This week, we have started a new English Unit based around the concept of being given a warning for our own safety. Our Model text is called ‘The canal’ and links nicely to our local area and information we have learnt about canals through our history lessons.
The story can be broken down into 5 main parts (bare bones)
- one or more characters are warned not to do something
- MC’s go off despite the warning, MC is tempted.
- Something goes wrong – there is a problem
- MC’s have to be rescued
- MC’s are told off for going against the warning.
During the unit, key skills taught will include:
Use of speech -children will learn the rules for adding inverted commas so that characters can come alive in their stories. In Year 4, we think carefully about the punctuation used when writing speech as well as remembering to move to a new line when each person speaks.
Fronted adverbials – The children have used these in previous units of work in Year 4 so it will be great to draw on their prior knowledge. We will be thinking about what fronted adverbials answer (How, where and when something happens) and making sure we make the best possible choices.
Past tense – The story of the canal is set in the past. We will be identifying what makes a piece of writing ‘past tense’ and familiarising ourselves with the -ed suffix.
Creating suspense – this will be done through the careful structuring of sentences and the vocabulary we use in order to create a sense of drama to grip the reader.
The children have already completed the WOW lesson and have heard the story. Today they had fun exploring the story map and learning the story off by heart.
Please see below for a copy of the text and story map.
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