Gothic Horror Short Stories Resource Pack & SoW (for Year 9 Gifted & Talented)

Prepare your more able KS3 pupils for level 8/9 thinking!

Pupils study 4 Gothic Horror stories all carefully selected for their interest. These short, accessible texts invite analysis of complex aspects such as narrative structure and language.

The students are progressing because they find the resource so engaging

K Greaves, English Teacher & Customer
  • 10 lesson SoW culminates with students writing a critical essay.
  • 20 progressive worksheets develop skills and allow a comparison between texts and modern and pre-20th century language.

Many would be delighted to come across something so comprehensively planned

A Baiden, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

ALL 4 short stories included with the resource:

  • 'The Heart of Another' by Marcus Sedgwick
  • 'The Tell-Tale Heart' by Edgar Allen Poe
  • 'Writing on the Wall' by Celia Rees
  • 'The Ghost in the Bride's Chamber' by Charles Dickens

All 7 Reading Assessment Focuses completely covered!

Includes:
  • All 4 short stories included!
  • 10 lesson plans including Starters, Plenaries and purposeful Homeworks
  • 20 varied worksheets with answer provided
  • Peer Assessment tasks – help pupils meet speaking and listening criteria
  • Fully referenced to the Assessment Focuses and Literacy Framework

"Facilitates the transition from KS3 type study of a text to a more in-depth, sustained analysis required at KS4" – K Thomas, Author

Positively endorsed by Marcus Sedgwick and Celia Rees



What do teachers say about this resource? (3691)

A very good resource for challenging students and introducing them to texts from the literary heritage... The students enjoy the texts and the tasks. I feel this resource has exposed them to a wider range of literature... The students are progressing because they find the resource so engaging

K Greaves, English Teacher & Customer

Very comprehensive and some of the resources I would use elsewhere too e.g. the sheet explaining different types of shots... The questions provided allow for individual reflection, but could also be used for regular discussion opportunities... the essay preparation is well-structured and scaffolded... The presentation and format is clear... many would be delighted to come across something so comprehensively planned for them.

A Baiden, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

It has structure and a sense of leading students through progressive lessons that ultimately result in writing an essay. I also like the choice of texts... I like the differentiated objectives using 'all, most, some' – saves teachers' time! I also appreciate the connections to the AFs and Literacy Framework... The lessons are written in a straightforward manner which means they could be used by PGCE students and non-specialist teachers of English... I like the peer assessment opportunity used for the speaking and listening assessment in lesson 7. This is a really straightforward and helpful method of engaging the students with the success criteria... It's a scheme that would look good in the department handbook, as all the government boxes are neatly ticked!

A Powell, English Teacher, GCSE Examiner & Peer Reviewer

Well-structured with a clear purpose. Engaging texts selected and some really excellent supporting materials... I like the topic – good for girls and boys.

M Mallows, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer

Interesting, unique ideas with good, photocopiable sheets... would be very effective with a high ability KS3 group... I like the ideas for paired work and think that the choice of writers and stories are good... Enhances learning through narrative structure, suspense, tension, language and language changes through the short story convention. It also tackles complex aspects of the short story... I particularly liked the idea of the modern and the traditional short story compared and contrasted. This will move pupils into understanding a critical essay layout, etc. – crucial for GCSE... full of challenging, original ideas

A Langridge, English Teacher & Peer Reviewer