Writing
Our learning for Spring 1 is based on Escape from Pompeii by Christina Balit
Outcomes:
Setting descriptions, diaries, letters, thought bubbles, newspaper report
Synopsis of Text:
The eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 meant death for most of the Roman citizens living in Pompeii. But some people must have survived, and Christina Balit has used this as her story's starting point. It tells of Tranio, an actor's son, and his friend Livia, the baker's daughter, who witness the destruction of their beloved city.
We’ve been using Clicker on the iPads to support our writing ✍️
Our second Autumn 2 text was The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Main outcome:
A first-person narrative based on an imagined journey to the North Pole to see Santa Claus.
Synopsis of Text:
Late one Christmas Eve, a boy boards a mysterious train that waits for him: the Polar Express bound for the North Pole. When he arrives, Santa offers him any gift he desires. The boy modestly asks for one bell from the reindeer's harness. It turns out to be a very special gift, for only believers in Santa can hear it ring.
Our first Autumn 2 text was The First Drawing by Mordicai Gerstein
Outcomes:
Character description, diary entry, recount
Overview and Outcomes:
The children will explore the text, including exploration of the Stone Age and cave paintings. They write diary entries, explore the conventions of speech, create character descriptions.
Synopsis of Text:
In 1994, the Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc was discovered, filled with the oldest known drawings in existence at that time, made 30,000 years ago. In that same cave, prehistoric footprints were discovered: those of an 8-year-old child and a wolf. From these astonishing facts, THE FIRST DRAWING was born.
In this beautiful picture book, Caldecott Medal-winning author/illustrator Mordicai Gerstein imagines one possible way drawing was invented. The young boy that stars in this story has such a vivid imagination that he sees images everywhere - clouds, stones and smoke look like animals to him. His parents, however, don't share his enthusiasm and wish he would be more down to earth. However, the boy cannot contain his enthusiasm and one night grabs a smoky stick and "traces" the image he sees on a cave wall. Lo and behold the world's first drawing.
The First Drawing is a story sure to inspire any artist, young or old, as well as anyone with a dream to do something new and different.
Our Autumn 1 text was The Journey Home by Frann Preston-Gannon
Literary Theme: Creation & Conservation
Posters, lists, postcards, wanted posters, information report, short stories
Overview and Outcomes:
This text explores issues of conservation and starts to explore whether we can escape the issues that endangered animals face on a day-to-day basis. The children will create fact files on endangered animals as well write short persuasive pieces on why we need to save a particular endangered animal. The will be able to identify how a sentence is formed by its grammatical structure as a question, a command, a statement or an exclamation. The children will be encouraged to edit their work, being aware of tense and word choice.
Word classes (nouns/verbs/adjectives) will be referred to throughout.
Synopsis of Text:
The ice is melting so Polar Bear sets off in search of a new home. Join him on his adventures across the seas and discover the many friends he meets along the way. This beautifully illustrated story has a powerful message of conservation.
