Common Brushtail Possum: Non-Chronological Report Planning for Year 5/6

About this unit:

This is a ten-lesson unit of English work based on the reading and writing of a non-chronological report. It is intended for Upper Key Stage 2. This unit follows the 2014 National Curriculum objectives which are outlined below. The English objectives covered by this unit are highlighted in yellow.

The ten lessons in this unit allow children to explore, discuss and understand a non-chronological report. During the first week children will explore a non-chronological report based on the common brushtail possum which is an amazing animal living in Australia! Through guided and shared activities children will write their own version of this text ensuring they have included the correct language and organisational features. In the second week, children will carry out their own research into an Australian animal of their own choice. Children will then apply what they have learned in the first week and plan, write and edit a non-chronological report based on the Australian animal which they have chosen and then they will write a non-chronological report independently.

Alternatively, in the second week, children could focus on a mammal living in the United Kingdom. This would allow children to explore the similarities and differences between the two animals in science lessons.

What is included?

• A sheet with the National Curriculum English objectives for Y5/6 which are highlighted to help track and assess the progress of the class; to track coverage of the English curriculum and to show what objectives the unit covers.
• NEW Printable child-friendly learning objectives for children’s books.
• Non-chronological report planning for 10 days including possible science cross-curricular links.
• NEW Now includes a PowerPoint containing the lesson structure and learning activities for all 10 lessons of the unit which can be presented to the children. The PowerPoint design and content can be adjusted to suit the needs of a class.
• A non-chronological report about the common brushtail possum which includes details about the common brushtail possum’s appearance, habitat, diet, adaptions, social behaviour, lifecycle and tips for living alongside this protected species.
• NEW A non-chronological report about the common brushtail possum that has been simplified for lower-achieving children.
• NEW A glossary for the non-chronological report about the common brushtail possum.
• Boxing-up plan for the non-chronological report about the common brushtail possum (differentiated on two levels but writing frame included for lower-achieving children).
• Success Criteria for non-chronological reports (differentiated on three levels).
• Non-chronological report about the common brushtail possum writing frame for lower-achieving children.
• Flexible boxing-up plan for independent research into an Australian animal or an animal living in the United Kingdom (differentiated on three levels).

Please Note: Common Brushtail Possum: Non-Chronological R