Stories from a range of cultures/Predictable patterned language
(4 weeks or 2 x 2 weeks)

This is the second of a block of four narrative units in Year 1. It builds on children's experience and knowledge from Early Years Foundation Stage and Year 1 narrative unit 1. The unit can be linked to many other curriculum areas such as geography or music. It can be taught in two sequences each lasting two weeks, as illustrated below, or as a single 4-week unit. The teaching sequence is repeated but the texts read and the writing outcomes are different.

Phase 1

Read stories with predictable and patterned language, including stories from other cultures. Talk about the effect of patterns of language and repeated words and phrases. Children join in with and recite parts of stories.

Phase 2

Use language play to explore, adapt and invent sentences or lines based on patterns in familiar stories. Demonstrate and then children write new sentences using similar patterns to those read.

Phase 3

Demonstrate how to discuss a book, identifying what is familiar and unfamiliar and looking for patterns in the text. Children work as part of a group to discuss a book and then report back to the class.

Phase 4

Demonstrate how to write a new story based on a familiar patterned text. Explore story ideas using drama. Begin writing, modelling the process of rehearsing orally and cumulatively rereading. Children write their own sentences for the middle of the story, incorporating ideas from reading. Demonstrate how to complete the new story.

Overview

• Read selection of stories during the unit with predictable and patterned language. Include examples from or about different cultures. Read aloud and discuss what makes a particular story distinctive. Look for patterns, for example repetition, rhythm, rhyme, and talk about the effect they have. Demonstrate how to use these features to support reading.
• Children listen several times, join in and then recite parts of the text. Extemporise on patterns orally and encourage children to make up their own. Demonstrate how to write new lines or a new part of a particular story. Reinforce the application of spelling strategies and correct sentence punctuation. Children write own lines or sentences using a pattern from the story.
• Identify the character, setting and main events in a story. Talk about what is familiar and unfamiliar, for example settings and characters from another country. Demonstrate how to find evidence in the story and pictures to give specific information.
• Use a familiar patterned story as a model for writing. Demonstrate how to plan and begin writing. Use drama to explore alternative ways to complete the story. Children write their own ideas for the middle of the story independently, for example a repeated refrain or a catchphrase for a particular character. Select ideas for the middle and write the ending. Compile a class book to read or recite together.

1998 Framework objectives covered:

Year 1, Term 1: T6 recite stories... extemporising on patterns orally; T10 use... patterned stories as models for own writing.

Year 1, Term 2: T13 substitute and extend patterns from reading through language play....