Blood Brothers teaching pack

11 reviews

Last updated: 10/04/2024

Main Subject

English

Key stage

KS4

Resource type

Teaching pack

Our comprehensive GCSE teaching pack has been created to support students taking GCSE English Literature for AQA, Edexcel and WJEC Eduqas. Page numbers and extracts relate to the Methuen Drama Modern Classics edition (2001).

'Blood Brothers is a … favourite with both teachers and students. This pack contains a wide range of activities to encourage exploration of the play's context, themes, language, structure and characters. Tasks range from starter games to comparisons with Greek tragedy and Romeo and Juliet. It also includes revision grids and practice examination-style questions suitable for detailed and thorough examination preparation.'

Annie Fox, writer

These 23 lessons and wide range of resources are all you need for an in-depth analysis of this tragic story.

What's included?

23 lessons
49 bespoke resources
exam-style questions for GCSE English Literature.

What's inside?

Introduction (page 4)

Specification summaries (pages 5-7)

Lesson 1 (pages 8-17)

Pre-reading: how to read a play and identify drama genres

Lesson 2 (pages 18-25)

Pre-reading: using the context and writing an original script

Lesson 3 (pages 26-31)

The role of the narrator

Lesson 4 (pages 32-42)

Characterisation: Mrs Lyons and Mrs Johnstone

Lesson 5 (pages 43-50)

Themes: superstition and motherhood

Lesson 6 (pages 51-55)

Theme: childhood

Lesson 7 (pages 56-58)

Conflict

Lesson 8 (pages 59-61)

Characterisation: Linda and theme: social class

Lesson 9 (pages 62-65)

Theme: friendship and symbolism

Lesson 10 (pages 66-76)

Revision of Act 1: plot, genre, style and structure

Lesson 11 (pages 77-81)

Characterisation: Sammy, Mickey and Edward

Lesson 12 (pages 82-86)

Themes: education and social class

Lesson 13 (pages 87-91)

Theme: love

Lesson 14 (pages 92-97)

Characterisation: Mrs Lyons and theme: mental illness

Lesson 15 (pages 98-107)

Handling of time

Lesson 16 (pages 104-107)

Characterisation: Mr Lyons and theme: unemployment

Lesson 17 (pages 108-109)

Creation of tension

Lesson 18 (pages 110-112)

Subtext and conflict

Lesson 19 (pages 113-114)

Resolution

Lesson 20 (pages 115-119)

Writing about comedy and tragedy

Lesson 21 (pages 120-126)

Writing about characters

Lesson 22 (pages 127-133)

Writing about themes

Lesson 23 (pages 134-142)

Revision

This is sample from a student activity from the Blood Brothers teaching pack.

Task 1: Hot-seating

You may wish to use these hot-seating cards as a start, but also think of your own questions for the characters in order to try to understand their thoughts and feelings at this point in the play.

Remember that the answers should be based on your understanding of the characters and their personal circumstances. You may imagine extra detail, but shouldn’t directly contradict information provided in the play by Willy Russell. Try to capture how the characters speak.

Questions for Mickey	Questions for Edward
What were your first impressions of Edward?	What were your first impressions of Mickey?
Why did you become blood brothers?	Why did you become blood brothers?
How do you feel about your family?	How do you feel about your parents?
What is the best thing about Edward?	What is the best thing about Mickey?
How did you feel when you heard Edward had moved away?	How did you feel when your father said you were moving out to the country?
Do you think you will ever see Edward again?	Do you think you will ever see Mickey again?

All reviews

15/02/2021

18/12/2020

25/01/2020

Hi Karen,

Thanks for your feedback. We've asked our design team to look into this and fix the formatting issues. Thanks again and we're glad you like the pack!

Lindy Leslie, Teachit English Editor

09/03/2018