Introducing our resource, “100 Cloze Sentences For Year Four” – a teacher’s best friend to inspire and educate their students in writing! This unique tool incorporates a variety of themes and subjects, making it a versatile and valuable asset for any Year Four classroom.
Some of the engaging examples included are:
“Our class storytime turned into an enthralling quest when we started reading about _.”
“The educational trip to the _ was filled with eye-opening exhibits and a wealth of knowledge.”
“My all-time favorite dessert is _; its taste is simply irresistible!”
Each sentence comes with a word bank of 30 words, organized neatly into a grid. These words range from topics like ‘intergalactic explorers’ and ‘natural history museum’ to ‘chocolate mousse’ and ‘string art’. This not only ensures a diverse range of responses but also encourages students to expand their vocabulary and explore different topics.
What sets this resource apart is its adaptability. Want to make edits to suit your class’s needs? No problem! Simply upload the PDF to Google Docs and it becomes editable. Tailor the sentences or the word bank to perfectly fit your lesson plan!
Product Description:
Unleash the power of reasoning in your Year Five students with our meticulously crafted “10 Reasoning Quizzes For Year Five” resource pack. Designed to provide teachers with a robust tool to help their students master reasoning-style questions, this comprehensive pack is an invaluable addition to any classroom.
Each of the 10 quizzes included in the pack features 10 thoughtfully designed questions that challenge students to use their critical thinking skills and apply their knowledge in various contexts. But we don’t stop there. Along with the questions, we provide detailed answers to help guide your teaching and give students clear explanations on how to arrive at the correct answer.
For instance, one of our quizzes might ask: “If a garden has 80 flowers and half of them are roses, how many roses are there?” The answer section will not only reveal the answer but also explain the reasoning behind it, such as: “There are 40 roses in the garden. This is because half of 80 is 40.”
The features that make our quizzes stand out include:
Real-world scenarios: We frame questions around everyday situations, making them relatable and engaging for students.
Diverse question types: We use a variety of question formats to cater to different learning styles.
Detailed answers: Our answers go beyond merely providing the correct response; they illustrate the reasoning process to enhance understanding.
Moreover, our resource pack comes in a PDF format that can be uploaded to Google Docs for easy editing. This way, you can customize the quizzes to best suit your individual teaching needs and preferences.
We invite you to explore our other resources available on the TES website.
Give your students the confidence and skills to tackle reasoning questions head-on with our “10 Reasoning Quizzes For Year Five” resource pack. Empower their learning and watch their problem-solving abilities soar!
Enhance your students’ reasoning skills with our comprehensive set of “10 Reasoning Quizzes For Year Four”. This resource is specifically designed to support teachers in creating a strong foundation for logical thinking and problem-solving abilities in their students.
Each quiz contains carefully crafted questions that are not only aligned with the year four curriculum but also stimulate cognitive development. From mathematics to science, these quizzes cover a broad range of subjects, ensuring a comprehensive improvement in reasoning skills.
Examples:
For instance, one of our quizzes focuses on numerical reasoning, with questions like “If a grocer has 220 oranges and each customer buys 11, how many customers can buy oranges?” Each question encourages students to explain their thought process, thereby enhancing their ability to reason logically.
Another quiz delves into spatial reasoning with questions that require students to visualize patterns and shapes. Questions like “If a car travels at a speed of 20 km/hr, how far will it travel in 5 hours?” help students understand concepts in a practical context.
Features:
Pedagogically Sound:** Each quiz is based on pedagogical principles that promote active learning and critical thinking.
Aligned with Curriculum:** The quizzes align with the year four curriculum, ensuring relevance and applicability.
Versatile:** These quizzes can be used as in-class activities, homework assignments, or revision tools.
Engaging:** The questions are designed to be engaging and interesting to keep students motivated.
Editable:** If you want to make edits to the PDF, simply upload it to Google Docs and make it tailored to your class’s specific needs.
We encourage you to explore our other resources available on the TES website for more high-quality educational materials.
