This Year 6 writing unit from our Real Writing collection unit focuses on the Ancient Maya through a non-chronological report written by published children’s author Anita Loughrey.
Pupils will explore Maya cities, religion, society and other fascinating facts while following a carefully mapped framework.
Each unit provides two to three weeks of detailed lesson planning, including teaching slides, activity sheets and annotated model texts, so you can teach confidently and effectively.
Pupils will read, analyse and discuss the model text, identify key features of non-chronological reports and eventually produce their own report on modern-day Mexico.
Curriculum links
You'll cover key Year 6 English objectives throughout the unit, with opportunities to revisit prior learning. Pupils will practise:
- Distinguishing between homophones and other words that are easily confused
- Using expanded noun phrases to convey complicated information concisely
- Applying punctuation, including brackets, commas, dashes and hyphens
- Incorporating layout and organisational devices, such as headings, subheadings, diagrams and bullet points
This unit also links to history and geography, allowing pupils to explore the Maya civilisation and the geography, society and culture of modern-day Mexico.
Vocabulary
Tier 2 words: agriculture, catastrophe, hierarchy, mural, noble, pandemic, plaza, society, terrace
Tier 3 words: archaeologist, civilisation, hieroglyphs, observatory, parchment, sacrifice
Year 5/6 statutory spelling words: ancient. environment, equipment, government, sacrifice
Resources
- Three versions of the model text (plain, illustrated and annotated)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint slides
- Teaching notes and activity sheets
- Image sets for initial discussions
- Vocabulary word cards
- Research sheets and margin planners
- Writing skills checklist
Key teaching activities
To begin, pupils will examine images of Maya artefacts and discuss what they can infer about the civilisation. They'll then read the model text together, identifying features of effective non-chronological reports and annotating layout devices.
Guide pupils through focused vocabulary work using word cards. Pupils will then create a poster to showcase important Maya information, using clear headings, subheadings and concise explanations.
During the teaching and rehearsal phase, pupils will practise homophones, expanded noun phrases and punctuation in context. They'll research modern-day Mexico using books, images and the internet, gathering information for their own report.
Pupils will then plan their writing using structured planning frames and write extended non-chronological reports over several sessions.
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will:
- produce a well-structured non-chronological report on modern-day Mexico
- apply precise grammar, including homophones and expanded noun phrases
- use cohesive layout devices
- select appropriate punctuation
- demonstrate secure understanding of Maya civilisation and Mexican society