A comprehensive and engaging teaching unit for The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway, designed for Senior English classrooms. This resource supports students in developing sophisticated analytical and interpretive skills while exploring a powerful novel set during the Siege of Sarajevo.

Through structured lessons and scaffolded activities, students examine key themes such as the human cost of war, resilience, morality, fear, and the role of art in times of conflict. The unit also explores narrative structure and multiple perspectives, enabling students to analyse how Galloway constructs meaning through interconnected character experiences.

Students are guided to engage deeply with the historical and political context of the Bosnian War, developing an understanding of how setting shapes character choices and ethical dilemmas. The resource supports students in crafting thoughtful, evidence-based analytical responses, making it ideal for senior assessment preparation.

What’s included:
Close reading tasks and activities
In-depth exploration of themes, symbols, and motifs
10 week teaching sequence
Character analysis (Arrow, Kenan, Dragan, and the Cellist)
Contextual study (Bosnian War, conflict and civilian experience)
Essay questions and scaffolded analytical writing support
Creative and discussion-based activities to enhance engagement

How to Use
Convert to PowerPoint: Upload the PDF to PowerPoint (File → Open) to automatically convert into editable slides
Use in Google Slides: Upload to Google Drive, right-click, and open with Google Slides
Use digitally or print: Upload to your LMS (Google Classroom, Canvas, etc.) or print for handouts
Canva option: Upload the PDF to Canva to edit, customise, and export as PowerPoint