Introducing our newest resource, “100 Cloze Sentences For Year Three”! This invaluable tool is designed to aid teachers in teaching children how to write with creativity and confidence.
Each sentence in this resource features a blank space that allows students to fill in their own word, encouraging them to think creatively and expand their vocabulary. The sentences cover a wide range of topics, from fun outings to favourite foods, and intriguing school subjects to exciting playground activities.
Here are a few examples of the engaging sentences you’ll find in this resource:
“The _ at the zoo has such an unusual appearance.”
“We had an unforgettable experience _ during our holiday.”
“My favourite sandwich spread is _.”
This PDF resource comes with three unique word banks, each containing 30 words that haven’t been used before. These word banks can be used to inspire the children and help them come up with creative words to complete the sentences.
One of the best features of this resource is its flexibility. If you want to make edits to the PDF, simply upload it to Google Docs and it becomes editable. This means you can tailor the content to suit your classroom’s specific needs or the interests of your students.
Don’t forget to check out our other resources available on the TES website. We offer a variety of teaching aids designed to enrich your classroom experience.
Product Description: Ten Sonnet Poem Examples
Unleash the power of poetry in your classroom with our resource, “Ten Sonnet Poem Examples”. This collection is an excellent tool for teachers to guide their students in the art of writing poems. Each sonnet serves as a vibrant example of poetic structure, rhythm, and theme, allowing students to understand and appreciate the beauty of this classic form of expression.
This resource features:
Whispers of the Wind: This sonnet showcases the use of personification and metaphor, bringing the wind to life and painting a vivid picture of its unseen journey.
The Symphony of Sunset: Demonstrates the use of vibrant imagery and sensory language, enabling readers to visualize and feel the mesmerizing beauty of a sunset.
Silence of the Snow: A perfect example of how to use silence and nature to convey peace and tranquility, employing the unique symbolism of snow.
The Voyage of Dreams: Illustrates the use of extended metaphor, comparing life’s journey to a ship sailing on the sea.
Echoes of Life: This sonnet emphasizes life’s ups and downs through the metaphor of music, showcasing the use of rhythmic patterns to create a pleasing auditory experience.
Blossoms in Spring: Uses vivid imagery and symbolism to convey the beauty and renewal of spring.
The Lighthouse’s Call: An excellent example of using a central symbol (the lighthouse) to convey a deep and meaningful message.
Melody of the Rain: Demonstrates how to use personification and sensory details to bring the rain to life.
The Mountain’s Majesty: Showcases the use of grandeur and majesty in describing nature’s wonders.
The Dance of the Flames: Features the use of active, vibrant language to depict the dynamic nature of fire.
Our sonnets not only provide examples of the sonnet form but also demonstrate various poetic devices like metaphor, personification, imagery, and symbolism. Each poem offers ample opportunities for discussion and analysis, making them an invaluable resource in any poetry unit.
To make edits to the PDF, upload the file to Google Docs where it will be fully editable to suit your specific teaching needs.
Explore our other resources available on the TES website for more comprehensive learning materials. Our mission is to support educators in creating engaging and effective learning experiences for all students.
Our resource, is a must-have for educators aiming to equip their students with practical life skills. Crafted by experienced educators, these examples are designed to guide teachers in the process of teaching these skills effectively.
Each set of instructions is meticulously detailed, ensuring that teachers can easily understand and relay the information to their students. Here’s a brief overview of the five examples included:
How to Brew French Press Coffee: A step-by-step guide on brewing coffee using a French press, this set teaches students about measurements, timing, and temperature control.
How to Assemble a Bicycle: This set covers assembling a bicycle from scratch, providing students with an understanding of mechanical assemblies and the importance of following instructions.
How to Bake a Chocolate Cake: Here, we delve into the culinary arts, teaching students about baking measurements, oven temperatures, and the science behind baking.
How to Plant a Seed: This set focuses on horticultural basics, showing students how to plant a seed and care for it as it grows.
