Year 7 Resources
- Greek Mythology for Teens: Enthralling Tales and Myths from Ancient Greece (Greek Mythology and History) by Billy Wellman
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Brian Selznick
A historical mystery blending words and pictures, exploring early cinema and creativity. - The Book of Dust – Philip Pullman
An epic fantasy that expands Pullman’s universe, rich in language and ideas. - The Story of English – Joseph Piercy
A concise history of the English language and its evolution over centuries. - A Little Book of Language – David Crystal
Introduces the wonders of language in an accessible way
Extended reading for challenge (articles)
https://www.oxfordinternationalenglish.com/a-brief-history-of-the-english-language/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-blake
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/william-shakespeare
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-bronte
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/charlotte-bronte
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/thomas-hardy
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/152982/an-introduction-to-british-romanticism
Extended links (websites or clips)
The History of English Language – 1st Episode
Overcoming The Monster – 1st clip in series of story types
Linked activities
https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=history-of-the-english-language
Other
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z86qsbk/articles/z3wx6g8#z9ctp4j
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/z86qsbk/articles/z79mm39
- Tales from Ovid – Ted Hughes
Poetic retellings of classical myths, capturing the essence of oral storytelling. - The Odyssey (retold) – Gillian Cross
A timeless epic of adventure and homecoming, retold for younger readers.
Non-fiction - Why Fairy Tales Stick – Jack Zipes
Explores why oral tales endure and their cultural significance. - The Oral Tradition and the Written Word – Walter J. Ong
Examines the shift from spoken to written culture and its impact. - The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
A classic tale of friendship and nature along the riverbank. - The Call of the Wild – Jack London
A gripping survival story set in the harsh wilderness.
- The Lost Words – Robert Macfarlane
Celebrates nature through poetry and art, reviving forgotten words. - Wilding – Isabella Tree – An inspiring account of rewilding and restoring natural landscapes
Year 8 Learning Resources
Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
Explores ambition, class, and identity in Victorian England.
Northern Lights – Philip Pullman
A fantasy adventure with themes of power and social hierarchy.
The Victorian Underworld – Kellow Chesney
Reveals the hidden lives of the poor in Victorian society.
Poverty: A History – Bronislaw Geremek
Traces the concept and reality of poverty through time
Representations of gender in literature
Fiction
- Orlando by Virginia Woolf – A playful exploration of gender identity across centuries.
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood – A dystopian critique of gender roles (extracts recommended for KS3).
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – A classic examination of gender expectations in Regency society.
Non-Fiction
- Women & Power: A Manifesto by Mary Beard – Accessible essays on gender and authority.
- Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez – How data bias affects women’s lives.
- Gender Trouble by Judith Butler (selected extracts) – Foundational ideas on gender as performance.
Articles
- “How Fairy Tales Shape Gender Norms” – The Guardian.
- “The Evolution of Female Characters in Literature” – BBC Culture
- “Why Representation Matters” – Literary Hub.
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry – Mildred D. Taylor
A moving story about racism and resilience in 1930s America.Noughts & Crosses – Malorie Blackman
A gripping novel about love and prejudice in a divided society. - Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You – Jason Reynolds & Ibram X. Kendi
- An accessible guide to understanding racism and its history.
Year 9 Learning Resources
- The Giver – Lois Lowry
- A dystopian tale questioning conformity and freedom.
- Animal Farm – George Orwell
- Orwell’s allegory on power and corruption.
- The Dystopian Impulse in Modern Literature – M. Keith Booker
- Analyses the themes and origins of dystopian fiction.
Shakespearean Tragedy and Romeo and Juliet Fiction
- Othello by William Shakespeare – Themes of jealousy and tragedy.
- Macbeth by William Shakespeare – Ambition and moral collapse.
Non-Fiction
- Shakespeare: The World as Stage by Bill Bryson – A lively biography of Shakespeare.
- Shakespeare’s Tragedies: A Reader’s Guide by Nicholas Marsh – Accessible critical insights.
Articles
- “Why Do We Still Read Shakespeare?” – The New Yorker.
- “The Enduring Appeal of Tragic Love Stories” – The Atlantic.
- “Romeo and Juliet: Beyond the Balcony Scene” – British Library.
