STAGE 1: IMITATION
Module
1
Enquiry Questions
(What we will be finding out through
this unit)
Theme/Focus Objective:
Write, present and broadcast a range
of ideas, in a wide variety of forms
and with awareness of different
audiences and purposes; communicate
these ideas with accuracy on paper, on
screen and through multimodal texts.
RESOURCES
Talk for Writing Across the Curriculum
(Pie Corbett & Julia Strong)
Lots of flip chart paper!
Washing line & pegs!
Teacher made text: Why do aliens
invade other planets?
Activities
Writing Focus: Explanation Writing
NB: Prior to starting this module- ensure causal connectives are
clearly displayed for chn to use and constantly refer to them
Key Skills
Review
Rehearsing a text orally
Memorising a text
Warming up the Text-tuning into connectives
WALT: Use causal connectives correctly
Connectives Game 1
Sit chn in 2 long lines facing each other. Teacher starts a sentence,
based on any topic, which ends with a causal connective
eg Teacher: I arrived early at school which meant that...
Child 1: No one was around therefore...
Child 2: I crept into Mrs Nelis’s office which resulted in...
Child 3: the school alarm going off because...
Child opposite has to pick up on the sentence and continue,
again, finishing with a causal connective which the next child
opposite them picks up with and so on, until all chn have had a
turn.
Challenge is to create one, long, continuous oral story!
Paragraph sheets-one set between two
WALT: Use causal connectives correctly
Connectives Game 2 (T4W pg 113)
Explain that one of the key features of an explanation text is the
causal connectives.
This will result in... This means that....Because.... Therefore...
Demonstrate to the chn now to use these connectives on IWBd by
Writing a mixture of simple and
complex sentences.
Using appropriate causal
connectives.
Using commas within sentences.
Matching verbs to tenses
accurately.
Editing writing
Remember to:
Use the story map as an aid to
performing the text
Talk to my partner, sharing my
ideas
showing ‘Why is it dark at night?’ and ‘How do teachers know so much?’!!
Can chn pick out the causal connectives in each of these sentences?
On IWBd show examples of other causal connectives (these will also be
displayed in class)
Show chn the following key phrases used in an explanation text (the
causal connectives): this results in, this causes, this means that, as a
result
We are going to play a game using these phrases.
Pairs:
On IWBd show one question at a time (Choose however many is
appropriate, do not do all in one lesson!)
Why are aliens always green?
Why don’t rainbows wobble in the wind?
Why do boys wear hair gel?
Why is a banana curly?
Where do teachers go at night?
Why does it get dark at night?
Why do girls wear make up?
Why does it get colder when you go up a mountain?
Why does the light in the fridge go out when the door closes?
Working in pairs, chn have to answer the question in as crazy a way as
possible but they must use one of the given causal connectives.
WALT: Use causal connectives correctly
Role Play- the investigation game:
Investigation scenario:(T4W pg 114)
The Police are investigating a reported sighting/landing of an alien
spaceship. Roles: 2 Policemen, 2 eye witnesses
In grps of 4
-policemen have to use lots of how and why questions to find out what
happened
-eye witnesses to use as many causal connectives as poss in providing
their explanation
Policemen might start by asking-Why were you in the lane at 2 O’clock
in the morning?
Chn will need to plan their questions and answers first remembering
their purpose is to explain and not to provide a recount.
WALT: Sequence an explanation text
Sequencing the Text: (T4W pg 113)
Give out a text for chn to sequence eg The Teacher Pleaser or Why
children don’t do their homework. Text should be cut up into
paragraphs. In grps, chn to sequence the text then read the
sequenced txt aloud and be prepared to explain the order in which
they have placed the txt.
WALT: Use appropriate causal connectives in sentences
Use the cloze procedure on pg 116 (T4W)
How many alternative, causal words/phrases can the chn think of to
fit in each gap? There could be more than one in some cases.