How to Craft a Paper Airplane: This fun and interactive set guides students in crafting a paper airplane, highlighting the principles of aerodynamics.
Features used in each set include:
Detailed step-by-step instructions
Clear definitions and explanations
Real-world application of each skill
Tips and tricks for best results
Suggested exercises for practice
As educators, we know that resources need to be adaptable for different teaching styles and classroom environments. That’s why we’ve made this resource editable! Simply upload the PDF to Google Docs, and you can tailor the content to suit your needs.
Don’t forget to check out our other resources on the TES website for more teaching aids and educational materials.
We believe that teaching practical skills should be engaging, hands-on, and accessible, and with these sets of instructions, we’re confident that you’ll be able to inspire your students to learn and grow. Happy teaching!
Dive into the world of limericks with this engaging and comprehensive resource! This PDF contains twenty unique and captivating limerick poems, carefully crafted to inspire your students to explore their creativity and learn the art of poetry.
Each limerick serves as an example, demonstrating various features such as rhythm, rhyme, humor, and narrative. They cover a range of themes from nature to animals, space to seasons, making them relatable and enjoyable for children of all ages.
Here’s a glimpse into the twenty limericks covered in this resource:
The Dreamy Knight
The Mischievous Cat
The Laughing Clown
The Ambitious Snail
The Curious Owl
The Wanderlust Bee
The Star-Gazing Hare
The Whistling Wind
The Artistic Sparrow
The Dancing Leaves
The Playful Dolphin
The Moon’s Lullaby
The Eager Beaver
The Charming Chameleon
The Dashing Deer
The Bumbling Bear
The Wise Old Tree
The Singing Brook
The Fluttering Butterfly
The Starry Night
These limericks are designed to stimulate imagination, develop language skills, and foster a love for poetry. Each poem is an adventure, waiting to be explored and enjoyed!
But that’s not all, if you wish to make edits or customize the PDF according to your teaching style or classroom needs, simply upload it to Google Docs, and voila, it becomes editable!
Don’t forget to check out our other resources on the TES website. Our mission is to make learning fun, engaging, and accessible for all.
Let’s make poetry a joyful journey for your students with these delightful limericks!
Discover the wonders of nature, the intricacies of our bodies, and the mysteries of the cosmos with our Comprehensive Explanation Texts Bundle. This resource pack contains five meticulously crafted explanation texts that delve into a variety of fascinating topics:
Butterfly Life Cycle: Explore the captivating journey of a butterfly from a tiny egg to a beautiful winged adult.
Star Life Cycle: Uncover the grand cosmic journey of a star, from its birth in a nebula to its dramatic end as a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.
Photosynthesis Process: Understand how plants convert sunlight into chemical energy, making life on Earth possible.
Human Digestion Process: Learn about the complex journey your food takes through your body, from ingestion to excretion.
Human Digestion Process: Dive deeper into the intricate stages of human digestion, appreciating the extraordinary capabilities of our bodies.
Our explanation texts are designed with the following key features:
Detailed Illustrations: Each text accompanies an illustrative image to provide a visual representation of the topic.
Easy-to-Follow Flowcharts: We’ve included flowcharts to represent each stage of the process for a quick and easy overview.
In-depth Information: Each stage of the process is explained in detail, providing comprehensive information on the topic.
Concise Conclusions: Every text ends with a conclusion that summarizes the importance of understanding the process, encouraging further exploration of the topic.
We invite you to check out our other resources on the TES website for more educational content.
Want to make edits to the PDF? No problem! Simply upload the file to Google Docs and it’s fully editable, allowing you to tailor the content to suit your needs. Enjoy the journey of learning with our Comprehensive Explanation Texts Bundle!
English - Persuasive Letter
Year 4/5 - Persuasive Letter - 1 week unit.
In this 1 week unit your class will write a persuasive letter to Horrid Henry about the benefits of reading.
