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Year 9

Identifying and exploring complex ideas in a text

I can identify and explore complex ideas in a text.

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New
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Year 9

Identifying and exploring complex ideas in a text

I can identify and explore complex ideas in a text.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Before reading, it can be useful to consider the purpose, form and audience of a text.
  2. Identifying complex ideas in a text can help deepen your understanding.
  3. 'Big ideas' include: representation, attitudes and values and historical perspectives.
  4. Considering how texts challenge or conform to stereotypes and dominant narratives can create sophisticated statements.

Keywords

  • Societal - refers to anything related to society, including behaviours, attitudes and expectations

  • Stereotype - a simplified belief, view or representation of a group of people

  • Conform - to behave or think in a way that is socially acceptable

  • Dominant - the most widely accepted or prevailing (idea or concept)

  • Narrative - a story or account of events, often shaping how people perceive history or society

Common misconception

Historical texts only portray stereotypical representations of women.

Even though societal expectations and stereotypes exist, this does not mean that all people conform to these standards - even in the past!


To help you plan your year 9 english lesson on: Identifying and exploring complex ideas in a text, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

There is an excellent video on the FURD website that presents the history and voices of women's football. You may wish to share this with your class.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You will need access to the article - 'Stoppage Time: Sheffield Women's Football Herstory' available from the FURD website.

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
supervision-level

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these texts would not be considered non-fiction?
Correct answer: novel
website
biography
newspaper article
diary
Q2.
Which of the following would not be included in a non-fiction text?
opinions
facts
statistics
Correct answer: characters
Q3.
Which reading skill can be used before you begin reading a text?
inference
analysis
Correct answer: prediction
skimming
Q4.
Which word beginning with 's' can be described as: 'a simplified belief, view or representation of a group of people'?
Correct Answer: stereotype, stereotypical
Q5.
Who is the likely audience for a non-fiction text titled: 'Climate Change: A Guide for Young Activists'?
toddlers and young children
university professors specialising in environmental science
Correct answer: young individuals interested in environmental activism
retired individuals looking for leisure reading
Q6.
What is the purpose of a speech titled: 'Breaking Stereotypes in Modern Society'?
To entertain listeners with personal anecdotes and jokes.
Correct answer: To inform listeners about the detrimental effects of stereotypes on society.
Correct answer: To persuade listeners to challenge and dismantle stereotypes in their own lives.
To describe fictional characters and their experiences with stereotypes.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What were the two main purposes of women playing football during World War I in Sheffield, according to the 'Stoppage Time' article?
Correct answer: to raise money for the war effort
Correct answer: to entertain soldiers
to challenge gender norms
to promote women's rights
Q2.
Which answer best describes the word 'conform'?
anything related to society, including behaviours, attitudes and expectations
a simplified belief, view or representation of a group of people
Correct answer: to behave or think in a way that is socially acceptable
the most widely accepted or prevailing (idea or concept)
Q3.
Which answer best describes the purpose of the article 'Stoppage Time'?
to entertain using anecdotes and fictional characters
Correct answer: to inform the audience about the relatively unknown history of women’s football
to advise and explain how people can become professional footballers
Q4.
Complete this sentence: in the 'Stoppage Time' article, the representation of women in football's history __________ the dominant narratives of the sport.
Correct answer: challenges
supports
contradicts
denotes
Q5.
With reference to the article 'Stoppage Time, what does the term "herstory" imply in the context of the title?
Correct answer: It refers to history written from a feminist or woman's perspective.
It denotes a fictional account of historical events.
It signifies a chronological timeline of football history.
It highlights the achievements of male football players.
Q6.
Which of these useful concepts can be used to explore a texts 'big ideas'?
Correct answer: representation
Correct answer: attitudes and values
Correct answer: historical perspectives
language devices