Real Writing Year 5 - Unit 15
Model text: Water Cycle Haiku by Joshua Seigal
Curriculum links: Geography (the water cycle)
Writing Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 5 is built around an original model text by Joshua Seigal; a beautiful haiku about the water cycle. The example KS2 poem 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 to write a haiku and how they are used to create a description of a moment or event in the natural world. They will explore the language and poetic devices used by Joshua Seigal in his haiku, eventually using it as a model to write their own poems.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully resourced lesson plans are included for the following Year 5 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary: To select appropriate… vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change an enhance meaning (exploring synonyms)
Pupils will: Revisit what is meant by a synonym; explore how synonym choices can enhance meaning; consider ‘shades of meaning’; organise synonyms according to strength; use synonym scales; write a poem using well-chosen vocabulary.
2. Composition: To explore figurative language choices used by writers - personification
Pupils will: Understand and identify personification examples used to create imagery in poetry; write descriptions using the personification; peer assess their classmates’ use of personification.
Additional skills to teach or revisit:
- Using expanded noun phrases
- Using the present tense
Year 5 vocabulary
Year 5/6 statutory spelling words: accidentally, possessions, weight, group, reminder, surprise
Tier 2 words: bond, drift, droplet, release, poised
Tier 3 words: liquid, vapour, cloud, particles, evaporation, precipitation, condensation, transpiration, solid, gas, evaporate, condense
What is a synonym?
Synonyms are words with the same or a similar meaning. The words fast, speedy and rapid are synonyms of the word quick.
What is personification?
Personification is a figure of speech where you apply human or natural characteristics to objects. Or alternatively, where you say someone or thing is the embodiment of an abstract concept (such as describing someone as ‘the personification of evil’.
Personification examples
- The painting glared back at me.
- The vines were choking the life out of the house.
- The heat followed us everywhere.
- The time flew by.
- The moon and stars were smiling down at us.