Year 7 Comprehension - Out of the Dark - teaching resource

Year 7 Comprehension – Out of the Dark: Developing Reading Skills 

This engaging Year 7 comprehension resource helps pupils build confidence and accuracy when reading fiction at KS3. Based on an extract from Out of the Dark, the unit immerses students in a tense survival narrative while explicitly teaching key reading skills.

Pupils develop core comprehension skills, including retrieval, inference, language analysis and structure. Clear guidance shows students how to approach questions, use quotations effectively and write developed answers. A strong focus on inference and “reading between the lines” helps pupils move beyond basic responses and prepares them for GCSE-style reading tasks.

Designed for whole-lesson delivery, the resource includes clear explanations, scaffolded practice and model answers to support a range of abilities. It is ideal for Year 7 English, baseline assessment or strengthening reading skills early in KS3.

Key skills covered include:

• Comprehension and inference
• Language techniques and writer’s methods
• Structure and tension
• Using quotations accurately
• Answering questions of increasing difficulty

A classroom-ready resource that saves planning time while delivering high-quality, exam-relevant reading practice that builds long-term confidence.

For more Year 7 Comprehension resources, click the links below:

Year 7 Comprehension - Oliver Twist

Year 7 Comprehension - No Signal

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