Real Writing Year 2 - Unit 2
Model text: Ultra-Kid and the Terrible Tornado, by Gabrielle Kent
Curriculum links: Adventure stories, superheroes
Writing Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 2 is built around an original text by Gabriella Kent - an adventure story about a child with superpowers. 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 learn the features of a superhero adventure story and will sequence the events using resources provided. Pupils will learn how to add the suffix -ed to verbs and will also explore the progressive tense. There is also the opportunity to revisit punctuating sentences with capital letters and full stops. They will write their own superhero story, designing their own superhero. This unit gives pupils the opportunity to write a narrative based on personal experiences or those of others and could be linked to a topic based on superheroes.
Key curriculum skills
Three fully-resourced lessons are included for the following Year 1 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary: To apply spelling rules when adding the suffix -ed to words,
Pupils will: revisit that verbs describe actions within sentences. They will then learn the spelling rules on the past tense worksheet when adding the suffix -ed to verbs ending in ‘e’, ‘y’ and in words of one syllable ending in a consonant that follows a short vowel sound.
2. Punctuation: To punctuate sentences with capital letters and full stops
Pupils will: write sentences linked to the story that they have read, punctuating them correctly. Then they will proofread sentences, adding capital letters and full stops where needed. Pupils will then write sentences about a tornado, describing how Ultra-Kid saved the day!
3. Grammar: To use the past progressive tense
Pupils will: learn about the past progressive tense and how it can show that actions are continuing. Pupils will sort sentences written in the simple past and the past progressive tense and rewrite sentences using the past progressive tense. They will then write their own sentences about Ultra-Kid rescuing a cat from a roof, using the past progressive tense in their writing.
Additional teaching points to teach or revisit:
- punctuating sentences with different forms (statement, question and exclamation)
- expanded noun phrases to describe and specify
- rereading writing to check that it makes sens
- proofreading to check for errors in spelling, grammar and punctuation
- reading aloud what they have written
Year 2 vocabulary
Year 2 Common exception words: because after fast past last clothes old class everybody could children
Tier 2 words: distant, flight, power, shelter, speed, strength, tornado
Tier 3 words: N/A