- The Monkey’s Paw – W.W. Jacobs
A chilling short story about fate and unintended consequences. - The Landlady – Roald Dahl
A suspenseful tale with a shocking twist ending. - The Art of the Short Story – Dana Gioia
- Insights into crafting compelling short fiction.
General Learning Resources
Doing
Play language-based games to help develop literacy skills as family at home. Such games could include Scrabble, Lexicon, Double Quick, Upwords, Dingbats and Wordrop.
Write a play or a collection of poems or short stories to help extend writing skills.
Search out creative writing competitions, like the Literacy Trust’s range of competitions:
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/schools_teaching/competitions
When the time comes, enter the annual competitions listed below:
http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/HBWC/HBWC_current/hbwc1.html
https://www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk/
http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/HBWC/HBWC_current/hbwc1.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rfvk1
“What was it like for a child in _________ era?” Imagine what it was like to live in a chosen
historical era and write a first person narrative of 500 words that describes the experience.
Create a holiday guide or travel brochure for a place that has been visited on holiday.
Go to see the latest theatre production at your local theatre
Watching and Listening
Podcasts are a good way to inspire the love of literature. Listen to podcasts from the following websites:
https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/series/childrens-books-podcast
or
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02tkm27/episodes/downloads
or
https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/childrens-bookspodcast/%20id423549679?mt=2
These podcasts recommend books and have interviews of children’s authors.
Another way to get recommendations is to watch YouTube videos where people discuss books they enjoy. Try watching:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws55NA-5TTM
If the reading has really inspired you, create a blog on one (or several) of the books, recommending and critiquing them.
Reading
Start reading as wide a variety of books as possible. There are several reading lists to choose from:
https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/secondary-ks3-ks4-reading-lists/
- Extend reading skills by dipping into non-fiction. This lists recommends biographies and autobiographies:
http://www.alibris.co.uk/search/books/subject/Children’s-Nonfiction-Biography-Autobiography - The Modern Classics Challenge: read at least three modern classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
- The Classics Challenge: read at least three classic novels by writers like Coral Island by R.M. Ballantyne, The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham and the Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett over one year.
- The Newspaper Challenge: read a news article from online or actual print once a week and discuss it with a parent or someone at home.
KS4 Resources
Doing
Play language-based games to help develop literacy skills as family at home. Such games could include Scrabble, Lexicon, Double Quick, Upwords, Dingbats and Wordrop.
Write a play or a collection of poems or short stories to help extend writing skills.
Search out creative writing competitions, like the Literacy Trust’s range of competitions:
http://www.literacytrust.org.uk/schools_teaching/competitions
When the time comes, enter the annual competitions listed below:
http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/HBWC/HBWC_current/hbwc1.html
https://www.jacquelinewilson.co.uk/
http://www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk/HBWC/HBWC_current/hbwc1.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00rfvk1
Look out for writing courses organised by LEAs, the National Association for Gifted Children and other organisations.
The Arvon Foundation runs highly respected creative writing courses at centres in Devon, Yorkshire and Shropshire. Further details can be found at:
www.arvonfoundation.org
Follow a social media feed from a favourite writer. Find out what they think and keep up-to-date with their ideas, opinions and latest ventures. Try Malorie Blackman, who was the Children’s Laureate from 2013-2015 or a reading institution like the Book Trust:
https://twitter.com/booktrust
Visit a professional writer when they are involved in book readings, talks and special events at large bookshops in York.
Watching and Listening
Listen to podcasts about modern literature. This helps with understanding context and the influences which writers are exposed to. Try listening to Poetry:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/features/audio/series/detail/74637
Short stories from America
http://www.selectedshorts.org/
Variety
https://learn.org/articles/20_Free_Literary_Podcasts_Worth_Listening_To.htm.
Reading
Start reading as wide a variety of books as possible. There are several reading lists to choose from.
https://schoolreadinglist.co.uk/category/secondary-ks3-ks4-reading-lists/
http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/
The Modern Classics Challenge: read at least three modern classics such as To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Animal Farm by George Orwell.
The Victorian Challenge: read at least three classic novels by writers like Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and George Eliot over one year.
Read a news article (print or online) and consider what journalistic bias there. Are there online articles which show the opposing biased perspective?