We've built this Year 4 reading comprehension around The Tale of Dick Whittington, a three-part original fiction text by children’s author Margaret Bateson-Hill.
This unit comes from Real Comprehension, our whole-school programme for KS1 and KS2. You can teach it on its own or as part of a themed set that also includes linked poetry and non-fiction units. It supports pupils in exploring a classic “rags to riches” tale through reading, discussion, vocabulary development and deeper comprehension tasks.
We've presented each part of the text as a plain PDF, then there are illustrated versions for display or pupil engagement, and PowerPoints with or without highlighted sections.
There is also a teacher’s annotated version with close reading prompts and teaching suggestions. These clearly mark where you can use drama, discussion or visualisation to help pupils connect with and understand the story more deeply.
Key vocabulary
Three fully resourced lessons focus on key vocabulary from the text: despair, poised and frequent. You'll introduce each word through a PowerPoint with contextual examples, meaning, discussion tasks and sentence-building activities.
We've designed these vocabulary lessons to develop children’s understanding of language. They also encourage precise word use in pupils' own speaking and writing.
To support comprehension, each part of the unit includes Big Questions and follow-up worksheets that encourage discussion and reflection.
Activities such as 'Role on the Wall', visualising scenes and characters, and freeze-frame tasks help pupils understand character motivations and story development.
At the end of the unit, a set of revisit resources encourages pupils to evaluate how the story unfolds and changes, make personal connections and express opinions.
Included in this resource pack:
- The Tale of Dick Whittington (plain PDF, illustrated PDF, PowerPoint with and without highlights)
- Annotated teacher’s text with close reading prompts
- Vocabulary focus PowerPoints
- Big Questions PowerPoints and worksheets
- Whole text activities
- Full teaching notes and suggested sequence