Teaching Secondary English as if the Planet Matters

‘This is an important book for all concerned with the teaching and learning of English, exploring new and hugely significant areas in a scholarly, thought-provoking and eminently practical way.’ – David Stevens, University of Durham, UK


Drawing together ideas from a range of disciplines in the study of texts which explore nature, the built environment and issues of climate change and environmental stress, this book shows how English is well placed to develop the cultural, aesthetic and emotional response to environmental themes – both as part of everyday practice and within wider curriculum innovations.

Features include:


critical reflection on the teaching of secondary English
connections with the academic study of ecocriticism and/or key environmental issues
suggested teaching activities and/or reflections from classroom practice
sources of further reading and information.


The true worth of a school subject is revealed in how far it can account for and respond to the major issues of the time. This timely textbook breaks new ground in showing how English teachers can have a pivotal role in responding to the environmental crisis.

Sasha Matthewman is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol where she leads the PGCE English course.

Chapter 1. Elements of the crisis Chapter 2. Ecocriticism: The literary critical response Chapter 3. The English curriculum and environmental thinking Chapter 4. Ecocritical poetry: A fresh approach to teaching nature poetry Chapter 5. Animals in the classroom: the potential of anthropomorphism Chapter 6. Writing the story of consumption and waste Chapter 7. Understanding environmental debate and discourses Chapter 8. Reading the City Chapter 9. Future visions: merging fact and fiction Chapter 10. Place-based writing: Venturing outside Chapter 11. New subject territory and ‘New’ Media