This Year 5 Real Writing unit is based on an original model text by author Jon Mayhew. Pupils explore a persuasive leaflet encouraging visits to Yorkshire.
Over two weeks, pupils analyse persuasive features, headings and language devices. They then create their own leaflet to encourage tourism.
Lessons revisit key skills such as paragraphing, expanded noun phrases, commas in lists and possessive apostrophes.
The unit follows a carefully mapped framework, offers two to three weeks of planned lessons and meets Year 5 writing objectives.
Curriculum links
- English: Spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary development, persuasive writing, paragraphing, sentence structure.
- Geography: Local landscapes, landmarks, tourist attractions.
- Cross-curricular: Speaking and listening, research skills, ICT for leaflet design.
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: destination, pursuit, cuisine, trek, rugged, isolated, gothic, quaint, cultural, retail, heritage, vibrant, inhabit
- Tier 3 words: moors, beach, promenade, national park, waterfall, rock face, cliff, riverbank, valley, cove
- Common exception words: leisure, frequently
Resources included
- Model text PDF (plain, illustrated, annotated)
- PowerPoint presentations (annotated and non-annotated)
- Teacher notes and full teaching sequence
- Pupil activity sheets for vocabulary, grammar, persuasive language, research and planning
- Persuasion margin planners
- Writing skills checklists
- Picture cards and research templates
Key teaching activities
- Phase 1 – Familiarisation: Pupils read Visit Yorkshire!, identify headings, captions, pictures and questions, and annotate the text. Introduce Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary with match cards.
- Phase 2 – Teaching & rehearsing: Analyse persuasive language and devices. Explore modal verbs to show possibility. Write sample persuasive paragraphs using emotive vocabulary and rhetorical questions. Practice relative clauses and morphology-based spelling activities.
- Phase 3 – Application: Plan and research a local or chosen tourist destination. Use the persuasion margin planner to organise ideas into paragraphs and headings. Pupils write, edit and publish leaflets, applying persuasive techniques, vocabulary, grammar and layout skills.
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will be able to:
- Identify features of persuasive leaflets, including layout, headings and persuasive devices.
- Use relative clauses, modal verbs and expanded noun phrases to enhance writing.
- Apply Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary accurately in context.
- Plan, write, edit and publish a persuasive leaflet aimed at a target audience.
- Integrate previous learning in punctuation, paragraphing, commas and possessive apostrophes.
This unit equips teachers with a full sequence of lessons that scaffold reading, writing and language development, producing confident and persuasive young writers.