Reciprocal Reading Adventures: A Non-Fiction Journey Through Diverse Topics

This engaging and comprehensive Reciprocal Reading Scheme of Work for secondary school students takes readers on a 33-week exploration of various non-fiction topics, fostering critical thinking, comprehension, and discussion skills. Each week focuses on a different subject, encouraging students to delve into diverse and intriguing themes, from historical figures and scientific discoveries to contemporary issues and cultural stories. The scheme promotes collaborative learning through structured reading, questioning, summarising, clarifying, and predicting activities, making reading an interactive and enriching experience.

Weekly Breakdown:

• Week 1: Harambe the Gorilla
Explore the life and impact of Harambe, discussing animal conservation and ethics.

• Week 2: Alice Coachman Davis
Learn about the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal and her legacy.

• Week 3: Barbie and Looking After Dogs
Examine the cultural impact of Barbie and the responsibilities of dog care.

• Week 4: Agbo
Discover the story of Agbo and its significance in its cultural context.

• Week 5: Newspaper Article and Cinder-Block the Cat
Analyse a newspaper article and the viral story of Cinder-Block, the exercising cat.

• Week 6-10: Gardening
Engage in a five-week gardening project, understanding plant biology, sustainability, and the benefits of gardening.

• Week 11: Knut and Jam Sandwich Boy
Delve into the tale of Knut the polar bear and the charming story of the Jam Sandwich Boy.

• Week 12: Smallest Dinosaur
Investigate the discovery of the smallest dinosaur and its implications for paleontology.

• Week 13: I’m a Celeb
Explore the phenomenon of reality TV through the lens of “I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!”

• Week 14: Bug Leaflet and Banning Mobile Phones in Classrooms
Create an informative bug leaflet and debate the pros and cons of banning mobile phones in classrooms.

• Week 15: Corkers and Describing a Person
Engage with humorous anecdotes (corkers) and practice descriptive writing skills.

• Week 16: Sophie Sees the BFG and Writing a Scary Paragraph
Reflect on a reading of “The BFG” and craft a suspenseful, scary paragraph.

• Week 17: Booza – Stretchy Ice-Cream
Discover the science and history behind Booza, the stretchy ice-cream.

• Week 18: Dangerous Waters and Report on a School Canteen
Examine the challenges of dangerous waters and conduct a report on the school canteen’s food offerings.

• Week 19: Poor Tom the 1800s Chimney Sweep and Acrostic Poem
Learn about the life of chimney sweeps in the 1800s and create an acrostic poem.