Take KS4 Cover
© 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd 1
Welcome to Take KS4 Cover!
Thank you for purchasing this pack. As with its brother, Take Cover for Key Stage 3, our aim is to provide you with a range of sure-fire, user-friendly, self-contained, classroom-ready English lessons for cover teachers. You will be able to set work for any Key Stage 4 class, confident in the knowledge that the students will be engaged and outcomes will be meaningful.
Please note that we have used the term ‘cover teacher’ throughout to refer to supply teachers, other teaching colleagues, TAs and anyone else who is drafted in to teach a lesson in the absence of the usual class teacher.
What are the advantages of using Take KS4 Cover?
The pack covers the whole Key Stage 4 curriculum and all four examination boards, so you are virtually guaranteed to find a lesson appropriate to your class, whether you are teaching English, English Language or English Literature.
The lessons are written by established and successful Teachit contributors, so you can trust that the lessons are all practical, workable and interesting, and that they reflect the strengths and enthusiasms of the teachers who wrote them.
The lessons have been carefully designed for non-specialists. Answers to questions and prompts for the cover teacher are supplied to make their job as straightforward as possible.
Each lesson comprises a teacher sheet, student sheet and appropriate resources, so preparation is minimal – simply photocopy what you need, and teach.
Differentiation is built in. All lessons contain suggestions for differentiation both to stretch the highest attainers and support the lowest. Each topic in the English Language section has two lessons, one aimed at Higher Tier and one at Foundation Tier, to help you provide those of any ability with the stimulus they need.
The pack is flexible. Choose any lesson from anywhere in the pack – there is no set route. Where possible, lessons include links to other lessons on similar or related aspects, so it is possible to develop the learning journey if the class teacher is away for more than one lesson.
It is likely to be future-proof: lessons should remain relevant when the proposed replacements to GCSEs are introduced.
And, best of all – the entire pack is available online (in colour!), so that you can set cover wherever you happen to be.
Contents of the pack
The pack contains 56 one-off lessons. There are eight lessons in each of the following areas:
English Language Reading non-fiction
Writing non-fiction
Creative writing
Speaking and listening
Spoken language English Literature Drama (including literary heritage)
Prose (including literary heritage and different cultures)
Poetry (including literary heritage)
Literature texts have been carefully selected to reflect the most popular texts on the current GCSE specifications and include old favourites as well as fresh, modern works. If you are teaching English, simply choose the appropriate lesson from either of the two lists. Please see the grids on pages 8–14 for a detailed list of contents mapped to current examination specifications.
The lessons are designed for a 60-minute class. You may need to adjust the timings or suggested activities if your school timetable differs markedly from this.
Take KS4 Cover
2 © 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd
Getting started
When you receive the pack, it’s a good idea to ensure that potential cover teachers have access to the registers of each class. You may wish to print these off from the electronic management system and file them in the front of the pack to save time when cover is needed in a hurry. (Remember to update these sheets at the start of a new year and at any other time that groups change.)
Make sure that the department is aware of the summary form on page 15, which is for recording which class has completed which lesson and when. This will avoid one class being set the same lesson more than once. You may wish to pin this on the departmental noticeboard for easy access, or download a copy from the online version and store it on the shared drive.
Teacher involvement
If known in advance, you can select a lesson to suit the expertise and commitments of the cover teacher.
The ‘low’ teacher involvement lessons are mainly self-contained, and would allow a busy colleague drafted in at short notice to carry on with their marking!
The ‘medium’ lessons require some interaction, typically to run the starter and plenary, with a relatively self-contained main section.
The ‘high’ involvement lessons are for active teaching by confident cover teachers.
Photocopying and printing
Unless otherwise stated, print or photocopy one copy of the teacher sheet and enough student sheets and resource sheets for each student. (If the students are not required to write on the sheets, one between two may be sufficient.) Please note that the student sheet should always be printed separately from the student resource sheet(s) so that students can refer to the instructions and resource sheet side by side.
It is a good idea to use the reverse of the photocopied teacher sheet for additional notes from the class teacher to the cover teacher, and/or feedback. (It might be particularly helpful to identify students who will need extra support.) This will ensure that meaningful communication about the lesson can be exchanged to ensure continuity in learning.
The online version
Record your password here:
..............................................................................................................................................................................
This password gives your department online access to a digital version of Take KS4 Cover. We suggest that you each make a separate note of it in your planners.
To access the online version, go to www.teachit.co.uk/takeKS4cover.