Lesson LO’s:
Main Learning Outcomes: (This should be progressive but each stage can be revisited in the teaching cycle.)
Familiarisation with text: I am learning to understand the purpose and styles of a persuasive text
Analysing Text, language features and organisation: I am learning to understand the language and structural features of a persuasive text
Capturing ideas: I am learning to role-play, plan, orally rehearse a persuasive text
Demonstration/Shared/Supported/Joint Construction Writing: I am learning to jointly construct a persuasive text
End of topic (Big Writing) I can write a persuasive text independently
This unit pack includes interactive whiteboard slides, detailed lesson plans, and daily differentiated activities to support your class.
Key Details:
Theme: Beliefs and Practices
Key Question: What is the best way for a Christian to show commitment to God?
Learning outcomes, differentiated for this group from the ‘I can’ statements
AT1 (B) Practices and Ways of life and AT2 (F) Values and Commitments Level 1 I can use the right names for things that are special to Christians.
I can talk about how I feel towards an issue that is important to me, (assessed in Lesson 1).
Level 2
I can talk about one of the ways Christians show commitment to God. I can decide which way I think is the best way for a Christian to show commitment to God.
Level 3
I can describe some of the ways that Christians choose to show commitment to God and am starting to understand that they may do this in different ways. I can start to understand there are different degrees of commitment and that’s up to individual Christians.
Level 4
I can describe how different practices enable Christians to show their commitment to God and understand that some of these will be more significant to some Christians than others. I can explain why I think some ways of showing commitment to God would be better than others for Christians.
Level 5
I can explain why it is important to Christians to show their commitment to God and can describe different ways they choose to do this. I can explain that individuals choose to show different degrees of commitment to their religion and can relate this to commitments I make in my life.
Key Details:
Focus Text: Ice Trap! By Meredit Hooper
3 Week writing unit
Includes plans, slides, resources.
ICE TRAP! Shackleton’s Incredible Expedition by Meredith Hooper
illustrated by M.P Robertson
This picture book tells the true story of the expedition led by Ernest Shackleton which aimed to traverse the
Antarctic. Although unsuccessful in his aim, and frequently overshadowed by the exploits of Scott and
Amundsen, Shackleton’s adventure is remarkable for the story it tells of bravery, endurance, loyalty and
leadership. Despite incredible challenges he managed to ensure all 27 of his men survived being trapped in
the ice and marooned on an uninhabited island.
Overall aims of this teaching sequence.
• To appreciate why stories are memorable and characters exciting
• To consider how particular situations make individuals behave as they do
• To explore dilemmas, empathising with characters
• To learn about the differences between information and fiction texts.
• To produce a range of writing to respond to text through role play and dramatisation.
This teaching sequence is approximately 3 weeks long if spread out over 15 sessions.
The book supports teachers to teach about character development, emotional response and changes
of setting in a narrative which references a true historic event. The narrative structure is carefully
crafted and the characters and settings are well drawn, offering young readers a good model for their
own story planning and descriptive writing. The historical time frame and reports of events are
factually accurate offering an exciting true story of rescue and survival.
Before beginning this sequence it would be useful to collect globes, world maps, a map of the
Antarctic and books about the area, its geography and wild life and books about other Antarctic
expeditions.
Prepare an A3 class journal to use to make notes in during this sequence
Also give each child a notebook or use the mini journal provided as Shackleton’s log. The mini journal
also provides some additional related activities which could be used during guided reading or for
home learning tasks.
Introducing our concise yet comprehensive 1/2-Lesson Unit on “Writing a Letter to Their New Teacher for the Next Year”. This unique and interactive package is expertly designed to guide students in expressing their thoughts, hopes, and expectations for the upcoming academic year in a personal letter.
Key Features:
Smart Notebook Slides: Our engaging Smart Notebook slides serve as an effective visual aid, guiding students through the process of crafting their letters with clarity and creativity.
Word Banks: To assist students in articulating their ideas, we provide specially curated word banks that inspire them to use rich, descriptive language and ultimately enhance their written communication skills.
