This Year 5 Real Writing unit uses a model text by author Jon Mayhew. Pupils explore the story – which is about a Viking invasion – then plan and write their own invasion stories.
Over three weeks, the children develop historical detail, strong characterisation and narrative structure within their writing. They finish by performing sections of their writing aloud, using voice and movement to bring their stories to life.
The unit follows a carefully mapped framework, tied to the Year 5 writing objectives. Lessons can be linked to history topics such as Romans, Anglo-Saxons or Vikings.
Curriculum links
English objectives
- Use noun phrases to describe characters and settings
- Use dialogue to convey character and advance action
- Revisit paragraphing, direct speech punctuation, and contracted words
- Use relative clauses beginning with who, which, where, when, whose, that
Cross-curricular links
- History: Vikings, Romans, Anglo-Saxons
- Performing arts: reading aloud with intonation, volume and movement
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: clamber, scribe, seafarer, ransack, relic, mercy
- Tier 3 words: Norse, monk, invasion, Brother, habit, Prior, pulpit, Gospel, monastery, conquer
- Common exception words: foreign
Resources included
- Model text PDF (plain, illustrated and annotated)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Teacher notes and activity sheets
- Noun phrases and dialogue worksheets
- Invasion story margin planner
- Writing skills checklists
- Image cards for Viking and Roman invasions
- Vocabulary cards and match activity
Key teaching activities
- Familiarisation: Read the story, discuss characters and plot, create character profiles, explore new vocabulary
- Grammar focus: Identify and use noun phrases in descriptions, investigate relative clauses, highlight features in the model text
- Composition: Use dialogue to convey character and action, plan story using margin planners, draft and edit narratives
- Research and context: Investigate Viking or other historical invasions to enrich stories with factual detail
- Performance: Model reading sections with intonation and movement, pupils perform parts of their own stories
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will:
- Write an invasion story in the first person with structured narrative and clear characterisation
- Use historical facts to enrich their storytelling
- Apply grammar and punctuation skills accurately, including noun phrases, dialogue punctuation, relative clauses and paragraphing
- Present their writing aloud, using voice and movement to engage the audience