As well as allowing you to browse Take KS4 Cover and select appropriate lessons even when you’re out of the school, the online version has the following additional benefits:
all instruction sheets and resources are available as editable MS Word documents
images are available in colour where applicable to print and/or display on a whiteboard
the resources recommended as appropriate for cover lessons in ‘A selection of the best one-offs from Teachit’ are all included within the online area in editable formats.
We hope that you will enjoy using this pack as much as we have enjoyed preparing it. If you have any questions, comments or feedback, please get in touch: email [email protected] or call us on 01225 788850.
Take KS4 Cover
© 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd 3
The contributors
Christie Cutter English and Drama teacher of eight years
at a school in Oxfordshire
Richard Durant English adviser for Babcock Learning and
Development Partnership in Devon, a widely published author on teaching, and currently working closely with West Exe
Technology College in Exeter
Keziah Featherstone Vice Principal at Q3 Academy,
Birmingham
Rhiannon Glover Head of English at Oldham Hulme
Grammar Schools
Julie Hopkins Secondary English teacher,
literacy teacher for KS1/2 and a Teachit contributor
Kate Lee Former Head of English and Performing Arts at an inner city London sixth form,
now Teachit’s Digital Editor
Trevor Millum Former English teacher and Director of
NATE, always a poet and currently keeping Teachit’s Poetry Place afloat
Sarah Moody AST at Nunnery Wood High School,
Worcester with responsibility for literacy across the curriculum
Linda Newton Former A level English teacher and GCSE course leader, currently an examiner and
writer
Alison Powell An English, Drama and Media teacher, a Forest School leader and a world record
holder
Lorna Smith Lecturer in Education (PGCE English) at the University of Bristol and Editor of
Teachit’s Training Ground
Helen Stacey Former Key Stage 4 Co-ordinator and
English teacher and now Teachit’s English Editor
Take KS4 Cover
4 © 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd
Unit/lesson Topic/theme Assessment objectives
Specification reference Lesson level
Teacher involvement
Lesson links
English Language
Reading
1 Reading literary non-fiction: autobiography
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Medium – involvement in starter and introduction
Non-fiction reading lessons 3–8
2 Reading literary non-fiction: autobiography
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier Medium – involvement in starter and plenary
Non-fiction reading lessons 3–8
3 Reading non-fiction: advertisements
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Low – minimal Writing non-fiction lessons 11 and 12
4 Reading non-fiction: advertisements
English AO2 (Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier Low – minimal
Writing non-fiction (argue and persuade) lessons 11 and 12
5 Reading non-fiction: texts that inform or advise
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Medium – mainly management (but high input if ‘Decision alley’ option is taken)
Thematic link to reading lesson 6; writing to persuade lessons 9 and 10
6 Reading – texts that inform or advise
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier Medium – some involvement, mainly management
Thematic link to reading lesson 5; writing to persuade lessons 9 and 10
7 Reading reports and articles, exploring different perspectives
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
High – active involvement
Non-fiction reading lesson 8; writing non-fiction lessons 9 and 10
8 Reading reports and articles, exploring different perspectives
English AO2 (English Language AO3) i and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; WJEC Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier
Medium – some input, especially managing plenary debate/discussion
Reading non-fiction lesson 7; writing non-fiction 9 and 10
Take KS4 Cover
© 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd 5
English Language
Writing: non-fiction
9 Writing to inform and explain
English AO3 i, ii, iii; English Language AO4i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Medium – some involvement in supervising research on computer
Reading non-fiction lessons 5 and 6
10 Writing to inform and explain
English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier Low – minimal
Reading non-fiction lessons 5 and 6; writing non-fiction lesson 11
11 Writing to persuade: charity adverts
English AO3 (English Language AO4) I, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Low – minimal Reading non-fiction lessons 3 and 4
12 Writing to argue and persuade
English AO3 i, ii, iii; English Language AO4 i, ii, iii
English/English Language AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier Medium – involvement in starter and introduction
Reading non-fiction lessons 3 and 4
13 Writing to analyse and comment
English AO3 i, ii, iii ; English Language AO4 i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Some involvement organising starter, then low/minimal
Reading non-fiction lessons 3 and 4; writing non-fiction lesson 14
14 Writing to analyse and comment
English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier
Medium – some involvement, especially in organising starter and plenary
Writing non-fiction lesson 13; reading lessons 1 and 2
15 Writing to review English AO3 i, ii, iii ; English Language AO4 i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Foundation Tier
Low – although (optional) class discussion in starter would require more input
Writing non-fiction lesson 16
16 Writing to review English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 1; WJEC Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A680
Higher Tier Low – minimal involvement
Writing non-fiction lesson 15
Take KS4 Cover
6 © 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd
Unit/lesson Topic/theme Assessment objectives
Specification reference Lesson level
Teacher involvement
Lesson links
English Language
Writing: creative
17 First person narrative English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Foundation Tier
