This work pack provides a clear, structured approach to teaching and analysing John Agard’s Checkin’ Out Me History at KS3/KS4. It is designed to help students move from basic comprehension to confident analysis of identity, voice, and the challenge to Eurocentric history.

The resource includes:
• A guided exploration of Agard’s use of non-standard English and the significance of the Creole voice
• A historical figures activity to build contextual understanding of the poem’s references
• A juxtaposition task that helps students compare the poem’s tones of anger and admiration
• Close-analysis questions examining key quotations, connotations, and methods such as metaphor, imagery, and contrast
• Structured worksheets supporting analysis of writer’s purpose, big ideas, and reclamation of identity
• A scaffolded thesis and paragraph-writing frame with clear steps for analytical writing
• A full model thesis and analytical paragraph to support independent writing and ensure strong outcomes