Recount (fact and fiction)
(2 weeks)

This is the last in a sequence of five non-fiction units for Year 1. It builds on children's knowledge and understanding from unit 3 and on cross-curricular work based on observations of the growth of a seed. The unit has three phases with oral and written outcomes and assessment opportunities for teachers and children at intervals throughout each phase. The outcome for the unit is children creating a stop-frame animation of the life cycle of a seed. Specific guidance for early reading and ongoing teaching of word, sentence and speaking and listening needs to be covered alongside this unit, informed by ongoing assessment for learning.

Phase 1

Read and compare simple recounts. Discuss and contrast recounts with narrative texts. Identify and discuss common features of recounts. Sequence a set of events. Justify opinions based on evidence in the text.

Phase 2

Orally compose a recount, sequencing events using time connectives, based on first-hand experience. Plan how to write this recount using a storyboard.

Phase 3

Model through shared writing, changing oral composition into written composition. Reinforce knowledge of how to write a sentence. Children create group animated recounts of the growth of a seed with written captions recounting events.

Overview

• Describe incidents from own experience in an audible voice using sequencing words and phrases such as 'then', 'after that'; listen to others' recounts and ask relevant questions.
• Read personal recounts and discuss the difference between recounts and stories, fact and fiction. With the children, explore the generic structure of recounts, for example ordered sequence of events, use of words like 'first', 'next', 'after', 'when'.
• Model writing a recount of an activity in which all the children took part, for example a visit of someone from the community or the previous afternoon's fire drill or thunderstorm, giving them opportunities to contribute ideas and form sentences.
• Children write simple personal recounts, independently, using the language of texts read as models for their own writing, maintaining consistency in tense and person.

1998 Framework objectives covered:

Year 1, Term 2: T17 use terms 'fiction' and 'non-fiction'.

Year 1, Term 3: T18 read recounts and begin to recognise generic structure, for example ordered sequence of events, use of words like 'first', 'next', 'after', 'when'; T20 write simple recounts linked to topics of interest/study or to personal experience, using the language of texts read as models for own writing.