Real Writing Year 3 - Unit 23
Volcano Poem, by Joshua Seigal
Curriculum links: Geography (volcanoes)
Writing unit overview
This writing unit for Year 3 is built around an original model text by Joshua Seigal - a KS2 poem written from the point of view of a volcano. The example text is available as a PDF in three versions (plain, illustrated and annotated); annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations are also included.
In this two-week unit, pupils will have an opportunity to learn some vocabulary connected with volcanoes. They will look at the etymology and morphology of words, and consider some of the structural features of poetry. It will culminate in them writing their own poem about a volcano that follows the same structure as the model text.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully resourced lesson plans are included for the following Year 3 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary - To explore the etymology and morphology of words
Pupils will: understand the meaning of the terms etymology and morphology; look at the roots and origins of words; sort words into word families; write sentences with words that share a root.
2. Composition - To identify structural features of a poem
Pupils will: analyse the poem ‘Volcano’, by Joshua Seigal, looking at structure, rhymes, grammar and word choices; explore the use of figurative language, including similes, metaphors and personification; match poetic device terms with their definitions; write a limerick.
Additional objectives to teach or revisit:
- the use of superlative adjectives
- expanded noun phrases
- commas for lists, including lists of adjectives
Additional year 3 curriculum teaching points
- extending sentences with a wider range of conjunctions
- the use of conjunctions, adverbials and prepositions, including prepositional phrases
- There is also the opportunity to promote the use of figurative language
Year 3 vocabulary
Tier two words: perch, vicious, yearn
Tier three words: ash, crater, dormant, lava, magma, mantle, volcano
Year 3/4 statutory spelling words: height, pressure, surprise, build
What is a word family?
Word families are groups of words that are related to each other in a combination of having the same root word (with prefixes, suffixes or other words added to make compound words like superman), grammar and meaning. Words that change when written in the past and present tense (for example understand and understood) are also part of the same word family. A word root is a basic word with no prefix or suffix added. The words play, playful, playing and replay are all part of the same word family as they all have the same word root (play) and are related in meaning.