Autumn Term
Rose Blanche by Roberto Innocenti and Anne Frank by Josephine Poole
Rose Blanche is a story is told through the eyes of a young German girl, Rose Blanche, who is a witness to the immense changes occurring in Nazi Germany. Her curiosity leads her outside her town where she discovers a concentration camp.
Rose Blanche secretly brings food to the children behind the barbed-wire fence.
Anne Frank by Josephine Poole – How did an ordinary little girl come to live such an extraordinary life? This picture book biography tells the incredible story of Anne Frank for a younger audience.
Anne Frank’s diary telling the story of her years in hiding from the Nazis has affected millions of people. But what was she like as a small girl, at home with her family and friends; at play and at school? In the first half of the book we meet Anne as a small child growing up with her family in Germany. Then we follow her flight to Holland to escape the Nazis; the German invasion and the gradual isolation, then outright persecution, of the Jewish population which forces the family into hiding; the years in the Secret Annex; and her last heart-breaking journey.
Told with haunting, meticulously researched illustrations, this is the ideal introduction to Anne Frank’s story.
Our writing outcomes will be a Diary and Bravery Award Speech with wider writing opportunities of Poetry, Letter, Diary, Biography, Newspaper Report and Playscript
Grammar Word – understand how words are related by meaning as synonyms and antonyms
The difference between vocabulary of informal speech and vocabulary appropriate to formal speech and writing – formal and informal
vocabulary choices
Grammar Sentence – the difference between structures typical of informal speech and structures appropriate to formal – use of question tags in informal speech
Grammar Text – linking ideas within and across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices – adverbials
Grammar Punctuation – colons to introduce a list and semi-colons for more elaborate lists
Use commas, brackets and dashes for parenthesis
Semi-colon to separate two main clauses
Other World War II books: Letters from the Lighthouse by Emma Carroll, Anne Frank by Josephine Poole & Angela Barrett, The Harmonica by Tony Johnston, Erika’s Story by Ruth Vander Zee, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, Our Castle by the Sea by Lucy Strange, Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian, I Am David by Ann Holm, My Secret Diary by Flossie Albright, Once by Morris Gleitzman, Wave Me Goodbye by Jaqueline Wilson, The Silver Sword by Ian Serraillier, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne
Non-fiction: World War II: The Daily Life of a World War II Evacuee by Alan Childs, The Diary of Anne Frank, World War II: A Heroes History of – Life on the home front by Lorraine Childs, World War II (DK Eyewitness) DK, Children and World War II by Sarah Ridley
A Story Like the Wind by Gill Lewis
A beautifully illustrated story of freedom, music, and seeking refuge. A small group of refugees is crowded on to a boat on the sea. They share their stories as the boat travels towards the dream of safety and freedom. …
Our writing outcomes will be a Flashback Narrative and Newspaper Report with wider writing opportunities of a Balanced Argument, Diary, Fable, Letter, Non-chronological Report, Characterisation and Settings
Grammar Word – understand how words are related by meaning as synonyms and antonyms
The difference between vocabulary of informal speech and vocabulary appropriate to formal speech and writing – informality of direct quote contrasting with formality of vocabulary choices
Grammar Sentence – the difference between structures typical of informal speech and structures appropriate to formal
Grammar Text – linking ideas within and across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices – repetition and ellipsis
Use headings, sub-headings, columns and captions to structure information
Grammar Punctuation – use dashes, brackets and semi-colons to punctuate sentences precisely to enhance meaning
Use range of punctuation taught at KS2 (Speech punctuation)
Other Flashback Stories: Floodlands by Marcus Sedgwick, Eye of the Wolf by Daniel Pennac, Holes by Louis Sachar, Carrie’s War by Nina Bawden, The Nowhere Emporium by Ross MacKenzie, Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo, The Piano by Aidan Gibbons watch on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uHCMt3wm04
Other Books With Similar Themes: Refugees: The Day the War Came by Nicola Davies, The Journey by Francesca Sanna, Passage to Freedom by Ken Mochizuki, The Arrival Shaun Tan, Oranges in No Man’s Land by Elizabeth Laird, My Name is not Refugee by Kate Milner, Refugee Boy by Benjamin Zephaniah, Give Me Shelter: An Asylum, Seeker Anthology by Tony Bradman
Non-fiction: Who are Refugees and Migrants? What Makes People Leave their Homes? And Other Big Questions by Michael Rosen,
Refugees and Migrants (Children in Our World) by Ceri Roberts, Stormy Seas by Mary Beth Leatherdale
Spring Term
On the Origin of the Species by Sabina Radeva & Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau & Jeremie Royer
On the Origin of Species is a gateway into a world of scientific wonder providing an enlightening commentary alongside ingeniously simplified explanations of Darwin’s theories and choice quotes from the great man himself. It is awash with stunning illustrations, which perfectly complement the concise text. Dinosaurs roam, monkeys swing, big cats prowl and exotic birds swoop, through an intricately rendered natural landscape which brings scientific fact to exhilarating artistic life. Ideal for readers fascinated by the world around them it is a gateway into a world of scientific wonder.
