Real Writing Year 6 - Unit 14
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint, by Anita Loughrey
Curriculum links: Geography (natural and human processes)
Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 6 is built around an original model text by Anita Loughrey - a report about carbon footprints. The example text is available as a PDF in three versions (plain, illustrated and annotated); annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations are also included.
In this two-week unit, pupils will learn how they can reduce their carbon footprint by reading our informative model text, which incorporates a range of technical vocabulary linked to climate change and could be used within a topic based on an environmental theme. At the end of the unit, pupils will have the opportunity to write their own information report based on how they could reduce their carbon footprint at home or school.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully resourced lesson plans are included for Year 6 English objectives:
1. Grammar: To evaluate and edit, checking that the subject and verb agree
Pupils will: revisit subjects and verbs; understand what is meant by subject and verb agreement; correct mistakes in subject and verb agreement; write a paragraph, proofreading to check that subjects and verbs agree.
2. Composition: To use a range of cohesive devices to link ideas within and across paragraphs
Pupils will: revisit key grammatical terms; understand what is meant by ‘cohesion’ and why it is important in writing; understand how adverbials can be used as cohesive devices; create sentences with adverbials; write a paragraph including adverbials for cohesion.
Revisited skills
- using commas to separate parenthesis
- fronted adverbials
Additional year 6 curriculum teaching points
- using layout devices
- the use of a wider range of punctuation marks including colons and ellipsis
Year 5 words: featured vocabulary
Tier three words: carbon, emission, carbon dioxide, methane, sustainability, climate, conserve, renewable
Year 6 spellings: disastrous, individual, community, conscience