Scaffold: Our lesson comes with a scaffold, a step-by-step guide that offers structured support, helping students to organize their thoughts and present their ideas coherently and effectively.
Customizable Content: Understanding the diverse needs of different classrooms, we’ve made our content easily editable to fit your specific topics, ensuring a personalized and relevant learning experience for your students.
Our 1/2-Lesson Unit is more than just a writing exercise; it’s a bridge fostering communication between students and their future teachers, promoting self-expression, and enhancing writing skills. Let us help you facilitate this enriching experience in your classroom!
Introducing our Year 3/4 Religious Education unit on Diwali! Over the course of six enlightening lessons, your students will explore the key elements of this Hindu festival and its role in fostering a sense of belonging among its observers.
The primary learning objective is: How does the celebration of Diwali contribute to the sense of belonging in the Hindu community?
Our areas of inquiry include AT1 Strands A, B, C, and AT2 Strands D, E, F, with a particular emphasis on the theme of ‘Belonging’.
The teaching and learning activities are divided into two steps:
Step 1: Engagement (2 lessons) - AT2 §
We start by engaging students in a group challenge. Each group will form an identity around a belief they unite on, such as ensuring all dogs have good homes. They’ll create a group name, identity, logo, and the three most important actions for their cause. Through this activity, we aim to help students understand the concept of belonging driven by shared beliefs and missions. We’ll discuss questions like: How do shared missions foster a sense of belonging? How would you celebrate your achievements? What feelings arise from contributing positively to the world?
Step 2: Investigation (3 lessons) - AT1
We dive deeper into the story of Rama and Sita, highlighting the theme of Good vs Evil. We’ll explain how this victory of good over evil is celebrated during Diwali, reflecting Hindus’ commitment to spreading goodness. Students will watch a DVD extract or online clip showcasing Diwali celebrations, including the worship of the goddess Lakshmi for prosperity.
We’ll explore how celebrations like Diwali enhance the sense of belonging among participants. Students will understand the significance of various Diwali practices through hands-on activities like creating Rangoli patterns, diva lamps, making sweets, and more.
We’ll discuss how these activities, often carried out with family and community members, foster a sense of belonging. We’ll also consider inviting a Hindu guest to provide first-hand insight into the religious significance of these practices.
Our aim is to help students grasp how shared activities and beliefs during Diwali contribute to a strong sense of belonging in the Hindu community.
Key Details:
2 Week Writing Unit
Focused on Traditional and alternative stories
Prince Cinders & Cinderella
Includes: Powerpoints/Resources/Plans /Models
**Main Learning Outcomes: **(This should be progressive but each stage can be revisited in the teaching cycle.)
Familiarisation with text: I am learning to read and compare alternative versions of traditional stories. Discuss opposing characters from the narrative.
Capturing ideas: I am learning to discuss how characters behave if their roles in a narrative are exchanged.
Analysing Text, language features and organisation: I am learning to discuss how words, sounds and images can convey different information to a reader.
Demonstration/Shared/Supported/Joint Construction Writing:
End of topic (Big Writing) I am learning to/ I can: Write an alternative version of a traditional story.
Learning Objectives:
SPOKEN WORD
I am learning to Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
Composition
I am learning to Plan and discuss what to write about, e.g. story mapping, collecting new vocabulary, key words and ideas.
I am learning to Use specific text type features to write for a range of audiences and purposes, e.g. to instruct, inform, entertain, explain, discuss, persuade.
Edit and improve their own writing in relation to audience and purpose.
Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation
Use simple and compound sentences.
Use subordination for time e.g. When we had finished our writing, we went out to play. We went out to play when we had finished our
writing. Other time connectives: then, next, after, first, finally
Year 4 - Guided Reading - The Reluctant Dragon
This two week guided reading plan focuses on The Reluctant Dragon by David Lucas. This plan follows a whole class guided reading approach meaning that all children are required to do the same activity on each day. The activities are differentiated.