Draw out the language and encourage the chn to magpie useful
words/phrases used in this activity.
WALT: Use appropriate causal connectives in sentences
Use ideas on pg 116 (T4W) Chn now have to write about a series of
events which resulted in them being late for school. If possible,
encourage the chn to relate their excuse to something space/alien
related to fit in with our theme. Model an example first for the chn.
Extension Activity:
In pairs, chn role play a conversation between a parent and the
teacher explaining why the child is being kept in detention. (T4W pg
116)
WALT: Memorise a text
Orally perform a text
Create story maps as an aid to performing a text
Talking the Text-tuning into text games
Chn MUST over learn the text.
 Orally introduce the explanation text written by teacher: Why
do aliens invade other planets? Do NOT show chn the text at
this point.
 On f/c, teacher to show the’ bones’ of an initial story map
created and together with the chn, fill in extra details on this
to help chn remember the text. (This will then be split into
paragraphs with one f/c sheet per parag for future use)
 Chn to draw their own story map for the text so these can be
personalised for each child, annotated with any parts which may
be causing them problems-cld be done as LLog.
 With the chn, go through the text again, using the story map as
a guide.
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Chn now practice this in table grps before coming back tog &
performing as a class.
Now split chn into grps of four from different tables &
practice again.
Using the paragraph sheets, chn work in pairs, sat facing each
other, to practice the text agn.
3 other ways to practice the text: Play ‘Pass it round the
circle’/ play up and down a line of chn / play the story like
tennis, sat opposite each other reciting a line each.
Differentiation:
Throughout the oral learning of the text, teacher & TA will support LA
chn as and when necessary to ensure they have ideas to contribute to
the games/are managing to learn the text.
WALT: Identify the key features of explanation writing
Loitering with the text
On IWBd, show chn the actual text Why do aliens invade other
planets? This will be colour coded for causal connectives and complex
sentences and wow words. Can chn work out what the colour coding is
for before being told?
Go through the text one paragraph at a time and create Prompt Posters
for the causal connectives and other useful phrases (T4W pg 119)
Differentiation:
TA to support LA chn with this, ensuring they are able to identify
causal connectives.
Box Up the Text
Model how to box up the text so that the underlying structure can
clearly be seen-Beginning, Middle with 2 related reasons & End (T4W
pg 120-121).
WALT: Identify what is of interest to the reader
(T4W Pg 121)
Reading as a reader-lead chn though the basic annotations of each
paragraph, discussing how the writer makes the text interesting. Begin
to create a Toolkit for explanations. (see pg 122 T4W for ideas) Draw
attention to the use of topic sentences at the start of each paragraph.
Discuss how these help the reader.
Reading as a writer/Sentence innovation Take specific sentence patterns and innovate them to produce new
sentences - With the chn, rework examples of answers to the crazy
questions used in Connectives Game 2 earlier in the module so chn
particularly understand the importance of including causal connectives.
Eg; Experts think the main reason rainbows wobble in the wind is.....
Scientists argue the main cause is....
Local residents believe that....
It is a well known fact that...
Continue to add to the Class Toolkit at this stage, with features to
include in explanation writing. (Build on the Prompt Posters created
earlier) As each new feature is identified, if appropriate, chn will
practice them at this point.
Differentiation:
TA and teacher to support LA chn when identifying the key features.
Work with these chn when constructing new sentences using key
phrases & causal connectives.
HA chn will also be expected to use Thesaurus to improve their
vocabulary choices
Possible evidence:
Chn will be able to Orally perform a text
 Confidently use appropriate causal connectives both orally and
in writing
 Tell someone the features of explanation writing
 Use appropriate causal connectives to provide their own answer
to a crazy question
 Write a good opening sentence for an explanation which hooks
the reader
 Box up the text into appropriate sections: beginning, middle
with 2 related reasons and an ending
 Provide reasons (real or otherwise) to support their ideas