Biography and Autobiography - Medium Term Plan

The Year 6 Literacy framework incorporates a comprehensive unit on Biography and Autobiography, designed to deepen students' understanding of non-fiction texts. This unit is versatile enough to be taught at any point during the autumn or spring terms and is structured to progress from previous learning while preparing students for end-of-year expectations. It offers opportunities for cross-curricular connections, particularly with geography, by exploring the setting and context of places like Norway. The unit's teaching content includes distinguishing between biography and autobiography, studying various biographies of Charles Dickens, and assessing prior knowledge with activities related to Roald Dahl, including mind mapping and film comprehension.

As the unit progresses, students delve into the specifics of writing an autobiography, creating family trees, and examining how characters are presented in texts, using Roald Dahl's 'Boy' as a case study. They also engage in writing exercises that include describing personal experiences, such as a favourite holiday, and crafting a travel brochure for Norway, enhancing their descriptive writing skills. The unit culminates with students writing an autobiographical story, applying their knowledge of writing in the first person, character presentation, and setting description. Assessment is integrated throughout the unit, with particular focus on Assessing Pupil Progress (APP) and Assessment for Learning (AFL), ensuring that students are supported and evaluated in their learning journey.