Transition Year work.

September

‘Cowan Bridge School’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm boarding schools, education in the past.

Reading comprehension – read the text and discuss it in class.

Analysis – answer the short questions and do the vocabulary exercises.

Creative writing – write the interview with Carus Wilson and create a recipe for ‘Resurrection Pie’

‘Jane Eyre’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm the Bronte sisters, the film and book ‘Jane Eyre’.

Reading comprehension – read the excerpt from the text and discuss it in class.

Analysis – in pairs, look up any unfamiliar words in the class dictionaries.

Creative writing – write Jane Eyre’s diary entry for a typical Sunday.

‘Taking My Son to School’

Pre-reading activity – discuss first days at school, media reports, photos.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in class.

Analysis– discuss and write notes on the theme, tone and image of the poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to the poem.

Creative writing – write about a primary school memory.

‘The King’s Speech’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm current English monarchy and connection to King George Vl.

Film study – watch the film and discuss it afterwards in class.

Functional writing – write a review of ‘The King’s Speech’

‘There Came a Day’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm the end of Summer.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in pairs and report to the class.

Functional writing – write a personal response to the poem.

‘The Catcher in the Rye’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm J D Salinger, American education system.

Reading comprehension – read the excerpt from the text and discuss it in pairs and report back to
the class.

Analysis - answer the question on the excerpt.

Creative writing – write the dialogue between Holden and his History teacher.

‘Ode to the West Wind’

Pre-reading activity – discuss Romantic poets, brainstorm wind.

Reading comprehension - read the poem and explain and discuss it in class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and image of the poem.

Functional writing – choose a favourite image from the poem and write about it. Write a personal
response to the poem.

October

‘To Autumn’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm images of Autumn.

Reading comprehension – read the poem in class and discuss it in groups.

Analysis – identify the theme and tone and write notes on them.

Functional writing – write a personal response to the poem and identify and write about the
imagery.

‘An Autumn Day’

Pre-reading activity – discuss prose writing traits and features.

Reading comprehension – read the prose extract in class and discuss it.

Creative writing – write a short story based on the prose extract.

‘The Wild Swans at Coole’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm Yeats, Coole Park.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in pairs and report back to the class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and image of the poem.

Functional writing – a variety of short questions based on the poem and write a personal response
to the poem.

‘An Irish Airman Foresees his Death’

Pre-reading activity – discuss World War One, RAF

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in class.

Analysis – identify the theme, tone and imagery and write notes on them.

Functional writing – Write a personal response to the poem.

Creative writing – write a letter from Major Gregory to his mother.

‘Fireworks’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm pros and cons of fireworks, hazards etc.

Reading comprehension – read the excerpt from the Irish Times and discuss the points raised.

Functional writing – write a debate for or against the banning of fireworks.

‘Mischief and Mayhem’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm Halloween.

Reading comprehension - read the text in class.

Analysis – answer the short questions on the text.

‘The Dullahan’

Pre-reading activity – discuss superstitions, myths, legends, ghost stories.

Reading comprehension – read the text in class.

Functional writing – reconstruct the scrambled sentences.

Creative writing – write a short story in which the supernatural plays a significant part.
November

‘Riders to the Sea’

Pre-reading activity – discuss local link with the Aran Islands.

Reading comprehension – read the text in class, assigning parts to each student.

Analysis – discuss and analyse the various characters in the play and write notes on them. Do a
variety of short questions on the play.

Film study – watch the dvd of the play and discuss the interpretation of it in class.

‘The Trenches’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm World War One, life in the trenches.

Reading comprehension – read the text in class and at home to promote reading for pleasure.

Analysis – discuss in class the use of the diary format as a narrative and the use of a first person
narrator.

December

‘A Christmas Carol’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm Charles Dickens, Christmas in the past.

Reading comprehension – read the novel in class and at home as part of promoting reading for
pleasure.

Functional writing – analyse and write a response to the message contained in the novel.

‘If only she had more money…’

Pre-reading activity – discuss Christmas today, materialism, consumerism.

Reading comprehension – read this extract from ‘The Gifts of the Magi’ and discuss it in class. In
groups, predict a likely ending and give reasons.

Functional writing – answer the questions on the text.

Creative writing – write a letter of advice from the problem page of the newspaper to Della.
January

‘The Darkling Thrush’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm Winter.

Reading Comprehension – read the poem in class and discuss it in groups. Report opinions back to
the class.

Analysis – identify and write notes on the theme, tone and image of the poem.

Functional writing – pick out examples of archaic language from the poem and explain them. Write a
personal response to the poem.

‘False Identity?’

Pre-reading activity – discuss features of narrative style, plot, characterisation etc.

Reading comprehension – read this extract from the novel ‘Tenderwire’ in class and discuss.

Functional writing – answer the questions on the text.

