The Last Bear - Learning Objectives

In Year 5, during Autumn Term 1, students delve into "The Last Bear" by Hannah Gold, a core text that provides a gateway to discussing crucial environmental issues such as global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps, as well as the importance of raw materials in the context of Arctic geography. The unit aims to produce a variety of written outcomes including a diary entry, a chapter emulating the author's style, a persuasive argument, and a newspaper report, with a possible application being an explanation of global warming.

The learning objectives for this unit are categorised into four key areas: spoken language, reading, writing composition, and grammar and vocabulary. In spoken language, students are expected to express opinions with reasons, listen to others, and use Standard English in discussions. Reading objectives focus on summarising ideas, drawing inferences, identifying themes, predicting outcomes, and evaluating language use in texts. Writing composition objectives guide students to understand genre-specific language and structure, develop plots through actions and dialogue, and consider paragraphing and audience. Finally, in grammar and vocabulary, students learn about relative pronouns, the structure of relative clauses, the use of commas, and the importance of topic sentences in signalling shifts within the text. These objectives aim to enhance students' comprehension, writing skills, and grammatical knowledge through the exploration of the novel and its related themes.