This Year 4 Real Writing unit uses a model text by children's author Jo Franklin.
It presents a non-chronological report about Russia and persuades readers to visit. The text is available as PDF versions – plain, illustrated and annotated – and PowerPoint presentations, both annotated and non-annotated.
Over two to three weeks, pupils explore expanded noun phrases, investigate suffixes -tion, -sion, -ssion and -cian, and practise writing their own reports, incorporating elements of persuasion. The unit fits well within geography topics on Russia or Europe.
Curriculum links
This unit links directly to Year 4 English objectives and provides opportunities to revisit and extend previously taught skills.
- Vocabulary: Investigate suffixes -tion, -sion, -ssion, -cian
- Grammar: Use expanded noun phrases
- Punctuation: Commas in a list, question marks
- Writing organisation: Paragraphs around a theme, headings
- Cohesion: Choosing appropriate nouns and pronouns
Cross-curricular links include geography, as pupils explore Russian cities, landscapes, culture and heritage.
Vocabulary
- Tier 2: bustling, heritage, luxury, remote, straddle
- Tier 3: continent, country, Federation, inhabit, landscape, nation, Russian
- Common exception words: centre, eighth, famous, heart, heritage, history, potatoes, promise
Resources included
- Model text PDF: plain, illustrated, annotated
- PowerPoint presentations: annotated and non-annotated
- Teacher notes and lesson plans
- Activity sheets for vocabulary, grammar, punctuation and writing
- Research sheets and margin planners
- Posters for report and persuasive writing features
Key teaching activities
- Hook activity: Locate Russia on maps and atlases. Compare its size with the UK. Watch online clips of Moscow and St Petersburg. Pupils collect facts about Russia for discussion.
- Reading and discussion: Read the model text together. Identify report and persuasive features. Explore headings, topic sentences, and organisational structure.
- Vocabulary exploration: Introduce Tier 2, Tier 3, and statutory spelling words. Use word cards, match activities, and infer meanings from context.
- Comprehension: Recall factual information, infer meaning, and discuss personal preferences. Questions cover museums, landscapes and cultural elements.
- Grammar and punctuation: Investigate expanded noun phrases, suffixes, question marks, commas in lists and pronouns. Practice through games, writing exercises and annotation tasks.
- Research and planning: Pupils choose a theme: cities, museums, buildings or food. Use research sheets and margin planners to organise headings and information.
- Writing task: Compose a report in magazine format, including factual information, descriptive language, persuasive phrases and images. Draft, proofread, edit and apply learned skills over several lessons.
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will:
- Write a structured report about Russia, using clear headings and paragraphs
- Use expanded noun phrases to add descriptive detail
- Apply correct suffixes -tion, -sion, -ssion, -cian in their writing
- Use commas in a list, question marks and appropriate pronouns
- Integrate persuasive elements to engage the reader
- Research and synthesise information from multiple sources