Year 5 Model Text Resource Pack 20: ‘An English Soldier’s Diary (1066) (Recount; History - Battle of Hastings)
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Real Writing Year 5 - Unit 20
An English Soldier’s Diary (1066)
Curriculum links: History
Writing unit overview
This writing unit for Year 5 is built around an original model text by Jon Mayhew - a diary entry written from the perspective of an English soldier in 1066, just after the Battle of Hastings. The diary entry example is available as a PDF in three versions (plain, illustrated and annotated); annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations are also included.
In this two-week unit, pupils will learn about how to structure and compose an informal diary, using the model text. They will consider the appropriate use of vocabulary, and the impact of adverbials of time, place, frequency and manner. Ultimately, after learning the features of a diary entry, they will be tasked with writing their own diary entry, this time from the perspective of a Norman soldier who was at the Battle of Hastings.
Key curriculum skills
Two fully-resourced lesson plans are included for Year 5 English objectives:
1. Vocabulary - To select appropriate vocabulary (exploring synonyms)
Pupils will: revisit and identify synonyms; practise using a thesaurus to find synonyms; organise synonyms on a scale (e.g. smallest to largest); discuss how different strengths of synonyms can change meaning; complete synonym scales; write two paragraphs using synonyms for meaning.
2. Grammar - To use adverbials of time, place, frequency or manner
Pupils will: revisit fronted adverbials; understand the four different types of adverbials; identify adverbial phrases; discuss the effect of positioning adverbial phrases differently in sentences; identify adverbials; complete sentences with adverbials; compose sentences with given adverbials; write a paragraph using adverbials.
Additional objectives to teach or revisit:
- using expanded noun phrases
- punctuating direct speech
Additional year 5 curriculum teaching points:
- to use relative clauses
- using commas to clarify meaning
Year 5 vocabulary
Tier two words: falter, undisputed, victory, flee, bellow, defeated, exhausted
Tier three words: housecarl, fyrd, infantry, overthrow
Year 5 spellings: professional, soldier, disastrous, occupy
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