Creative writing – Write Alexander’s and Zach’s diary entries based on the extract.

‘The Warrior of Winter’

Pre-reading activity – discuss similarities between the changing of the seasons and a battle.

Reading comprehension – read this poem and discuss it in class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and imagery of the poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to this poem and answer the short questions on it.

February

‘Mirror in February’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm associations with February.

Reading comprehension – read the poem in class and discuss it.

Analysis – examine the theme, tone and imagery in the poem and write notes on them.

Creative writing – write Kinsella’s diary entry based on the experiences which may have preceded
this poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to this poem.

‘Romeo and Juliet’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm ‘Romeo and Juliet’, film versions.

Research – research some facts about the play and present them to the class.

Reading comprehension – read the Balcony scene extract from ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and act it out in
class.

‘I Could Bring You Flowers’

Pre-reading activity – discuss the link between flowers and special occasions.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in groups.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and images in the poem.

‘Valentine’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm romance and Valentine’s Day.

Reading comprehension – read this poem and discuss it in pairs and then with the class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and imagery in this poem.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the poem. Write a personal response to this
poem.

Creative writing – creatively model a poem to answer ‘Valentine’

‘The Secret Life of the Irish Male’

Pre-reading activity – discuss gender stereotypes in attitudes to Valentine’s Day.

Reading comprehension – read this excerpt from ‘The Secret Life of the Irish Male’.

Functional writing – write a personal response to this text.

‘The Spire’

Pre-reading activity – discuss young love, hopes, expectations.

Reading comprehension – read this text in class and, in groups, predict a likely outcome and explain
the reasons.

Functional writing – answer the short questions based on this text.

March

‘Spring’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm Spring.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and explain and discuss it in class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and imagery of the poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to the poem.

April

‘April Rain Song’

Pre-reading activity – discuss ideas associated with rain.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in pairs and report back to the class.

Functional writing – answer the questions on the poem.

‘I Wander’d Lonely as a Cloud’

Pre-reading activity – discuss loneliness vs solitude.

Reading comprehension – read the poem in class and discuss it.

Analysis – identify and write notes on the theme, tone and imagery in the poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to the poem.

‘Sheep and Lambs’

Pre-reading activity – discuss the lamb as a metaphor and symbol in religion and religious poetry.

Reading comprehension – read this poem and discuss it in class.

Functional writing – write a personal response to this poem.

‘I See His Blood upon the Rose’

Pre-reading activity – discuss the 1916 Rising.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and image of this poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to this poem.

Creative writing – write a diary entry for Joseph Mary Plunkett on the night before he was to be
executed.
‘The Wayfarer’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm Padraig Pearse, his life, local connections.

Reading comprehension - Read this poem in class and discuss it.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and image of this poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to this poem.

Creative writing – write a letter from Padraig Pearse to his mother on the night before he was
executed.

Easter 1916

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm the 1916 Rising.

Reading comprehension – read this poem in class and explain and discuss it.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and imagery of the poem.

Functional writing – write a personal response to the poem.

Research – pick a person named or referred to in the poem and research his or her life. Give a
presentation to the class on your findings.

‘The White Dress’

Pre-viewing activity – brainstorm white dresses and special occasions

Film study – watch the short film twice and discuss it in pairs and report back to the class.

Creative writing – write a short story or a poem modelled on the film.

May

‘The Sun’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm the sun for a list of ideas and images.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in class.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the poem.

‘Going on Holiday’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm holidays and travel.

Reading comprehension – read the text in class and discuss it.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the text.

Creative writing – write a short story beginning with the words ‘At last we were off on our holiday.’

‘I taste a liquor never brewed’

Pre-reading activity – brainstorm alcohol and intoxication.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in class.

Analysis – write notes on the theme, tone and image of the poem.

Functional writing – choose two images that appeal to you and explain your choices.

‘Dream Destination’

Pre-reading activity – discuss ideal holidays.

Reading comprehension - Read the excerpt from the magazine article in class and discuss it.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the text.

Creative writing – write three diary entries about your African holiday based on this article.

‘A Summer Morning’

Pre-reading activity – describe a Summer morning in detail.

Reading comprehension – read the poem in class and discuss it.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the poem.

Creative writing – describe the video you would make to accompany a reading of this poem.

Sonnet 18 –‘Shall I Compare Thee…’

Pre-reading activity – revise similes and metaphors.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in groups and report back to the class.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the poem.

Creative writing – describe the video you would make to accompany a reading of this poem.
Sonnet 18 –‘Shall I Compare Thee…’

Pre-reading activity – revise similes and metaphors.

Reading comprehension – read the poem and discuss it in groups and report back to the class.

Functional writing – answer the short questions on the poem.

Creative writing – Imagine this poem was written for you. Write a letter of response to the poet
outlining why you are or are not happy with the poem.