Real Writing Year 1 - Unit 8
Model text: Autumn, by Joshua Seigal
Curriculum links: Science (the senses), geography (seasonal changes and weather patterns)
Unit overview
This writing unit for Year 1 is built around an original model text by Joshua Seigal - a simple list poem about autumn. The example text 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 write their own simple list poems using their senses about autumn or another season.
Key curriculum skills
Three fully-resourced lessons are included for the following Year 1 English objectives, which can form part of the unit or be taught discretely:
1. Vocabulary: to divide words into syllables
Pupils will: learn how words can be divided into syllables. They will count the syllables of words represented by images before using their blending skills to read a range of multisyllabic words from phases 2 – 5 of Letters and Sounds.
2. Grammar: to use adjectives to describe
Pupils will: learn how adjectives can be used to describe nouns. They will collect words that could be used to describe objects found in autumn and orally rehearse simple sentences that include adjectives before writing them.
3. Punctuation: to leave spaces between words
Pupils will: learn why it is important to leave spaces between words when writing. They will read captions and decide where the finger spaces should go.
Additional teaching points to teach or revisit:
- saying out loud what they are going to write about
- combining words to make sentences
- beginning to punctuate sentences with capital letters and full stops
- reading aloud their own writing
Year 1 words: featured vocabulary
Common exception words: I my the they of
Tier 2 words: rustling, tenderly, gleaming, palm, crackles, gleeful
Tier 3 words: see, scent, feel, hear, taste, smell touch