Real Writing Year 4 - Unit 22
Model text: Dreams of Escape, by Joshua Seigal
Curriculum links: Science (changing state)
Writing unit overview
This two-week writing unit for Year 4 is built around an original model text by Joshua Seigal; a delightful KS2 poem describing changes of state as water is heated and cooled. The example text is available as a PDF in three versions (plain, illustrated and annotated); annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations are also included.
Through a series of scaffolded activities, pupils will explore the poet’s use of figurative language, ultimately creating their own poem describing how water changes state through heating and cooling. This unit could be used within a science topic on water or states of matter.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully-resourced lessons are included for the following LKS2 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary: To use adjectives to modify nouns
Pupils will: use adjectives to describe an image; write a descriptive paragraph or poem using adjectives to describe
2. Composition: To investigate how figurative language is used in poetry
Pupils will: identify examples of personification and metaphors used in an example poem; write their own descriptive paragraphs or poems using personification worksheets and KS2 metaphors to create imagery in poetry.
Additional objectives to teach or revisit:
- Identifying adjectives
- Prepositions
- The use of comparatives
- Question marks
- Apostrophes to show singular possession
Additional year 4 curriculum teaching points:
- Organising paragraphs (or stanzas) around a theme
- Choosing appropriate nouns or pronouns
Year 4 vocabulary
Year 3/4 statutory spelling words: breath, certain experiment
Tier 2 words: alter, constant
Tier 3 words: gas, liquid, matter, particle, solid, state, vapour
How do adjectives modify nouns?
Adjectives can be added to a noun phrase to expand them to add detail to or specify the noun.
What is figurative language?
Figurative language uses words and ideas to suggest meaning and creates a vivid image for the reader. Similes, metaphors, personification and alliteration are all examples of figurative language. It is commonly used in fiction and poetry with examples of metaphors and personification highlighted in the poem in this resource pack.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech where you say one thing (figuratively) is another thing.
Metaphor examples
- Her hair went white with shock.
- Her inner tiger was there for all to see.
- This school is a zoo!
- You are my guiding light.
- I’m starving!
What is personification?
This is a figure of speech where you apply human or natural characteristics to objects.
Personification examples
- The painting glared back at me.
- The vines were choking the life out of the house.
- The moon and stars were smiling down at us.