The activities include a follow up task, comprehension, language activity and spelling focus.
Example Plan:
Text: The Reluctant Dragon
Day 1:
Children to have the front cover of the text and first page and complete table
What techniques can you see?
Is the Reluctant Dragon going to be a villain or a hero? What tells you this?
Children to read pages 1 - 11 in pairs.
Content Domain:
Identifying, discussing and collecting effective words and phrases which capture the reader’s interest and imagination e.g. metaphors, similes
Making predictions based on information stated and implied
Possible Questions:
pp2-5 What is the difference between “terrible” and “terrified”? Does the shepherd’s wife look frightened? What about his son?
p8 The boy says “Don’t worry.” Do you think his parents are: very worried – a little bit worried – not at all worried?
p11 What kind of questions would you ask a dragon?
Activity:
Make a prediction about what might happen in the story
Day 2:
Follow Up Task
Content Domain:
Identifying main ideas drawn from more than one paragraph and summarising these
Children to read pages 12 - 30 in pairs.
Activity:
Look at pages 12- 30 in pairs. Write down any figurative language. Pick out similes, metaphors adjectives that evoke the scene.
e.g I suppose the Earth sneezed or shook itself.
Day 3:
Spelling Focus: [SHORT ACTIVITY]
See Slides on IWB
Day 4:
Comprehension
Children to read pages 31 - 40 in pairs.
Content Domain:
Analysing and comparing a range of plot structures.
Activity:
Children to complete a range of questions using different skills. True/False, matching different sentence starters and endings, ordering the story.
Day 5:
Free reading – any text
Free writing – writing a new introduction to The Reluctant Dragon.
Challenge: Can they include any of the spelling words we have focused on?
KS2 English - Persuasive Writing
In this 1 week unit your class will write a persuasive letter to the Headteacher of your school persuading them of the value of swimming, and to Henry persuading him to buy our listening device . This 1 Week lesson unit pack includes interactive whiteboard slides, detailed lesson plans, and daily differentiated activities to support your class.
Main Learning Outcomes: (This should be progressive but each stage can be revisited in the teaching cycle.)
Familiarisation with text: I am learning to understand the purpose and styles of a persuasive text
Analysing Text, language features and organisation: I am learning to understand the language and structural features of a persuasive text
Capturing ideas: I am learning to role-play, plan, orally rehearse a persuasive text
Demonstration/Shared/Supported/Joint Construction Writing: I am learning to jointly construct a persuasive text
End of topic (Big Writing) I can write a persuasive text independently
Introducing our comprehensive 2-Week Writing Unit, specifically designed around the delightful story ‘How to Grow a Dinosaur’ by Caryl Hart. This immersive unit encourages students to delve into their creativity and weave their own narrative stories.
Key Features:
End of Topic (Big Writing): By the end of this engaging two-week journey, students will have mastered the skills necessary to write compelling narrative stories. Picture your students crafting tales that captivate and inspire!
Includes: The unit comes complete with interactive Smart Notebook slides, illustrative models, detailed lesson plans, and fun-filled activities. These resources aim to foster an engaging and dynamic learning environment.
Curriculum link: Narrative stories linked to the fascinating topic of plants, allowing students to explore and learn about the natural world while honing their writing skills.
Learning Objectives:
Spoken Word: Students will learn to give well-structured descriptions, explanations, and narratives for various purposes, including expressing feelings. They’ll participate actively in collaborative conversations, use spoken language to explore ideas, speak audibly and fluently with an increasing command of Standard English, and engage in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations, and debates.
Comprehension: Students will work on sequencing and discussing the main events in stories, retelling a wider range of stories, fairy tales, and traditional tales, and identifying, discussing, and collecting favourite words and phrases.
