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English
Year 6

'Beowulf': reading

7 lessons

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  • Fiction reading spine
  • Traditional tales

Description

In this unit, pupils read and explore a translation and adaptation of the Old English epic poem 'Beowulf', written by Kevin Crossley-Holland. They explore the language and the context of the poem and then explore and discuss the chapters sequentially, gaining strong comprehension.

This unit uses and builds on the prior unit, 'Blackberry Blue', where pupils read and discussed the features of a traditional tale. In 'Beowulf', pupils develop their understanding of traditional tales by discussing and reading a complex, classic tale. Pupils learn about the historical context of the epic poem and explore some of the archaic language used in each chapter. This unit prepares pupils for the future unit, 'Beowulf Narrative Writing', where they will use the book as a stimulus for writing.

  1. Beowulf begins his quest
  2. Beowulf among the Danes
  3. Characterisation of Beowulf and Grendel
  4. Beowulf faces a new foe
  5. Beowulf completes his Danish mission
  6. Beowulf and the dragon
  7. Beowulf's burial

  • Ability to decode text fluently at an age-appropriate level.
  • Know how to retrieve information from a text.
  • Know how to infer meaning from a text.
  • Know that authors make word and phrase choices.
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Use this KS1 and KS2 English curriculum plan to explore our sequences developed by leading subject e...

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