Croc and Bird Literacy Unit of Work

Literacy Unit: Croc and Bird by Alexis Deacon
Target Audience: Year 1 students, and/or children with additional needs
Resource Type: 10 Lesson Unit (PowerPoint Slides)

This 10-lesson literacy unit, based on Croc and Bird by Alexis Deacon, is designed to help students retell the story and write a character description. With a focus on vocabulary development, word class, and sentence building (using the colourful semantics approach), this unit is ideal for Year 1 learners and older students with additional needs.

Unit Breakdown:
Week 1: Retelling the Story
Students will explore the events in Croc and Bird, practicing sequencing and retelling the story in their own words. The focus will be on identifying key vocabulary, understanding word classes (e.g., nouns, verbs, adjectives), and using simple sentences to recount the story. The colourful semantics approach will help students construct clear and meaningful sentences, focusing on who, what, where, and when.

Week 2: Writing a Character Description
In this week, students will focus on writing detailed descriptions of the two main characters—Croc and Bird—using adjectives and sentence-building strategies.

Key Features:
Vocabulary Development:
New vocabulary is introduced in context, with activities to help students understand and use key words from the story.

Word Class Focus:
Students will identify and categorise nouns, verbs, adjectives, and prepositions, using them to build sentences.

Sentence Building (Colourful Semantics):
Using the colourful semantics method, students will learn how to structure sentences clearly by focusing on the key elements of a sentence (e.g., subject, verb, object). This approach is particularly helpful for students with additional needs, providing visual and structured support.

Character Description:
Students will write character description of Croc, focusing on physical traits, feelings, and actions, and using adjectives to enhance their writing.

Lesson Features:
Interactive PowerPoint Slides: Each lesson includes engaging slides with visuals, sentence starters, and guided practice.
Differentiation: Lessons are designed to be accessible for all learners, with visual support and scaffolding for children with additional needs.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit, students will be able to:
Retell the story of Croc and Bird in their own words, using simple and extended sentences.
Write a clear character description, using appropriate adjectives and sentence structures.
Identify and use different word classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives) to build accurate and varied sentences.

Download Includes:
10 lesson PowerPoint slides

This unit provides a structured, engaging, and accessible approach to literacy for Year 1 students, making it perfect for whole-class lessons or small group interventions.