Real Writing Year 5 - Unit 2
Model text: Katherine Johnson, by Anita Loughrey
Curriculum links: Science - Earth and Space
Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 5 is built around an original model text by Anita Loughrey; a biographical recount of the life and achievements of Katherine Johnson. 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 look at the features of a biographical recount. They will learn how biographies are structured by reading about the prominent mathematician, Katherine Johnson, who was instrumental in developing NASA’s space program. Finally, they will write their own biographical recount about a significant individual linked to space exploration or theory.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully-resourced lessons are included for the following Y5 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Grammar - To use the perfect form of verbs to mark relationships of time and cause
Pupils will: revisit the use of the past tense; rewrite sentences from the past tense to the past perfect tense; sort verbs into present, past and past perfect tenses; complete sentences using the past perfect tense; write sentences and paragraphs in the past perfect tense
2. Composition - To proofread, proposing changes to punctuation
Pupils will: discuss what is involved in proofreading and why we do it; list their punctuation knowledge; complete an editing stations carousel activity looking at specific punctuation
Revisited skills
- Using paragraphs to organise ideas
Additional year 5 curriculum teaching points
- Relative clauses
- Précising texts
Year 5 words: featured vocabulary
Spelling words: opportunity, prejudice, achieve, programme
Tier 2 words: research, inspired, proposed, originate, indispensable, discrimination, assertive, acknowledged, permit, asset, install, exceed, manually, congratulate
Tier 3 words: mathematician, atmosphere