English
Resources
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Watch the video 'A Cloudy Story' using the link below.
Once you have watched it, start by jotting down any thoughts you have about what you have just watched. e.g. Where? When? Who? What? Why?
Plot out a very simple story map of what happens in the video clip. Finally, think about the 2 characters we meet. What can you tell us about the characters? All of this information will help set you up for your work tomorrow...
Think back to the work from yesterday. It might be helpful for you watch the film clip again before you start. Today I would like you to plan a story using the notes you made to help you.
What is actually happening between the two characters?
How did they get there?
What might happen next?
You can use the Story Mountain planning structure that we have used before to help you plan.
Refer back to your plan from yesterday and have a go at writing 'A Cloudy Story'. Don't forget to share your creations!
Be careful to think about:
- Accurate use of punctuation
- Good structure e.g. paragraphs
- Adventurous vocabulary choices
Poetry - Haiku
Can you write your own Haiku about Lockdown? Look at the PowerPoint and follow the instructions. Think about an aspect of Lockdown that you would like to write about and have a go! Don't forget to share your creations.
To end our focus on poetry, you are going to look at a Tetractys poem. Similarly to a haiku, this form of poetry is built around a specific number of syllables in each line. Look at the example on the first page of the attached document. Have a go at writing your own. Perhaps your focus today could be about your move to middle school! Don’t forget to share them once you’re done.
Revision - Using speech marks for direct speech
Have a go at correcting the children's work to make sure they are using speech marks correctly.
Today we are going to look at non-chronological reports. Attached is an example one about sharks (you do not need to answer the comprehension questions attached to it). Look at the 'Key Features' checklist. Can you find examples of these features in the text on sharks? You could label a copy or make notes about your findings.
Think about an animal you would like to find out more about and start to research it. What new things can you learn about your chosen animal?
Spelling and Grammar Game
A little different activity to help you revise a range of spelling and grammar rules. All the resources are attached below. As always, don't worry about printing everything off. Record your findings on paper. Have fun!
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A boy is camping in the woods when a vicious creature creeps up behind him.
Pause the film at 18 secs - describe this monster creeping up on the boy. A good point to use 'Show not tell' writing. Leave the reader guessing what it is. You can point this out by explaining how the music is used to build tension and doesn't show the whole monster. It just gives clues.
Can you use imagery to make the monster sound vicious? Perhaps use similes and metaphors.
Make predictions about what you think will happen next.
Then, watch the next section of the film - up to 1m5secs. Is this what you thought would happen? Can you alter your descriptions to make it sound like a friendly monster?
The monster becomes scary again once the marshmallows run out. He chases the boy.... will he escape?
There is a twist at the end!
Think back to the video clip that you watched yesterday. Look at pages 1-5 of the attached document and complete the following:
- Read up to p.3.
- Using the text on p.3 can you then fill in the table on p.4?
- Continue the opening setting description, thinking carefully about the setting in the video clip. Use the word bank at the bottom of the page to help you. Be as descriptive as you can!
I would love to know what you got up to over Half Term. Write a recount or a diary entry describing your favourite parts. Remember your 5Ws (who? what? when? where? why?) to provide as much detail as possible.
Be careful to think about your accurate use of punctuation, spellings and choice of vocabulary.
Uplevelling Sentences
Choose one challenge from the attached document (there are lots of options on there). Follow the instructions to make your sentences more detailed and descriptive.
Writing to Advise
This week will be looking at Non-Fiction writing. Specifically we are going to look at how we write to advise someone in a balanced and fair way.
Look at the PowerPoint attached and read the example text. Answer the questions in the PowerPoint on how we write to advise. You could also make notes about the example text -
- How is the text set out?
- What type of vocabulary is used?
- Are their any specific features you have noticed?
Feel free to do some further research on 'writing to advise' so that you become familiar with the features used.
Planning
Today you are going to plan your own piece of writing that would advise your friends why it is valuable to exercise at home. Think about how important that has been for you during Lockdown and how you have accomplished it!
Which activities would you choose to include? Pick 4 to go in to your piece of writing.
Don't forget to plan your introduction too!
Write Up
Today you are going to write up your piece that you planned yesterday. Remember to include subheadings, paragraphs, appropriate punctuation and suitable vocabulary.
Spelling and Grammar Revision
Choose a challenge from each of the SPAG mats attached. Research any you are unsure of and try to answer the questions.
Creative Writing
Look at the webpage below. It contains many images and ideas for creative writing. Choose an image that interests you. Today you are going to plan your creative writing. You could plan:
- A story
- A descriptive paragraph about the setting
- A diary entry, imagining you were there
- A poem
Make sure you are detailed and descriptive and be careful to choose powerful vocabulary.
Tomorrow you will write your creative piece.
Creative Writing
Write up the text that you planned for yesterday. Don't forget to share it!
VE Day Reading Comprehension
Have a go at the comprehension on p12 of the attached document.
Look at the attached example of an informal letter. It has been labelled with its specific features.
Today, write an informal letter as one of the characters from Hansel and Gretel. Think about the following:
- Which character are you?
- Who are you writing informally to?
- What might you be writing informally about?
Plan your letter first and make sure you include the specific features of informal letter writing.
Look at the attached example of a formal letter. It has been labelled with its specific features.
Today, write a formal letter as one of the characters from Hansel and Gretel. Think about the following:
- Which character are you?
- Who are you writing formally to?