Medium – some involvement, particularly in organising starter and discussion in development phase
Creative writing lessons 19 and 20 (third person narrative)
18 First person narrative English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Higher Tier Low – minimal
Creative writing lessons 23 and 24; reading non-fiction 1 and 2
19 Third person narrative English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Foundation Tier
Medium – some involvement, particularly in starter and introduction
Creative writing lessons 17, 18 and 20
20 Third person narrative English AO3 (English Language AO4) i,(ii, iii)
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Higher Tier Low – minimal involvement
Creative writing lessons 17, 18 and 19
21 Response to a visual stimulus
English AO3 i, (ii, iii); English Language AO4 i, (ii, iii)
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Foundation Tier
Low – minimal involvement
Creative writing lesson 23; third person narrative lessons 19 and 20
22 Response to a visual stimulus
English AO3 i, (ii, iii); English Language AO4 i, (ii, iii)
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Higher Tier
Medium – some involvement, particularly managing resourcing of starter and development
Creative writing lesson 24
23 Writing prompted by a given opening line
English AO3 (English Language AO4) i,(ii, iii)
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Foundation Tier
Low – minimal Creative writing lessons 17, 22 and 24
24 Writing prompted by a poem
English AO3 (English Language AO4) i, ii, iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 3; WJEC Unit 3 ; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A642
Higher Tier Low – minimal involvement
Creative writing lessons 18 and 21
Take KS4 Cover
© 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd 7
English Language
Speaking and listening
25 Interacting and responding
English and English Language AO1 ii and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A643; WJEC Unit 4
Foundation and/or Higher Tier
Medium – high
Use as an introductory speaking and listening lesson
26 Individual presentation
English and English language AO1 i, ii and iii
English/English Language: AQA Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A643; WJEC Unit 4
Foundation Tier and/or Higher Tier
Some involvement setting up the activity, then fairly low (keeping students on task).
Persuasive writing (lessons 11, 12); other speaking and listening units
27 Preparation for individual or pair presentation
English and English language AO1 i, ii and iii, AO2, AO3
English/English Language: AQA Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A643; WJEC Unit 4
Higher and/or Foundation Tier
Some involvement setting up activity, then low/minimal; lead/plenary activity
Non-fiction reading lessons 3–6
28
Interacting and responding group activity; preparatory lesson for speaking and listening assessment
English and English Language A01 i, ii, iii and iv
English/English Language: AQA Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A643; WJEC Unit 4
Foundation and/or Higher Tier
Medium – setting up activity, ensuring students remain on task, managing plenary
Persuasive writing lessons 11 and 12
29
Role play / drama; preparatory lesson for speaking and listening assessment
English and English Language A01 i, ii, iii and iv
English/English Language: AQA Unit 2; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A643; WJEC Unit 4
Foundation and/or Higher Tier
Medium – some involvement in setting up activity and ensuring students remain on task
Persuasive writing lessons 11 and 12
Spoken language 30 Self-evaluation English Language AO2
English Language: AQA Unit 3c; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A652; WJEC Unit 4
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement in starter and introduction
Optional preparatory lesson for 31, My lingo
31 Idiolect English Language AO2 English Language: AQA Unit 3c; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A652; WJEC Unit 4
Higher Tier
Low – minimal involvement; option for greater involvement in plenary if whole-class activity is chosen
Development from lesson 30, Language detectives, but not essential
32 The impact of spoken language
English Language AO2 English Language: AQA Unit 3c; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit A652; WJEC Unit 4
Mixed ability
High – active teaching Writing non-fiction lesson 15 – media/ popular culture
Take KS4 Cover
8 © 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd
Unit/lesson Topic/theme Assessment objectives
Specification reference Lesson level
Teacher involvement
Lesson links
English Literature
Drama
33 Julius Caesar English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English: OCR Unit 641; English Literature: AQA Unit 4; OCR Unit A661
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement; high if managing feedback discussion for development
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
34 Macbeth English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English: Edexcel Unit 2; English Literature: AQA Unit 4; OCR Unit A661
Mixed ability
Low – minimal involvement; slightly more if discussion is developed in starter
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
35 Much Ado About Nothing
English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English Literature: AQA Unit 4; WJEC Unit 2a
Mixed ability
High involvement
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
36 Romeo and Juliet English AO2; English Literature AO1, AO2
English: Edexcel Unit 2; OCR Unit 641; English Literature: AQA Unit 4; OCR A661
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement, particularly supporting less confident students
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
37 An Inspector Calls English AO2 ii & iv; English Literature AO2 & AO4
English Literature: AQA Unit 1; OCR Unit A662; WJEC Unit 2a
Mixed ability
Low – minimal; much higher involvement if class discussion options are taken
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
38 A View from the Bridge
English Literature AO1 and AO2
English Literature: Edexcel Unit 3; OCR Unit 662; WJEC Unit 2b
Mixed ability
Medium – managing cutting up of resources, groupings, etc.
