This Year 5 Real Writing unit uses a model text by published children’s author Jon Mayhew.
It follows a mapped framework and gives teachers a clear route through a classic ‘defeating the monster’ narrative.
Short, focused steps guide pupils as they analyse Beowulf’s battle with Grendel, build vocabulary and craft atmosphere.
The unit includes two to three weeks of detailed planning and links directly to Year 5 writing objectives.
Curriculum links
English
- Build cohesion across paragraphs using prepositional phrases
- Link ideas using adverbials of time, place and number
- Revisit expanded noun phrases, prepositions, fronted adverbials and paragraphs
- Oral retelling and performance
Cross-curricular connections
- History: Anglo-Saxons, Old English vocabulary, Beowulf legends
- Art: Illustration of characters and settings
Vocabulary
- Tier 2: defeat, silhouette, talons, slay, battle, tendril, sinew, gobbets
- Tier 3: mead, longsword
- Common exception words: harass, muscle
Resources included
- Three versions of the model text (plain, illustrated, annotated PDFs)
- Annotated and non-annotated teaching PowerPoints
- Teacher notes and full teaching sequence
- Vocabulary cards with definitions
- Setting and character image cards
- Defeating the Monster structure poster
- Story margin planner
- Writer’s craft guidance sheet
- Activity sheets and pupil worksheets
Activities and teaching sequence
Explore the model text
- Read the narrative aloud and discuss favourite phrases
- Collect vocabulary that builds atmosphere
- Identify descriptive noun phrases and sketch Grendel from textual evidence
Develop vocabulary knowledge
- Sort Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary
- Match words to definitions using vocabulary cards
- Investigate Anglo-Saxon word origins
- Check Year 5/6 statutory spellings within the text
Strengthen grammar and cohesion
- Add and apply prepositional phrases to create cohesion
- Use adverbials of time, place and number to link ideas
- Practise expanded noun phrases, fronted adverbials and structured paragraphs
Build understanding
- Answer comprehension questions that probe inference, character and plot
- Discuss how the author ‘shows’ rather than ‘tells’ to signal the monster’s arrival
Move into planning and writing
- Use the Defeating the Monster poster to identify key story stages
- Research Beowulf’s other battles and choose one to write about
- Plan stories using the margin planner
- Draft and refine a complete ‘defeating the monster’ narrative
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils:
- Write a structured ‘defeating the monster’ narrative
- Use rich vocabulary to create atmosphere
- Apply prepositional phrases and adverbials to link ideas
- Demonstrate control of paragraphs, expanded noun phrases and fronted adverbials
- Edit and improve their writing using provided checklists