Inspired by: My Secret War Diary - Medium Term Plan

The Year 6 Module 5 curriculum, inspired by "My Secret War Diary" by Marcia Williams, takes students on a literary journey through the lens of war-time experiences, combining comprehension, composition, and grammar objectives into a cohesive learning experience. In the first week, the objective is to retrieve, record, and present information from non-fiction sources. Students focus on identifying the audience and purpose of their writing, honing their ability to select the most appropriate form. This is coupled with exploring synonyms and antonyms to enrich their understanding of word relationships. Teacher ideas for this week include exploring 'The Vacs', 'Aunt Ethel's Letter', and 'War Is Declared' to provide context and stimulate learning.

As the weeks progress, students are challenged to distinguish between fact and opinion, develop initial ideas from their reading and research, and use layout devices to effectively structure their text. By the third week, predictions are made from stated and implied details, with a focus on ensuring subject and verb agreement and using hyphens to avoid ambiguity. The learning journey continues with making comparisons across books, précising passages, and using the perfect verb form to express time and cause. In the fifth week, students engage with poetry, enhancing their presentation skills and using passive verbs to alter how information is presented in sentences. The final week encourages students to ask questions to deepen understanding, use advanced organisational devices in their writing, and employ colons to introduce lists, culminating in reflections on 'Writing No More', 'VJ Day', and 'Christmas 1945'.