Inspired by: How to Live Forever - Curriculum Objectives

The educational resource inspired by Colin Thompson's "How to Live Forever" provides a comprehensive framework for enhancing Year 5 pupils' literacy skills. It encourages the development of positive reading attitudes and a deeper understanding of texts by engaging with a diverse range of literary forms, including fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. Pupils are taught to discuss and recommend books, identify themes, make comparisons across texts, and prepare readings and performances that demonstrate their comprehension through expression and intonation. Critical thinking is fostered through activities such as questioning for better understanding, drawing inferences, summarising key ideas, and evaluating language use and its impact on readers.

Alongside reading, the curriculum objectives encompass spelling, grammar, and punctuation, guiding pupils to expand their vocabulary through the understanding of morphology and etymology. They are taught to use prefixes, suffixes, and silent letters, as well as to differentiate between homophones and other commonly confused words. Writing skills are honed through planning, drafting, and editing processes that include the use of advanced grammar and vocabulary to enhance meaning, as well as the incorporation of cohesive devices and structural elements. Additionally, pupils are encouraged to develop a fluid and legible handwriting style and to understand and use grammatical terminology accurately. Comprehension and composition tasks related to Colin Thompson's works and other cultural stories support the application of these skills in a creative and analytical context.