10 lessons narrative unit for rainforest or rivers topic + resources

This unit of work gives around ten lessons with lots of opportunities for independent writing. The unit links well to topics based on rainforests or rivers or you could change the location of the lyrebird to link to a different topic. Links to video resources are provided and where possible alternative links are given in case your school does not allow Youtube. Many of the lessons include opportunities for pairs and group working.

It includes a story that I have written, lesson plans and resources for around 10 lessons. The writing will be based on re-telling the story and refers to an excellent hook video that your children are sure to love.

The lessons include opportunities for writing narrative, character and setting descriptions, dialogue, fronted adverbials, present perfect, a/an and conjunctions. The model text includes expanded noun phrases followed by prepositions and fronted adverbials – these are Year 4 KPIs but also suitable for Year 3. There is also a lesson based on summarising the story which allows you to gather evidence for the Year 4 summarising reading KPI.

You may prefer to make a girl/woman the central character in which case I suggest that you call her Jungle Jan and use the supplied picture of the adventurer girl.

Please note that the lyrebird is actually native to Australia and can be found in rainforests in New South Wales and Queensland. My topic was rivers so I took some liberties with reality for the story!