Irish Curriculum · 1st Year English

1st Year English Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year 1st Year English lesson plan aligned to the Junior Cycle English specification in Ireland. Week-by-week lessons for 1, 2 or 3 days a week from September to August, covering group discussion and presenting ideas, exploring novels, poetry and drama, inference, vocabulary and basic analysis, and personal, narrative and functional writing, with summer consolidation and preparation for 2nd Year.

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1st Year English learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
September · Oral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas

1st Year English — September Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
September 1st week
(English)		Oral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 1: Participating in Group DiscussionsOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 1: Participating in Group DiscussionsOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 1: Participating in Group Discussions 2: Presenting Ideas Clearly
September 2nd week
(English)		Oral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 2: Presenting Ideas ClearlyOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 2: Presenting Ideas Clearly 3: Active Listening SkillsOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 3: Active Listening Skills 4: Building Confidence in Spoken Contributions
September 3rd week
(English)		Oral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 3: Active Listening SkillsOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 4: Building Confidence in Spoken ContributionsOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
September 4th week
(English)		Oral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 4: Building Confidence in Spoken Contributions 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizOral Language: Group Discussions & Presenting Ideas Applied Practice Task
October · Reading: Exploring Novels

1st Year English — October Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
October 1st week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Novels 1: Exploring a Novel: Plot & SettingReading: Exploring Novels 1: Exploring a Novel: Plot & SettingReading: Exploring Novels 1: Exploring a Novel: Plot & Setting 2: Identifying Character in a Novel
October 2nd week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Novels 2: Identifying Character in a NovelReading: Exploring Novels 2: Identifying Character in a Novel 3: Identifying Themes in a NovelReading: Exploring Novels 3: Identifying Themes in a Novel 4: Using Basic Textual Evidence to Support Ideas
October 3rd week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Novels 3: Identifying Themes in a NovelReading: Exploring Novels 4: Using Basic Textual Evidence to Support IdeasReading: Exploring Novels 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
October 4th week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Novels 4: Using Basic Textual Evidence to Support Ideas 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizReading: Exploring Novels 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizReading: Exploring Novels Applied Practice Task
November · Reading: Exploring Poetry

1st Year English — November Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
November 1st week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Poetry 1: Exploring Poetry: Theme & MeaningReading: Exploring Poetry 1: Exploring Poetry: Theme & MeaningReading: Exploring Poetry 1: Exploring Poetry: Theme & Meaning 2: Identifying Character & Voice in Poetry
November 2nd week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Poetry 2: Identifying Character & Voice in PoetryReading: Exploring Poetry 2: Identifying Character & Voice in Poetry 3: Exploring Setting & Mood in PoetryReading: Exploring Poetry 3: Exploring Setting & Mood in Poetry 4: Using Textual Evidence in Poetry Analysis
November 3rd week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Poetry 3: Exploring Setting & Mood in PoetryReading: Exploring Poetry 4: Using Textual Evidence in Poetry AnalysisReading: Exploring Poetry 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
November 4th week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Poetry 4: Using Textual Evidence in Poetry Analysis 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizReading: Exploring Poetry 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizReading: Exploring Poetry Applied Practice Task
December · Reading: Exploring Drama

1st Year English — December Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week
December 1st week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Drama 1: Exploring a Play: Character & SettingReading: Exploring Drama 1: Exploring a Play: Character & SettingReading: Exploring Drama 1: Exploring a Play: Character & Setting 2: Identifying Themes in Drama
December 2nd week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Drama 2: Identifying Themes in DramaReading: Exploring Drama 2: Identifying Themes in Drama 3: Understanding Dramatic StructureReading: Exploring Drama 3: Understanding Dramatic Structure 4: Using Textual Evidence in Drama Analysis
December 3rd week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Drama 3: Understanding Dramatic StructureReading: Exploring Drama 4: Using Textual Evidence in Drama AnalysisReading: Exploring Drama 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
December 4th week
(English)		Reading: Exploring Drama 4: Using Textual Evidence in Drama Analysis 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizReading: Exploring Drama 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & QuizReading: Exploring Drama Applied Practice Task
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Focus and activate

Open with a short extract, quotation or question that sets up the week’s 1st Year English focus.

25 minutes

Analyse and apply

Model the reading or writing skill with an example answer, then apply it to Junior Cycle-style questions.

10 minutes

Check for understanding

Finish with a short written response checked against the marking criteria your child will meet in exams.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for 1st Year English

Concept lessons

Clear explanations of each 1st Year reading, writing and language topic in the order it comes up in school.

Worksheets & quizzes

Worksheets, quizzes and vocabulary reviews matched to each week of the plan.

Exam-style practice

Junior Cycle English questions with model answers and marking guidance.

Progress notes

Regular feedback for parents on reading, writing and next steps.

Free first lesson

Build a plan for 1st Year English

Tell us your child’s year, level (Higher or Ordinary) and where they are with Junior Cycle English, and we will shape the first grind around the 1st Year English skills that matter most.

  • No credit card required
  • A one-to-one session with a certified English tutor
  • A recommended next-step study plan