Teaching notes and ideas
Name of resource:
Ozymandias by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Age group(s)
Subject(s)
15-16
English Literature
Topic
Language Level
Poetry
Beginner/Intermediate
Description of resource
 Key images and vocabulary
 Flashcards provided on PowerPoint
Preparation needed
You will need:
 A copy of the key images and vocabulary sheet for each targeted learner
 A set of flashcards for each group of learners
You will need to:
 Make up flashcards by printing out the PowerPoint onto card as 6-to-a-page or
2-to-a page handouts
Curriculum objectives
 To understand the key vocabulary of the poem
Language/Literacy objectives
Functions
Structures
 Explaining
…means…
When Shelley says … he is talking about …
Shelley is comparing … to …
EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials https://eal.britishcouncil.org/
© Bell Educational Trust 2017
Vocabulary
With visuals: Egypt, Ozymandias, legs of stone, desert, Rameses II, shattered
visage, to frown, to sneer, a sculptor, pedestal, my Works, colossal wreck, lone and
level sands.
Without visuals: vast, trunk / torso, to command, cold / unfeeling, to mock / to
imitate, to appear, King of Kings, ye / you, Mighty / powerful people, to despair, to
remain.
This resource could be used:
 as differentiation within class
 one to one or in a small group
 independent learning
Ideas for using the resource
What to do
Key images and vocabulary sheet
 In advance of being introduced to the poem
o Learners look at the key word images and either look up the listed keywords
in a dual-language or English-English dictionary, or ask a peer or teacher for
the meaning of the word/phrase.
o Having looked up all the words, learners could predict what the poem might
be about and how the items of vocabulary might link.
 While studying the poem
o EAL learners could read each stanza before looking at the images, think
about the meaning and identify what they understand and don’t
understand
o Learners could then use the images and vocabulary list for that stanza to
support their understanding.
o Any other words they don’t understand can be added to the vocabulary
lists.
Flashcards
 In advance of being introduced to the poem
o Give groups of learners a set of flashcards each, or share out a set around
the class.
o Tell the class all the images are related to a poem and get ideas from
them about what the poem might be about. If cards are shared between
groups, ask groups to swap cards with other groups periodically.
EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials https://eal.britishcouncil.org/
© Bell Educational Trust 2016
 As a word bank while studying the poem
o EAL learners can use the flashcards for reference while studying the
poem, to remind them of the meanings of the key vocabulary.
o Learners could have access to the PowerPoint for reference, on an ipad or
laptop
EAL Nexus – free downloadable teaching materials https://eal.britishcouncil.org/
© Bell Educational Trust 2016