Composition: Our unit guides students to plan and discuss what to write about, use specific text type features to write for a range of audiences and purposes, write about real and fictional events, and proofread to check for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
Vocabulary, Grammar and Punctuation: The unit will help students construct and punctuate simple and compound sentences using connectives, use sentences with different forms, use subordination for reason, generate and effectively use verbs and adjectives, use past tense for narrative, and use the suffix ‘ly’ to turn adjectives into adverbs.
Embark on this exciting 2-week journey with our Writing Unit and let’s nurture your students’ storytelling skills while they delve into the captivating world of plants and dinosaurs!
Discover the power of storytelling with our 2-week writing unit. This immersive learning experience is designed to help you craft your own version of a familiar story, honing your writing skills and fostering your creative imagination.
Our comprehensive program includes Smart Notebook Slides, Models, Plans, and Activities, providing a rich array of resources to support your learning journey.
The main learning outcomes are progressive, allowing you to revisit each stage in the teaching cycle as needed.
Familiarisation with Text: Learn to listen, re-tell, read, and explore a story, delving deep into the text and understanding its nuances.
Capturing Ideas: Develop your ability to generate words and phrases from the text, while also learning to collaborate effectively in a group setting.
Analysing Text, Language Features, and Organisation: Enhance your understanding of sentence structure, focusing particularly on the role of subordinate clauses.
Demonstration/Shared/Supported/Joint Construction Writing: Plan and write an imaginative, sequenced story, drawing upon your knowledge and experiences of a text.
By the end of the unit, you’ll be equipped with the skills and understanding necessary to write your own version of a familiar story, truly bringing your creativity to life.
Join us for this transformative writing journey, where you’ll not only learn but also discover the joy of creating your own narrative. Let’s unlock your potential and dive into the world of storytelling together.
Key Details:
Contains Notebook slides, resources, differentiated Work
Based of the Power Of Reading Scheme
2.5 week unit, could be extended.
Aimed at year 3 or 4.
Fly, Eagle, Fly! is an adaptation of an African tale, a parable about reaching your potential. A farmer finds an eagle chick, takes it home and rears it as a chicken. The eagle comes to believe he is a chicken; he cannot fly or hunt. When the farmer’s friend comes to visit one day, he tells the farmer that an eagle should be flying high in the sky, not scrabbling on the ground for grain. Over time, the farmer’s friend proves that the bird can be an eagle again, and while watching the sun rise at a mountain top, he finally soars into the sky.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu writes in the foreword: ‘we are not mere chickens but eagles destined to soar to sublime heights… We should be straining to become what we have it in us to become.’
Overall aims of this teaching sequence
• To enjoy a story and discuss its meanings.
• To understand the themes of a text.
• To broaden understanding of writers’ use of language and build a varied vocabulary.
• To write narratives from a character’s perspective.
This teaching sequence is approximately 3 weeks long if spread out over 15 sessions.
The book supports teachers to teach about setting, plot and to explore strong themes in narrative fiction. Settings are well drawn, and the language of the text offers young readers a good model for their own narrative writing.
Key Details:
Year 3/4 - Pebble in my Pocket by Meredith Hooper - 3 Week English Unit
3 Week English Unit
Contains Notebook IWB Slides, Models, Scaffolds for SEN, Activities, Resources.
Based on Power of Reading Scheme
This information book does what all information books should do: excite the reader’s interest, curiosity and sense of wonder where none may have existed. Meredith Hooper, an award winning science writer, brings her expertise and storytelling skills to the subject of the Earth’s history, beginning with the contemplation of a pebble and a question. The absorbing text and illustrations take the reader through the 480 million years of the pebble’s journey, from the spectacular furnace of volcanic eruptions to the cool seashore and the grassy field.
There’s a useful timeline at the back of the book to help children grasp the enormity of geological time and the very recent appearance of humans in that story of the planet.
Overall aims of this teaching sequence:
● To explore an information book in depth
● To explore themes and issues, and develop and sustain ideas through discussion
● To use creative responses to the text through drama, storytelling and artwork
● To develop creative responses to the text
● To write with confidence for real purposes and audiences