KS2 English resources: Free Anne Lister lesson plan

Just Like Us, the LGBT+ young people’s charity, has released free KS2 English resources including a lesson plan on Anne Lister, widely known as Britain’s “first modern lesbian”.

The free, ready-to-go resources include a lesson plan exploring the life of Victorian landowner Anne Lister, whose five-million-word diary detailed her relationships with other women.

With many of Lister’s diary entries being written in code, this lesson includes an activity whereby pupils get to write and decipher their own coded messages to one another.

The aim of this lesson is for pupils to understand who Anne Lister was, why she had to write in code, and how views towards lesbians have changed in the UK.

The resource is one of many free English resources provided by Just Like Us for celebrating School Diversity Week.

How to download KS2 English resources, including this lesson on Anne Lister:

If you are a staff member at a UK primary school, secondary school or sixth form college, you can access Just Like Us’ free resources by following the below steps:

1. Sign up for School Diversity Week (make sure you tick ‘School Diversity Week’).
2. You’ll then receive an email granting you access to the resources.
3. Then, browse and download resources in our portal.

What is School Diversity Week?

Every June, Just Like Us runs School Diversity Week. The event is a celebration of LGBT+ equality in primary and secondary schools across the UK.

As part of this, Just Like Us has created more than 50 free, LGBT+ inclusive resources for use in schools. These include lesson plans, worksheets, assembly ideas, story time discussions and presentations. Plus, there is a Rainbow Friday non-uniform day, fundraising for Just Like Us.

Each year, thousands of UK primary and secondary schools take part in School Diversity Week. Signing up means you will get free access to LGBT+ inclusive resources on all key stages and key subjects.

Why celebrate School Diversity Week?

Independent research has found a link between positive messaging about being LGBT+ in schools to pupils have better mental health. This is regardless of whether the pupils are LGBT+ or not.

By signing up for School Diversity Week, you’ll gain access to our free LGBT+ inclusive resources. You’ll be joining thousands of other schools celebrating across the UK.