Darwin: An Exceptional Voyage – It is the year 1831. A gifted but distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, in a chain of events that will change both his life and the course of modern science… This sweeping, intelligent and immersive graphic novel joins legendary scientist Charles Darwin as he embarks on the voyage that began his career, joining him in a journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution
Our writing outcomes will be a Discovery Narrative and Explanation with wider writing opportunities of Newspaper Article, Postcards, Journal and Information Text
Grammar Word – understand how words are related by meaning as synonyms and antonyms
The difference between vocabulary of informal speech and vocabulary appropriate to formal speech and writing
Grammar Sentence – the difference between structures typical of informal speech and structures appropriate to formal
Grammar Text – linking ideas within and across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices
Use headings and sub-headings to structure information
Grammar Punctuation – use dashes, brackets and semi-colons to punctuate sentences precisely to enhance meaning
Use range of punctuation taught at KS2 (Speech punctuation)
Terminology for Pupils – active, passive, synonym, antonym, colon
Other Fiction Books by the Same Author: On the Wings of the World by Fabien Grolleau,
Other Fiction Books About Darwin / Evolution: The Great Sea Dragon Discovery by Pippa Goodheart, Stone Girl Bone Girl: The Story of
Mary Anning of Lyme Regis by Laurence Anholt
Non-fiction: Our Family Tree – An Evolution Story by Lisa Westberg Peters, Amazing Evolution – The Journey of Life by Anna Claybourne
All About Evolution by Robert Winston, The Tree of Life by Peter Sis, Moth – An Evolution Story by Isabel Thomas
The Ways of the Wolf by Smriti Prasadam Halls & The Wolves in the Wall by Neil Gaiman
The Ways of the Wolf pays tribute to a misunderstood animal: the wolf. Is a wolf ‘Sensitive or savage? Beautiful or bloodthirsty? You decide…’
To help understand the wolf better, the book delves into folklore and other fascinating facts. Did you know that the male and female pair for life? That a wolf, on average, travels for ten hours a day?
This book provides a wealth of detail that will make for a good family discussion: is the wolf friend or foe? The conservation theme within the book is that the wolf is just looking to survive, like other animals – and just like us.
The Wolves in the Wall When Lucy hears noises from behind the wall she tries to warn her parents that there are wolves banging about. But her parents don’t listen. When the wolves finally take over the house and Lucy and her family are evicted to live in the garden, her parents realise perhaps they should have listened. But Lucy is no shrinking violet and pretty soon she has the wolves out and the family back in the house. So what was that noise Lucy heard coming from behind the wall?
