The Wind in the Willows - Learning Sequence

The Wind in the Willows learning sequence is a comprehensive unit overview spread over six weeks, designed to immerse Year 6 students in the classic tale while enhancing their literacy skills. Throughout the unit, students employ a 'word detective grid' to decipher unfamiliar vocabulary and a timeline to summarise the story's main events. In the first week, the journey begins by introducing the title and front cover, prompting discussions about the setting and potential discoveries within. Students read up to page 9, exploring the character of Mole and engaging in a 'role on the wall' activity to delve deeper into his personality. They then read further, examining the dynamics between Mole and Rat and closely analysing the language used to describe the Wild Wood. As they progress, students consider the characters' relationships, predict future events, and write diary entries from Mole's perspective, constantly evaluating and proofreading their work.

Moving into the fourth week, the focus shifts to recapping and expanding on the character of Toad, using descriptive language and developing a toolkit for writing. Students plan paragraphs, experiment with topic sentences, and write recounts of the events leading to Toad's arrest, all the while refining their drafts. In the latter weeks, discussions continue as they finish reading the book, reflecting on Toad's time in prison and the invasion, as well as the growth of characters like Mole. Personal views on the book are shared, and the learning sequence transitions into gathering information for an informational text, honing in on skimming, scanning, and technical language skills. The unit culminates with the reading and performance of the poem 'The River', where students analyse metaphors, personification, and the poem's message, enhancing their appreciation of literary devices and their impact on readers.