Journey to Jo'burg - Learning Objectives

The learning objectives for Year 5 students during Autumn Term 2 revolve around the core text 'Journey to Jo'burg' by Beverley Naidoo and 'Who was Nelson Mandela?' by Meg Deviso. These texts serve as a springboard for exploring a variety of subjects such as geography through map skills and history with a theme linked to discrimination. The unit is designed to culminate in written outcomes that include a narrative in the form of a letter from the character Naledi to Grace, a recount of a personal trip, experience or visitor, a persuasive argument aimed at convincing the South African government to stop apartheid, and an information text on Nelson Mandela.

Reading objectives are centred on the core texts, with a focus on comprehension strategies that enhance understanding and appreciation of the material. Students will learn to give and listen to opinions using Standard English, and perform their own compositions. They will explore narrative techniques, such as the balance of dialogue, action, and description, and the use of 'show, not tell' to develop characters. They will also seek to understand the writer’s viewpoint, infer characters' thoughts and feelings, and differentiate between fact and opinion. Writing objectives include developing dialogue and actions to progress a narrative, using appropriate paragraphing and language for different audiences and purposes, and summarising information. Grammar and vocabulary objectives aim to teach students how to use relative clauses, understand the proper use of commas, and utilise modal verbs to convey possibility within their writing.