The Baker's Boy and The Great Fire of London - Learning Sequence

The Baker's Boy and The Great Fire of London is a literary exploration for Year 6 students, spanning six weeks and delving into the tumultuous events of the historic blaze through the eyes of a young protagonist named Will. The learning sequence commences with an engaging discussion of the prologue, followed by a deep dive into the first chapter where students are encouraged to empathise with Will's alarming experience of waking up to the smell of smoke. As the narrative unfolds, learners are tasked with collecting descriptive language to capture the atmosphere, responding to probing questions about the plot and characters, and writing thought bubbles to reflect the perspectives of the characters as they witness the fire's devastation. The initial weeks culminate with students stepping into Will's shoes, demonstrating his determination and penning his thoughts and feelings during a desperate run to seek the king's aid.

As the unit progresses, the focus shifts to more analytical and creative tasks. Students are prompted to isolate and create adjectives to describe the fire scene, building similes and crafting their own vivid descriptions. They practice the 'show not tell' technique to convey Will's emotions, and consider the impressions made by historical figures like Samuel Pepys. The learning journey continues with further reading and discussion, role-play activities, and sensory explorations of the fire's impact. In the concluding weeks, students reflect on key events and emotions, plot timelines, and enhance their vocabulary with synonym wheels. They also delve into poetry, studying and reciting a poem about the Great Fire, annotating its features, and comparing it to another poem to understand different narrative techniques. The sequence ends with students writing and refining a recount or diary entry from Will's perspective, bringing together their understanding and creativity honed throughout the unit.