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
39 Hobson’s Choice English Literature AO1 and AO2
English Literature: OCR Unit A662; WJEC Unit 2a
Mixed ability
Medium – some input in organising Starter and Plenary discussions
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
40 The History Boys English Literature AO4 English Literature: OCR Unit A662; WJEC Unit 2b
Mixed ability
High – active teaching
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
Take KS4 Cover
© 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd 9
English Literature
Prose
41 Animal Farm English Literature AO2 English Literature: AQA Unit 4; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A664
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
42 Anita and Me English Literature AO2 and AO4
English Literature: Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit A663; WJEC Unit 1
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
43 Lord of the Flies English Literature AO1 English Literature: AQA Unit 1; OCR Unit A664; WJRC Unit 2b
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
44 Of Mice and Men English Literature AO2 and AO4
English: Edexcel Unit 2; English Literature: AQA Unit 1, Edexcel Unit 1, OCR Unit A663, WJEC Unit 1
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement in starter and plenary; otherwise, keeping students on task
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
45 Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
English Literature AO4 English Literature: OCR Unit A663; WJEC Unit 1
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement in Starter and Plenary
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
46 Pride and Prejudice English Literature AO1, AO2 and AO4
English Literature: AQA Unit 4; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit 664; WJEC Unit 2b
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
47 To Kill a Mockingbird English Literature A01 and AO2
English Literature: AQA Unit 1; Edexcel Unit 1; OCR Unit 663; WJEC Unit 1
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
48 The Withered Arm by Thomas Hardy
English Literature AO1, AO2 and AO4
English Literature: AQA Unit 4; OCR Unit A664
Mixed ability
Low – minimal (or high, if alternative approaches are used)
Other English Literature lessons as per examination specification
Take KS4 Cover
10 © 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd
Unit/lesson Topic/theme Assessment objectives
Specification reference Lesson level
Teacher involvement
Lesson links
English Literature
Poetry
49 ‘My Last Duchess’ English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English: AQA Unit 3; Edexcel Unit 3; OCR A641; WJEC Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; Edexcel Unit 2 (A); OCR Unit A661; WJEC Unit 3
Mixed ability
High – active involvement
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
50 ‘Cold Knap Lake’ English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English: AQA Unit 3, OCR A641; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; OCR A661
Mixed ability
Medium – some involvement in management of tasks, then participation in Plenary
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
51 ‘London’ English AO2; English Literature AO1, AO2 and AO4
English: AQA Unit 3, Edexcel Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; Edexcel Unit 2C
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
52 ‘At the Border, 1979’ English AO2; English Literature AO1, AO2, AO4
English: AQA Unit 3, Edexcel Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; Edexcel Unit 2 (A)
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
53 ‘Belfast Confetti’ English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English: AQA Unit 3, Edexcel Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; Edexcel Unit 3 (B)
Mixed ability
Low – minimal, although careful management is needed of main task 1
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
54 Sonnet 116 – ‘Let me not to the marriage of true minds’
English AO2; English Literature AO1 and AO2
English: AQA Unit 3; OCR A641; WJEC Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; OCR A661; WJEC Unit 3
Mixed ability
Medium – high involvement
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
55 ‘To His Coy Mistress’ English AO2; English Literature AO1, AO2 (AO3 in extension)
English: AQA Unit 3, Edexcel Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; Edexcel Unit 2 (A)
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
56 ‘Nettles’ English AO2; English Literature AO1, AO2
English: AQA Unit 3; Edexcel Unit 3; English Literature: AQA Unit 2/5; Edexcel Unit 2 (A)
Mixed ability
Low – minimal
Other poetry lessons as per examination specification
Take KS4 Cover
© 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd 11
Summary of cover set
Each time a cover lesson is used, make a note of it here. This will prevent repetition of lessons with individual classes.
Cover lesson Date (day, month, year)
Class Notes
Take KS4 Cover
12 © 2013 Teachit (UK) Ltd
Notes from class teacher to cover teacher
Notes from cover teacher to class teacher