KS: Upper KS2
Year Group: Year 6
Literary Theme: Journeys & Migration
Author(s): Jon Richards
This is a three-session Spelling Seed for the book Rain Player by David Wisniewski. Below is the coverage from Appendix 1 of the National Curriculum 2014.
Spelling Seeds have been designed to complement Writing Roots by providing weekly, contextualised sequences of sessions for the teaching of spelling that include open-ended investigations and opportunities to practise and apply within meaningful and purposeful contexts, linked (where relevant) to other areas of the curriculum and a suggestion of how to extend the investigation into home learning.
There is a Spelling Seed session for every week of the associated Writing Root.
according, ancient, average, dictionary, recognise, symbol
Homophones and other words that are often confused
Words with ‘silent’ letters (i.e. letters whose presence cannot be predicted from the pronunciation of the word)
A Writing Root is available for Rain Player.
Instructions, poster, missing scene, diary, newspaper, debate
Analytical essay about The Maya
15 sessions, 3 weeks
This is a three-week Writing Root using the fictional narrative The Rain Player as well as making reference to the non-fiction information within History in Infographics: The Maya. The sequence of learning begins with a ball arriving in the classroom with a warning asking children if they dare to play the most dangerous game of all time! Children go on to use this information they have learned to write instructions for pok-a-tok, posters, a missing scene, newspaper reports, conduct debates and write analytical essays.
The ancient Mayan belief that the future was divinely decreed and could not be changed is the basis for this original tale of a boy who must defeat the Rain God in a ball game to save his people from disaster. Mayan art and architecture were the inspiration for the spectacular cut-paper artwork.
This beautiful picture book makes direct links with the history of the Mayan civilisation as the story cleverly weaves aspects of the ancient customs and beliefs through the narrative. Children will learn about Mayan culture as it was then and the ways in which we still see influences around us today. Themes such as loyalty and bravery are also explored and colourful cut-paper artwork will engage children throughout.
Maya, the Mayans, chocolate, Pok-a-Tok, Fair Trade, Aztecs, Incas, South America, civilisations, gods, bravery, loyalty
Date written: January 2019
View Rain Player Writing Root
KS: Lower KS2, R & KS1, Upper KS2
Year Group: Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6
