This Year 4 Real Writing unit uses an original model text by Jo Franklin.
Pupils read a report on The Planets by Gustav Holst. They explore music, space, and Roman gods. Lessons combine reading, discussion, and writing.
Pupils learn technical vocabulary and organise paragraphs with headings. They write a factual report on a planet, linking their ideas clearly.
Two weeks of detailed planning guide teachers through every step. All Real Writing texts are written by published children’s authors and follow a carefully mapped framework.
Curriculum links
- English objectives:
- Vocabulary: Understand meanings of Greek and Roman gods, infer word meanings from context.
- Composition: Organise paragraphs around a theme using headings.
- Cross-curricular:
- Music: Explore orchestral compositions and movements.
- History: Learn about Roman gods and their modern references.
Vocabulary
- Tier 2: ancient, inspiration, ominous, evoke, eager, ebb and flow
- Tier 3: composer, astronomy, astrology, composition, solar system, movement, tempo, pitch, chord, orchestra, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
- Common exception words: famous, guide, imagine
Resources included
- Model text PDF: plain, illustrated, annotated
- PowerPoint presentations: annotated and non-annotated
- Teacher notes and full teaching sequence
- Vocabulary cards and match activities
- Fact cards on planets
- Report margin planner and ‘how to…’ poster
- Pupil worksheets for writing and editing
Key teaching activities
- Phase 1: Familiarisation
- Read the model text; identify type, tense, and writing features.
- Discuss new vocabulary using word cards and sentence context.
- Listen to Holst’s The Planets and compare movements to the text.
- Pupils write a paragraph on their favourite movement, explaining reasons with music vocabulary.
- Phase 2: Teaching & Rehearsing
- Investigate report writing features; identify examples in model text and other reports.
- Plan writing using planet fact cards and margin planner.
- Draft report in stages, revisiting fronted adverbials, expanded noun phrases, adjectives, prepositions, and conjunctions.
- Phase 3: Application
- Pupils write and edit their reports over multiple sessions.
- Focus on improving grammar, punctuation, vocabulary, and paragraph structure.
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will:
- Identify features of report writing and apply them in their own work.
- Use accurate music, astronomy, and Roman mythology vocabulary.
- Organise information into paragraphs with clear headings.
- Apply writing skills including fronted adverbials, expanded noun phrases, and consistent tense.
- Produce a polished report on a planet in the solar system, linking content knowledge with effective written expression.