These are Bristol Material designed to be downloaded and used as alternatives to the DfES bridging unit “Transition from Year 6 to Year 7 English”
The lesson plans
- The unit provides a two week plan consisting of ten lessons, based around two novels with a common theme. The novels are: Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo and The Suitcase Kid by Jacqueline Wilson. The unit also provides resource sheets to support the lessons.
- Additional material has been provided to give differentiated support for lower achieving pupils.
- A package of drama activities based around the two texts has been included.
- An alternative section provides plans for two different novels for use in classes which include Year 5 and Year 6 pupils. It still complements the Year 7 transition unit.
- When planning for these units we suggest that teachers read Kensuke’s Kingdom to the pupils before starting the unit and read The Suitcase Kid on a daily basis throughout the unit.
Use of the Reading Journal
- Pupils need to label the Journal with their full name, the name of their primary and secondary school and, where possible, their new tutor group.
- The purpose of the Journal is to provide evidence of each pupil’s competence in reflecting upon their reading and their competence in writing. The pupils should record their work in the Journal. Any activity sheets etc. should be included. Do feel free to add to it any other work linked to reading that you feel may be useful.
- It is suggested that the reading journal is introduced to the pupils (Lesson 1), at the beginning of the reading of Kensuke’s Kingdom. Children might be encouraged to make regular entries in the journal from then onwards. Appendix 1 will support lower achieving pupils. Page 18 of the unit booklet provides additional teacher support for this work.
Do, please, look at the materials being used in Year 7 to see how your Year 6 work is linked to, and develops in, Year 7.