This Year 5 Real Writing unit focuses on writing an informal email. Pupils explore an original model text by author Jon Mayhew, where a young person invites a friend to a sleepover.
Over two to three weeks, pupils learn why emails are sent, how informal language works, and how to use brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis. They then plan, draft and write their own email replies.
The unit follows a carefully mapped framework and matches Year 5 writing objectives.
Curriculum links
English objectives
- Writing in an informal style using appropriate vocabulary
- Using brackets, dashes and commas to indicate parenthesis
- Using paragraphs to organise ideas
- Punctuating contracted words
- Using fronted adverbials
- Employing modal verbs
- Using the present perfect form of verbs to link ideas
Cross-curricular links
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: informal, invitation, reply, annotate, organise, responsibility
- Tier 3 words: parenthesis, brackets, dashes, present perfect, modal verbs
- Common exception words: excellent, could, should, would
Resources included
- Model text PDF: plain, illustrated, annotated
- PowerPoint presentations: annotated and non-annotated
- Teacher notes and teaching slides
- Activity sheets
- Margin planner and themed writing paper
- How to Write an Email poster
- Writing skills check sheet
Key teaching activities
- Read the model text: Discuss what an email is, its purpose, and whether the example is formal or informal. Annotate informal features.
- Explore vocabulary: Focus on statutory spelling words and discuss usage in sentences.
- Paragraph organisation: Use the margin planner to summarise each paragraph.
- Writing tasks: Plan and write an email invitation to an event, choosing an appropriate tone and using informal vocabulary.
- Grammar focus: Practise using brackets, dashes or commas to indicate parenthesis.
- Modal verbs: Write sentences with possibilities for a sleepover and explore how meaning changes with different verbs.
- Present perfect tense: Identify examples in the model text and discuss how they link ideas.
- Editing and proofing: Draft, proofread and produce a final email using writing paper templates or digital email format.
Outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will be able to:
- Write an informal email using correct tone, vocabulary and punctuation
- Use brackets, dashes or commas accurately to indicate parenthesis
- Apply modal verbs and present perfect tense to link ideas
- Organise writing into coherent paragraphs
- Demonstrate secure understanding of contracted words and fronted adverbials