KS3 English • Year 9 • Fully Resourced Lesson (PowerPoint + Worksheet)

A rich, engaging lesson introducing students to the harsh contrasts of Victorian London in Ruby in the Smoke. This resource helps learners understand the rigid social hierarchy, the impact of industrialisation, and the stark divide between wealth and poverty — all while analysing how Pullman uses setting to create a sense of foreboding.

Designed for Year 9 English classes and ideal for building contextual knowledge before deeper novel study.

• Editable PowerPoint
• Printable worksheet
• Peer and group discussion tasks
• Retrieval starter + exit reflection
• Clear learning objectives and success criteria

Students will:

• Understand the rigid Victorian social hierarchy.
• Explore the impact of industrialisation on London.
• Contrast extreme wealth with biting poverty.
• Analyse how Pullman uses setting to create a sense of foreboding.

• Clear, structured and easy to deliver
• Strong contextual grounding without overwhelming learners
• Built‑in peer and group work to boost engagement
• Supports confident, thoughtful analysis of setting and atmosphere
• Perfect for Year 9 or as a bridge to GCSE‑style reading skills

Some visuals in this resource were made with AI to help bring ideas to life and support student understanding.