This Year 5 Real Writing unit uses an original diary entry by children's author Jon Mayhew.
Pupils explore the perspective of an English soldier just after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. They study structure, vocabulary, and the use of adverbials, then write their own diary entry as a Norman soldier.
The unit follows a carefully mapped framework, matches Year 5 writing objectives and includes two to three weeks of detailed lesson planning.
Curriculum links
This unit covers key Year 5 English objectives:
- Writing recounts in diary format
- Selecting precise vocabulary using synonyms
- Using adverbials of time, place, frequency and manner
- Expanding noun phrases
- Punctuating direct speech
- Using relative clauses
- Applying commas to clarify meaning
Cross-curricular links:
- History: Anglo-Saxons and the Battle of Hastings
- Geography: Understanding places and movement in historical contexts
Vocabulary
- Tier 2 words: falter, undisputed, victory, flee, bellow, defeated, exhausted
- Tier 3 words: housecarl, fyrd, infantry, overthrow
- Common exception words: professional, soldier, disastrous, occupy
Resources included
- Model text PDF in plain, illustrated, and annotated versions
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Teacher notes and step-by-step lesson plans
- Vocabulary cards and match activities
- ‘How to write a diary’ poster
- Image cards and research materials
- Margin planners for pupil writing
- Writing skills checklists
Key teaching activities
Phase 1: Familiarisation
- Read the model text and identify diary features, tense and informal tone
- Highlight key vocabulary and discuss meanings using context clues
- Analyse noun phrases, adjectives, and prepositional phrases
- Practise using relative clauses and expanded noun phrases
Phase 2: Teaching and rehearsing
- Explore synonyms and adverbials of time, place, frequency and manner
- Revise punctuation of direct speech with examples from the diary
- Research the Battle of Hastings using image cards, books and technology
- Plan writing using the margin planner and organise ideas from research
Phase 3: Application
- Write a diary entry from the perspective of a Norman soldier
- Apply diary features, vocabulary and grammar skills
- Proofread and edit using the writing skills check
- Focus on refining grammar, punctuation and vocabulary during editing
Pupil outcomes
By the end of this unit, pupils will be able to:
- Write a structured and engaging diary entry
- Use vocabulary purposefully to enhance meaning
- Apply adverbials of time, place, frequency and manner effectively
- Punctuate direct speech accurately
- Expand noun phrases and include relative clauses
- Edit and improve their writing with confidence