The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit: Year 7 Novel Scheme of Work

This scheme of work for The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit contains 20 lesson plans exploring a wide range of themes.

The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit is suitable for year 7 students, and provides an opportunity to combine teaching a classic novel with challenging vocabulary through an accessible, age-appropriate story.

This scheme of work contains 20 lesson plans exploring the wide range of contemporary themes in Edith Nesbit’s The Railway Children, such as:

  • Family
  • Friendships
  • Loss
  • Loyalty
  • Justice
  • Redemption

The scheme is fully resourced, making it possible for you to download and teach with minimal planning. The lesson plans provide opportunities for developing a variety of skills, including:

  • Close textual analysis
  • Vocabulary building
  • Creative writing
  • Drama

From the Blurb:

When Father goes away with two strangers one evening, the lives of Roberta, Peter and Phyllis are shattered. They and their mother have to move from their comfortable London home to go and live in a simple country cottage, where Mother writes books to make ends meet. However, they soon come to love the railway that runs near their cottage, and they make a habit of waving to the Old Gentleman who rides on it. They befriend the porter, Perks, and through him learn railway lore and much else. They have many adventures, and when they save a train from disaster, they are helped by the Old Gentleman to solve the mystery of their father’s disappearance, and the family is happily reunited.