Real Writing Year 4, Unit 9
The Richest Man in the World, by Margaret Bateson-Hill
Curriculum links: Computing
Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 4 is built around an original model text by Margaret Bateson-Hill - a biographical recount about Bill Gates. 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 read an information text about the philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates. They will have an opportunity to learn technical vocabulary related to computers and philanthropy. This unit has cross-curricular links to computing, especially the understanding of computer networks such as the internet, and culminates in pupils researching and writing their own biographical recount.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully resourced lesson plans are included for Year 4 English objectives:
Vocabulary: To use further prefixes and suffixes, using etymology and morphology to explore words
Pupils will: revisit the definitions of etymology and morphology; explore how word families can be created by adding suffixes and prefixes to root words; sort words into families; use words from word families in sentences of their own.
Grammar: To extend sentences using a wider range of conjunctions
Pupils will: revisit conjunctions; understand what is meant by a subordinating clause; identify conjunctions in sentences; modify clauses by adding conjunctions and subordinate clauses; complete a sentence making activity; write extended sentences using conjunctions.
Revisited skills
- present perfect verb forms
- grouping related information into paragraphs
- using adverbs, conjunctions and prepositions to express time, place and cause
Additional year 4 curriculum teaching points
- fronted adverbials
- organisational devices
- modifying nouns to create expanded noun phrases
Year 4 words: featured vocabulary
Tier two words: devise, influence, manufacturer, pioneering
Tier three words: computing, programming, philanthropist, philanthropy, software
Year 3 spellings: believe, consider, enough, increase