Our writing outcomes will be First Person Description, Suspense Narrative, Balanced Argument and Information Text
Grammar Word – understand how words are related by meaning as synonyms and antonyms
The difference between vocabulary of informal speech and vocabulary appropriate to formal speech and writing – technical vocabulary and precise use of nouns, verbs and adjectives to add to formal tone
Grammar Sentence – use of the passive to affect the presentation of information in a sentence
The use of question tags in informal speech
Grammar Text – linking ideas within and across paragraphs, using a wider range of cohesive devices eg. the use of conjunctions, adverbials, pronouns and synonyms
Use of headings, sub-headings and bullets to structure texts
Grammar Punctuation – colon to introduce a list and semi-colons for more elaborate lists
Use commas to punctuate relative clauses
Speech punctuation
Use the semi-colon as the boundary between independent clauses
Punctuation of bullet points
Hyphens used to avoid ambiguity
Other Relevant Books by the Same Author: Neil Gaiman: Coraline, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish, Smirti Prasadan-Halls: The World of the Whale
Other Non-fiction Animal Books: Wild Animals of the North by Dieter Braun, Exploring the World of Wolves by Tracy C Read, The Hidden Life of Wolves by Jim Dutcher, Mission: Wolf Rescue: All About Wolves and How to Save Them (Mission: Animal Rescue) National Geographic Kids,
Fiction: Wolf Brother by Michelle Paver, She Wolf by Dan Smith, Wolf Rider by Katherine Rundell, The Last Wolf by Michael Morpurgo
The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken
Summer Term
Shackleton’s Journey by William Grill
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his brave crew set out to cross the frozen wastes of Antarctica, in what was to be the last expedition of the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Ahead of them lay unimaginable danger – ferocious seas, uncharted mountains, ice and snow. This is the true story of how Shackleton and his companions endured the hardships they faced, and ultimately managed to survive their perilous adventure.
Our writing outcomes will be an Endurance Narrative and Magazine Article with wider writing opportunities of a Newspaper Report, Balanced Argument, Letters and Diaries
Grammar Word – understand how words are related by meaning as synonyms and antonyms
The difference between vocabulary of informal speech and vocabulary appropriate to formal speech and writing – formal tone
Grammar Sentence – use of the passive to affect the presentation of information in a sentence
Grammar Text – linking ideas within and across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices – adverbials
Use headings and sub-headings to structure text
Grammar Punctuation – use commas to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity: used as a break in a sentence, after a fronted adverbial, separate items in a list and parenthesis
Using semi-colons as boundaries between independent clauses
Other Books with Similar Themes: Endurance / Expeditions: The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint by Peter Sis
Dare the Wind: The Record-Breaking Voyage of Eleanor Prentiss and The Flying Cloud by Tracey Fern, Survivors by David Long, The Lost Book of Adventure: from the notebooks of the Unknown Adventurer, Great Adventurers by Alastair Humphreys, How to be an Explorer by Dugald Steer
Fiction with Similar Themes: The Explorer by Katherine Rundell, Sky Song by Abi Elphinstone, Brightstorm: A Sky-Ship Adventure by Vashti Hardy, The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club by Alex Bell
Magazine Subscriptions: Eco Kids Planet Wildlife, National Geographic Kids All About History, First News All About Space, The Week Junior Science and Nature
Hansel & Gretel by Neil Gaiman
The enduring story of the children, the breadcrumb trail and the gingerbread house is brought to life by master storyteller, Neil Gaiman. Who better to retell the Brothers Grimm’s greatest, and perhaps darkest, fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel? Coupled with breathtakingly haunting illustrations from Lorenzo Mattotti, you will be enticed into the world and into the woods . . . so beware.
Our writing outcomes will be a Dual Narrative and Persuasive Letters with wider writing opportunities of a Newspaper Report, Magazine Article and Narrative.
Grammar Word – understand how words are related by meaning as synonyms and antonyms
The difference between vocabulary of informal speech and vocabulary appropriate to formal speech and writing – formal tone
Grammar Sentence – the difference between structures typical of informal speech and structures appropriate to formal speech in writing –the use of the subjunctive form in some very formal speech and writing Wish – if I were…
Grammar Text – linking ideas within and across paragraphs using a wider range of cohesive devices – pronouns
Grammar Punctuation – use the semi-colon as the boundary between independent clauses
Hyphens are used to clarify meaning and avoid ambiguity
Other Relevant Books by the Same Author: The Sleeper and the Spindle, The Wolves in the Walls, The Graveyard Book
Other Dual Narratives: Wonder by R. J. Palacio, In Darkling Wood by Emma Carroll, Frost Hollow Hall by Emma Carroll, Jaws by Peter Benchley
Other Books with Alternative Fairy Tales: Beauty and the Beast: As Old as Time. A Twisted Tale by Yuval Zoomer, Mulan: Reflection. A twisted Tale by Elizabeth Lim, Sleeping Beauty: Once Upon a Time. A Twisted Tale by Liz Braswell, Aladdin: A Whole New World. A twisted Tale byLiz Braswell