ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
MEDIUM TERM PLAN
YEAR 7 TOUGH TIMES
Duration: 6 weeks
AIMS:
To introduce pupils to a range of different forms of writing and talk, such as review,
discursive, informative.
To reinforce basic skills such as paragraphing, planning, drafting, making comparisons.
To revise basic spelling and reading strategies.
To support students in their reading of pre-C20th texts.
KEY TEACHING AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Pupils should be taught to:
WORD LEVEL
8. Personal spelling
14. Word meaning in context
SENTENCE LEVEL
12. Sequencing paragraphs
13a. Information
13f. Discursive writing
TEXT LEVEL – READING
1. Extract information
8. Infer and deduce
12. Character, setting and mood
17. Independent Reading
TEXT LEVEL – WRITING
10. Organise texts appropriately
15. Express a view
19. Reflective writing
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
1. Clarify through talk
6. Recall main points
15. Explore in role
Most students will: Have read a variety of extracts from pre C20th texts and responded to
them with an opinion through writing and discussion.
Some student will not have progressed so far and will: Have completed some of the written
pieces in full with the aid of a writing frame. They may have struggled to read some of the
texts without support.
Some students will have progressed further and will: Have written extended pieces without
the aid of a frame and will have redrafted work thoroughly. These pupils may have undertaken
extra reading and research.
POSSIBLE TEACHING SEQUENCE
Week 1 COMPARING SCHOOLS
SENTENCE LEVEL
13. Sequencing paragraphs
13f. Discursive writing
TEXT LEVEL – WRITING
10. Organise texts appropriately
16. Express a view
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
1. Clarify through talk
RESOURCES
‘Spotlight on the Victorians’ by Sandy Brownjohn (Hodder and Stoughton ISBN: 0340697296)
Various resources supplied by C. Millard
Extracts from ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte
Writing frames, key words, sentence starters as appropriate
FOCUS
Give pupils pictures and extracts of Victorian Schools to discuss
Could go to library to research the period
Create a table comparing schools then and now – age, subjects, class size, school rules etc.
Model how to turn table into writing. Give list of suitable connecting words.
OUTCOMES:
Discussion. Discursive writing - comparison of schools today with Victorian schools
Week 2 PROSPECTUS
SENTENCE LEVEL
13a. Information
TEXT LEVEL – READING
2. Extract information
TEXT LEVEL – WRITING
10. Organise texts appropriately
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
15. Explore in role
RESOURCES
‘Spotlight on the Victorians’ by Sandy Brownjohn (Hodder and Stoughton ISBN: 0340697296)
Extract(s) from text and film of ‘Oliver Twist’
Examples of school brochures
Writing frames, key words, sentence starters as appropriate
FOCUS
Use extracts to build picture of life in school/workhouse
Role play headmaster talking about what his school has to offer
Shared reading on a modern prospectus – agree topics for paragraphs and appropriate style of
writing for information (and persuasion)
OUTCOMES
Prospectus (or poster for less able) for a Victorian school or workhouse
Week 3 PICKPOCKET
WORD LEVEL
9. Personal spelling
14. Word meaning in context
TEXT LEVEL – READING
12. Character, setting and mood
17. Independent Reading
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
6. Recall main points
RESOURCES
Extract(s) from ‘Oliver Twist’
Musical film of ‘Oliver Twist’
Writing frames, key words, sentence starters as appropriate
FOCUS
Shared reading of extract describing pickpocketing. Watch video.
Agree list of ways the writer and director make the characters vivid and the atmosphere
exciting – try to use in later writing.
Brainstorm ideas as a whole class for a first person description of one of Fagin’s boys sent out
for the first time. Brainstorm key words. Add to word wall.
Plan before writing – could be done on ICT.
OUTCOMES
Creative writing based on a child’s first experience as a pickpocket for Fagin
Week 4 RULES FOR CHILD CHIMNEY SWEEPS
SENTENCE LEVEL
13a. Information
TEXT LEVEL – READING
9. Infer and deduce
TEXT LEVEL – WRITING
10. Organise texts appropriately
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
1. Clarify through talk
RESOURCES
‘Spotlight on the Victorians’ by Sandy Brownjohn p.34-5
Extract from ‘The Water Babies’ by Charles Kingsley (?)
Extract from the poem ‘The Chimney Sweeper’ from ‘Songs of Innocence’ by William Blake (?)
Writing frames, key words, sentence starters as appropriate
FOCUS
Class debate – what do we think about child labour? Does it still go on?
Why were children used to clean chimneys? What were the dangers?
What rules could be made up to protect these children as they work?
Model how to set out a list of rules – could be in the form of leaflet e.g. regular meals, face
mask etc.
Write up and add illustrations.
OUTCOMES
A list of rules for sending boys up chimneys
Week 5 A CHRISTMAS CAROL
WORD LEVEL
14. Word meaning in context
TEXT LEVEL – READING
10. Infer and deduce
12. Character, setting and mood
17. Independent Reading
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
6. Recall main points
RESOURCES
Copies of ‘A Christmas Carol’ (simplified version)
A blank flowchart format
FOCUS
Class discussion – do you believe in ghosts?
Read story as whole class in chunks. Break up reading with filling in of flow chart with plot so
far.
Pupils draw images of the 4 ghosts as they appear in the text.
Visit library to encourage borrowing of ghost stories.
OUTCOMES
Flowchart of events in the story
Illustrations of the 4 ghosts
Week 6 A CHRISTMAS CAROL
TEXT LEVEL – READING
12. Character, setting and mood
TEXT LEVEL – WRITING
10. Organise texts appropriately
17. Express a view
19. Reflective writing
TEXT LEVEL – SPEAKING AND LISTENING
6. Recall main points
RESOURCES
Video version(s) of ‘A Christmas Carol’ e.g. ‘Scrooged’
Writing frames, key words, sentence starters as appropriate
FOCUS
Either watch whole film or compare same section of both of them – titles, opening scene, ghost
scene etc.
Set questions or note making tasks during watching. Stop at regular intervals.
Give writing frame to all pupils for the review, with headings for each section to comment on.
OUTCOMES
Film review
Or comparison of the opening scenes of each film.