Northern Lights: Notes and Activities for KS3

Students are encouraged to:

  • Discuss and interpret the actions of key characters throughout the novel
  • Complete quick quizzes to demonstrate their comprehension & knowledge of each chapter
  • Write creatively using key characters & moments in the novel as springboards for diary entries, letters, news reports, description, prose fiction & much more!
  • Read and analyse extracts of the text to demonstrate understanding of the writer’s craft as well as spelling, punctuation & grammar
  • Take part in discussions, role play & debates to practice their speaking and listening skills in relation to key ideas
This resource offers an engaging and consistent approach to teaching this exciting young adult novel.


All chapters are explored through:

  • a brief summary
  • class discussion points
  • a comprehension quiz

A good range of comprehension, creative writing and quiz activities to keep the students interested and engaged

K Greaves, Teacher and Peer Reviewer

Starter, film, final tasks and teacher’s answers are also included to support a well-rounded and easy-to-deliver scheme. Six reading Assessing Pupils’ Progress grids included and matched to activities throughout the pack make the assessment process simple.

Useful and valuable resource

A Baiden, Teacher and Peer Reviewer

What do teachers say about this resource? (5161)

A really fantastic resource that has been created with such a high attention to detail with every page in the pack!

There is such a variety in the tasks given to you in this pack. Two things I particularly appreciated were the summary question pages for each chapter and the teacher notes pages.

Secondly, the teacher ‘crib’ sheet included with every chapter gives you answers and thoughts to all of the questions and work. Now, of course, the teacher should do the work too so we understand it, but if you’re having one of those particularly busy weeks, those answer sheets are invaluable!

The variety of topics and the way that they are worded provides such clarity and structure to the students’ work in lessons. The fact that every single task has a clear focus area in terms of the assessment areas in English really helps the students to see an overall reflection of what each piece of work is helping them with. It allows for far more of an informed progression through the term with the student placed at the center.

The attention to detail with every single page in this is phenomenal. The fact that it includes clear mapping to the assessment objectives and the criteria for each area of English really helps – especially if you are working in a school where senior management are hot on those bits of data!
Just the overall presentation – they aren’t like the slightly old(er) fashioned resources you can find on the internet with graphics throughout that support the students’ understanding of the topics in each chapter.

While you may think that Northern Lights could be seen as a challenging book, this scheme of work make it accessible and approachable for almost any ability level within KS3. With varied tasks and stellar attention to detail, you aren’t going to want to pass up on this resource!

Honestly cannot really fault this resource!

H Smith, Teacher and Customer

I love the self-assessment levelling forms - this is great for stretching students and making them aware of their progress.

This resource prepares students well for character, theme, and language analysis throughout. I also feel that the creative tasks allow the students some ownership of their interpretations; creating a daemon and comparing the book to the film.

E Evans, Teacher and Peer Reviewer

There is a good range of comprehension, creative writing and quiz activities to keep the students interested and engaged throughout the study of this text.

K Greaves, Teacher and Peer Reviewer

A useful and valuable resource that could be used with a variety of learner abilities. It is visually appealing throughout.

A Baiden, Teacher and Peer Reviewer