Real Writing Year 4 - Unit 13
Model text: Banksy: Artist or Vandal? by Ross Montgomery
Curriculum links: Art (Great artists, architects and designers in history)
Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 4 is built around an original model text by Ross Montgomery; an interesting balanced argument discussing whether Banksy’s work should be considered as art or vandalism. 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 3-week unit, pupils will learn the origins of the word graffiti and will investigate how the author has used the present perfect form of verbs when discussing the issue of graffiti. Following a debate about graffiti, pupils will write their own balanced argument about this issue, showing opposing viewpoints. This unit could be used within an art topic about famous artists or when studying graffiti art.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully-resourced lessons are included for the following LKS2 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary: To use a dictionary to check the spelling and meaning of words
Pupils will: use a dictionary to check the spelling of words; match words with their meanings; write sentences using words taught, spelling words correctly
2. Grammar: To use the present perfect verb form
Pupils will: identify the present perfect verb form; rewrite sentences using the present perfect verb form; write from opposing viewpoints using the present perfect form
Revisited skills
Using a range of conjunctions to create sentences with more than one clause
Using consistent tense
Use apostrophes to show singular possession
Additional year 4 curriculum teaching points
Simple organisational devices
Organising paragraphs around a theme
Fronted adverbials
Year 4 words: featured vocabulary
Spelling words: appear, consider, decide, different, naughty, often, probably, therefore
Tier 2 words: anonymous, anonymously, controversial, outrage, unique, vandal, vandalism
Tier 3 words: artist, deface, gallery, graffiti, influential, sculpture