Irish Curriculum · 3rd Year English

3rd Year English Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year 3rd 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 formal presentations and critical evaluation, detailed text analysis, Shakespeare, the novel, drama and poetry comparison, analytical essays and exam-style responses, the Junior Cycle English final examination, and the transition to Senior Cycle.

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4Terms

48Weekly checkpoints

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3rd 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: Formal Presentations

3rd Year English — September Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
September 1st week (English)	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 1: Planning a Formal Presentation	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 1: Planning a Formal Presentation	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 1: Planning a Formal Presentation 2: Delivering a Formal Presentation Clearly
September 2nd week (English)	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 2: Delivering a Formal Presentation Clearly	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 2: Delivering a Formal Presentation Clearly 3: Structuring Ideas for Formal Speech	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 3: Structuring Ideas for Formal Speech 4: Building Confidence in Formal Contexts
September 3rd week (English)	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 3: Structuring Ideas for Formal Speech	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 4: Building Confidence in Formal Contexts	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
September 4th week (English)	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 4: Building Confidence in Formal Contexts 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Oral Language: Formal Presentations 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Oral Language: Formal Presentations Applied Practice Task

October · Oral Language: Critical Evaluation

3rd Year English — October Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
October 1st week (English)	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 1: Critically Evaluating Spoken Arguments	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 1: Critically Evaluating Spoken Arguments	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 1: Critically Evaluating Spoken Arguments 2: Evaluating Persuasive Techniques in Speech
October 2nd week (English)	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 2: Evaluating Persuasive Techniques in Speech	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 2: Evaluating Persuasive Techniques in Speech 3: Giving Constructive Feedback on Presentations	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 3: Giving Constructive Feedback on Presentations 4: Reflecting on & Improving Own Spoken Language
October 3rd week (English)	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 3: Giving Constructive Feedback on Presentations	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 4: Reflecting on & Improving Own Spoken Language	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
October 4th week (English)	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 4: Reflecting on & Improving Own Spoken Language 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Oral Language: Critical Evaluation Applied Practice Task

November · Reading: Detailed Text Analysis

3rd Year English — November Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
November 1st week (English)	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 1: Close Reading & Detailed Textual Analysis	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 1: Close Reading & Detailed Textual Analysis	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 1: Close Reading & Detailed Textual Analysis 2: Analysing Language, Form & Structure in Detail
November 2nd week (English)	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 2: Analysing Language, Form & Structure in Detail	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 2: Analysing Language, Form & Structure in Detail 3: Supporting Analysis with Precise Textual Evidence	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 3: Supporting Analysis with Precise Textual Evidence 4: Applying Detailed Analysis to Unseen Texts
November 3rd week (English)	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 3: Supporting Analysis with Precise Textual Evidence	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 4: Applying Detailed Analysis to Unseen Texts	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
November 4th week (English)	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 4: Applying Detailed Analysis to Unseen Texts 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Reading: Detailed Text Analysis Applied Practice Task

December · Reading: Studying Shakespeare

3rd Year English — December Lesson Plan

Irish Curriculum · English Language Arts

Week	1 Day/Week	2 Day/Week	3 Day/Week
December 1st week (English)	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 1: Studying Plot & Character in the Set Play	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 1: Studying Plot & Character in the Set Play	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 1: Studying Plot & Character in the Set Play 2: Analysing Shakespeare's Language & Themes
December 2nd week (English)	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 2: Analysing Shakespeare's Language & Themes	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 2: Analysing Shakespeare's Language & Themes 3: Exploring Historical & Social Context	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 3: Exploring Historical & Social Context 4: Developing a Personal Response to Shakespeare
December 3rd week (English)	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 3: Exploring Historical & Social Context	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 4: Developing a Personal Response to Shakespeare	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz
December 4th week (English)	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 4: Developing a Personal Response to Shakespeare 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 5: Vocabulary Review 6: Worksheets & Quiz	Reading: Studying Shakespeare 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 3rd 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 3rd Year English

Concept lessons

Clear explanations of each 3rd 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 3rd 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 3rd Year English skills that matter most.

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A recommended next-step study plan