- What might you be writing formally about?
Plan your letter first and make sure you include the specific features of formal letter writing.
Today you are going to write a letter to your teacher either explaining which is your favourite traditional tale and why, or comparing Hansel and Gretel with another traditional tale of your choice.
Will your letter be formal or informal? Your teacher should be able to tell by looking at the specific features you have included.
Tuesday 5th May
This week we are going to be thinking about adverts.
Today I would like you to do some research into adverts. Where might you find them? What format can they be found in? Have a look around your house to see what adverts you can find.
Create a mind map about everything you know/have found out about adverts.
Choose one advert that you have found and say why it is a good advert.
Wednesday 6th May
In the story of Hansel and Gretel, the children find a house made of sweets. You are going to create your own house that might have been found in your own version of the story. Hansel and Gretel were tempted by the smells and tastes of the house they came across. Think about what would be particularly appealing about yours? Why would 2 children really like it?
You could draw a picture and label your house or, if you are feeling particularly creative, you could even make a model of your design. Write a descriptive paragraph about your house, thinking carefully about your choice of powerful vocabulary and description.
Thursday 7th May
Today you are going to write an advert for the house you created. You need to include persuasive language. Make sure to include information for as many features of the house as you can.
e.g.
- How many rooms does it have?
- What is the garden like?
- What is its particular appeal? e.g. made of sweets
- What facilities does it have nearby? e.g. a beautiful wood
You will need to include a picture (or more than one) and think about other details such as the price and who you need to contact if you are interested.
You could look online at estate agents to see some examples or, if you have a local newspaper at home, there may be examples in there too.
Be creative! Make your house extra special!
Thinking back to Hansel and Gretel, today I would like you to think about the characters in the story and create a character profile. When we create a character profile we must think about physical features and personality traits e.g. what they look like and how they behave/why they behave in that way. I would like you to create 2 character profiles.
1. Either Hansel or Gretel
2. Another character of your choice
Think carefully about the character's emotions - why do they behave in a certain way?
You could set your work out using subheadings. Remember to think carefully about your choice of adjectives used to describe your character. Use a thesaurus to help you.
Grammar - Identifying Determiners
Look at the PowerPoint and check that you understand what a 'determiner' is. Pick a challenge from the Determiner Detective document. I have also attached an extension pack if you would like a little more practise.
We have looked closely at the story of Hansel and Gretel and the characters involved. Today we are going to look at points of view and seeing things from another perspective.
Conjunctions are required for this: ‘Because, if, so, due to…’
Can you think about the reasons why and pro’s and con’s of why these characters might have thought and acted in the way they did? It is great if you can quote directly from the text and write down what your opinion or point of view might have been if it were you.
Today you are going to think about the woodcutter. Let’s start with: Did the woodcutter need to treat Hansel and Gretel the way he did? Should he have altered his business by changing wood cutting into gardening? For example, a modern day tree surgeon surely could do gardening too? What about moving woods, such as coming to the Great Park and working for the Queen? Or was his situation so harsh that he had no choice? Write about the woodcutter's point of view. Explain your answers in detail. Refer to what you believe to be right. Can you see the other person’s point of view?
The PowerPoint has some helpful hints to help with how you write your piece.
In our English sessions we are going to be looking at the story of Hansel and Gretel. There are video versions above or you may have your own version of this traditional tale at home. To become familiar with the story, I would like you to retell the story in one of the following formats:
- A story map
- A story mountain
- A storyboard
- Artistically e.g. a diorama
You could use the computer or paper to do this task. Be as creative as you can!
Hopefully yesterday you planned your alternative ending to the story of Hansel and Gretel. Today I would like you to write the ending in full. Be creative with your vocabulary choices and remember you can use a thesaurus to help you find alternative words. Make sure you are using a range of punctuation types accurately and use paragraphs where necessary.
Upload your work to Class Dojo if you can!
Week 1
Monday 23rd March
Writing - Poetry
We have recently looked at poetry in class. If you can, take yourself outside and think carefully about your five senses: see, hear, smell, touch and feel. Write a poem about the arrival of Spring. I have attached a template to get you started but feel free to set your poem out in whatever way you wish. You could write it up in neat and decorate it afterwards. Email me your finished results! I would love to put some of your great work on to the website for everyone to admire! Be as creative and descriptive as you can.
Wednesday 25th March
Homophones - 'there', 'their' and 'they're'
I have attached a sheet for you to start with. Have a go at a few of the sentences to make sure you are using the correct version of the word.
Bronze Challenge: Write the correct sentences into your Homework Book.
Silver Challenge: Have a go at a few of the sentences on the sheet. What other homophones can you think of? Write a list - make sure your spellings are correct!
Gold Challenge: Create a list of different homophones. Write your own sentences with the correct version of each word in.
Last term we learnt how to write a newspaper report. We made sure that we tried to include all of the different features that were required.
Can you write a newspaper report about this very interesting week in our history?
I have attached a checklist of the features of a newspaper report in case you need a little reminder.
Please send me your finished articles and I can put them up on the website and share your great work.
Week 2
Monday 30th March
Plan your own adventure story
As yesterday was April Fool's Day, I would like you to plan an adventure story around this theme. Think about a character playing a prank on someone. What happens? Where does it take place? Who's involved?
I have included some resources to help you get started. Focus on detailed planning today and then write your story in tomorrow's English session. You can use the planning template attached or you can record it in your own way.