This Year 4 unit from our Real Writing collection centres on a cowboy’s journey across the plains of America.
The unit follows a carefully mapped framework and comes with two to three weeks of detailed lesson planning. Pupils explore homophones, Standard English forms, and descriptive writing.
In the final task, they create their own cowboy story using the model text’s structure, vocabulary and grammar. This unit can also complement a geography topic on North America.
Curriculum links
This unit links directly to Year 4 English objectives:
- Vocabulary – Spell homophones accurately and explore their meanings.
- Grammar – Recognise and apply Standard English in writing.
- Writing composition – Plan and write narratives, using descriptive language and consistent tense.
Cross-curricular links: Geography – exploring landscapes, cattle ranches and life in North America.
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: companion, descended, excess, lowing
- Tier 3 words: brand, chaps, chuck wagon, coyote, driving, herd, lasso, mountain, plain, rain slicker, ranch, reins, settlers, vaquero, wrangler
- Common exception words: probably, weight
Resources included
- Model text by author Margaret Bateson-Hill
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Teacher notes and activity sheets
- Vocabulary cards and match activity
- Story map templates
- ‘How to structure a journey story’ poster
- Journey story margin planner
- Writing skills checklist
Activities and teaching sequence
Phase 1 – Familiarisation
- Display images of cowboys herding cattle and discuss what pupils notice.
- Read and discuss the model text, highlighting informal language, apostrophes and contracted words.
- Explore new vocabulary using word cards and match activity.
- Pupils write setting descriptions, using expanded noun phrases and images of the American plains for inspiration.
Phase 2 – Teaching & rehearsing
- Investigate homophones through targeted exercises.
- Compare Standard and non-Standard English; correct sentences and practise direct speech.
- Identify nouns and pronouns in the model text to avoid repetition; describe characters using these techniques.
- Plan writing using the journey story margin planner.
Phase 3 – Application
- Pupils write their own cowboy journey story over several sessions.
- Encourage greater depth by experimenting with narrative order or starting in the middle of the story.
- Incorporate setting descriptions from earlier in the unit.
- Proofread and edit using the writing skills checklist.
- Share completed stories aloud to check clarity and meaning.
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will:
- Spell homophones accurately in context
- Apply Standard English consistently in writing and direct speech
- Use nouns, pronouns and expanded noun phrases to enhance clarity and description
- Write a structured narrative with a clear opening, build-up and events
- Demonstrate awareness of character, setting and descriptive language in their own stories