ at the end. This PowerPoint will be most useful with higher-level GCSE students aiming for grades 7, 8 and 9 in their study of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ or 'Julius Caesar’ (‘Romeo and Juliet’ differs somewhat from traditional dramatic tragedy conventions, but some aspects may be useful), enabling them to explore method and genre as they read, which will help in their reaching higher levels in the examination. Could be adapted for aspiring grade 6 students. The PowerPoint might also be used as a starting point for AQA A Level English Literature students studying ‘King Lear’, ‘Othello’, or ‘Richard II’, or any of the other dramatic tragedies, although further reading and research will be necessary. It will certainly aid less-able A Level students who need a starting point and benefit from visual and practical tasks, and discussion. Link to a similar PowerPoint on Dramatic Comedy here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/dramatic-comedy-genre-an-introduction-11922680

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 resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth.’ Teachers have found them particularly useful in exam revision, comprehension tasks, or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of students towards meeting the KS4 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework - this makes the tasks suitable for all examining bodies. Students have found these resources extremely engaging, and for teachers there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They also relate to key extracts, characters, and themes from the story, ensuring that students gain a deep understanding of the play. Activities within the booklet include: - ‘Context: Shakespearean Britain’ - to aid students with ‘Drawing on knowledge of the purpose, audience and context of the writing, including its social, historical and cultural context and the literary tradition to which it belongs, to inform evaluation;’ - ‘Shakespeare’s Description’ - to aid students with ‘Analysing a writer’s choice of vocabulary, form, grammatical and structural features, and evaluating their effectiveness and impact;’ - ‘Lady Macbeth’ - to aid students with ‘Seeking evidence in the text to support a point of view, including justifying inferences with evidence;’ - ‘Editing the Play’ - to aid students with ‘Making an informed personal response, recognising that other responses to a text are possible and evaluating these.’ Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is around 30 pages in length!) I’ve also added it as a PDF in case the formatting differs on your computer. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included).

Nine GCSE revision posters for Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado about Nothing’. These posters would be useful to display in classrooms, but may find an even better purpose as revision tools. Pupils can struggle to distil and make notes on Shakespeare; these posters offer key themes and ideas on each character with up to three relevent quotations (and references) for each. Something to give to less-able pupils to take away and revise from. For more able, a starting point towards further revision. Could be displayed as A3 or made into an A4 booklet. Your free Benedick poster can be found here: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/much-ado-about-nothing-benedick-poster-free- Best wishes, Englbee x

This resource booklet contains a wide range of age-appropriate, engaging, and meaningful comprehension activities for use throughout the reading of William Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing.' Teachers have found them particularly useful in comprehension or guided reading sessions. They are perfect for aiding the progress of children towards meeting the KS3 expectations within the new National Curriculum framework. Children have found these resources extremely engaging, and for teachers there is explicit information within each task regarding which comprehension strands the task is designed to demonstrate. They also relate to key extracts, characters, and themes from the story, ensuring that children gain a deep understanding of the text. Activities within the booklet include: - 'Context: Life in Shakespeare's Times' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Know the purpose, audience and context of the writing and drawing on this knowledge to support comprehension.' - 'Shakespeare's Description' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Know how language, including figurative language, vocabulary choice, grammar, text structure and organisational features, present meaning.' - 'Hero' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Study setting, plot, and characterisation, and the effects of these.' - 'Vocabulary Inspector' - to enable students to demonstrate that they can: 'Learn new vocabulary, relating it explicitly to known vocabulary and understanding it with the help of context and dictionaries.' Plus many, many more activities (the booklet is 22 pages in length!) I've also added it as a PDF in case the formatting differs on your computer. All images are licensed for commercial use, and are cited on a separate document (included).

A graphic organiser (PDF) for high-ability GCSE English Literature pupils studying Macbeth. AQA, OCR, Edexcel etc. Are you tired of PowerPoint lessons? Looking for a way for pupils to work more independently whilst keeping organised notes? Then a graphic organiser might work for you and your class. The graphic organiser is 60 pages long. It has been designed to be printed off back-to-back. Every scene in the play has two dedicated pages which will work best if the booklet is stapled, treasury-tagged or bound so that both pages for the scene can be viewed at the same time as an open booklet. There is a white edge alongside each page to allow for securing. (Please see preview for more details) Each scene contains the following: A synopsis Page one - Three themes (from a selection of six) with high-level exploratory questions with room for note-making Page two -A question on each of the following as related to the scene: dramatic tragedy genre, Shakespeare’s method, and context, with room for note-making. At the start of the booklet there is a glossary of characterisations and structural devices related to the dramatic tragedy genre At the back of the booklet, there is an extra page for note-making. Other ways to use this booklet: Print off a teacher copy and photocopy the scenes you wish to focus on in detail only Page one for classroom teaching with page two for homework, or vice versa Group work with pupils completing different parts of the booklet followed by whole class feedback Individual, silent work For when you’re absent and you need to set structured cover for a lesson For that long-term absent, but bright pupil who needs a structured approach to catching up For those able students who are great at discussion, but cannot organise their notes in their exercise books Focused, active revision Best wishes, Englbee x