Real Writing Year 3 - Unit 22
Model text: I Have… by Joshua Seigal
Curriculum links: English (Writing for purpose)
Writing Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 3 is built around an original model text by Joshua Seigal; a KS2 poem that is structured around the present perfect tense. 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 verb tenses. It will culminate in them writing their own poem based on the present perfect tense. This unit addresses objectives within the English curriculum about writing for a real purpose and audience.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully-resourced lessons are included for the following Year 3 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary: to express time, place or cause using prepositions
Pupils will: sort cards into prepositions and other words. Use the preposition cards to write sentences that include a prepositional phrase.
2. Grammar: to identify tense, including different verb forms
Pupils will: cut up then sort sentences into those which use the simple present, simple past, present progressive, past progressive, present perfect and present perfect progressive tenses. Write their own example sentences using these six tenses, then read their sentences to a partner to see if they can identify the tense.
Additional skills to teach or revisit:
- use of superlative adjectives
- expanded noun phrases and commas for lists
- including lists of adjectives
Additional year 3 curriculum teaching points
- use of the present perfect tense
- extending sentences with a wider range of conjunctions
- use of conjunctions, adverbials and prepositions
- discussing texts so children can learn from their structure, vocabulary and grammar
Year 3 vocabulary
Year 3/4 statutory spelling words: caught, famous
Tier 2 words: guitar, hike, strum, surf
What is a preposition?
A preposition comes before a noun, pronoun or noun phrase and can link these to another part of a sentence. They can show position or direction, timing or show the relationship between parts of a sentence.
- The plane flew above the clouds.
This preposition shows position.
- Dinner is at 6pm.
This preposition shows timing.
- We learnt about the Romans.
This preposition shows relationship, ‘what’ they have learnt.
What are verb forms?
Different forms of verbs are needed depending on the tense used. This could be the past, present or future tense. The past and present tense can be written in the simple, perfect, progressive and progressive perfect forms.
What is the simple past tense?
The simple tense describes actions without stating whether the actions are completed or ongoing.
What is a perfect tense?
The perfect tense is used to show how events or actions are related in time or cause.
What is the progressive tense?
The progressive tense is used to show when an action or state is continuing to happen and can either be present or past.