KS: Upper KS2
Year Group: Year 6
Literary Theme: Fate vs. Free Will
Author(s): Sally Gardner
This is a three-session spelling seed for the book The Wind in the Wall by Sally Gardner. 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.
accommodate, opportunity, privilege, ancient, community, cemetery, appreciate, correspondence, attached
Words with the /i:/ sound spelt ei after c
Adding suffixes beginning with vowel letters to words ending in –fer
A Writing Root is available for The Wind in the Wall.
Horror film poster, figurative writing, character/setting descriptions, old English letter, dialogue
Extended Gothic narrative
15 session, 3 weeks
This is a three-week Writing Root for The Wind in the Wall in which children will build toward writing an extended spooky narrative within the Gothic horror tradition. Children will learn about some of the famous titles in this genre and explore their features. They will then practise these features in turn, writing setting/character descriptions, letters and dialogue using a wide range of skills. Children will use the bare-bones shape of this story to create their own gothic horror story.
Set in the hot houses of a stately home in eighteenth century England, a gardener falls from grace when the Duke sets him the impossible task of growing prize pineapples fit to show off in high society. The gardener's star falls further when he is replaced by Mr Amicus, a pineapple 'specialist', whom he believes to be a charlatan and a trickster - but nevertheless miraculously produces fruit to delight the Duke. Determined to uncover Mr Amicus's tricks, the gardener sneaks into the pineapple house to uncover the mysterious shrouded birdcage Mr Amicus carries with him. And what he finds changes his life for ever . . . A cautionary tale with echoes of myth and fairy tale, this bewitching fable will make you careful what you wish for.
This is an enchanting picture book for older readers which will grip children with its mysterious happenings and gothic, other-worldly feel. With its foundations its mythical folklore and traditional tales, the story is told in lyrical prose which will captivate children with its rich language and provide a basis for their own writing. Stunning illustrations in a muted colour palette contribute to the ethereal atmosphere and children will gain confidence in making inferences from images to enhance their understanding of the text.
Gothic, horror, cautionary tales, mystery, temptation, freedom
Date written: August 2021
View The Wind in the Wall Writing Root
KS: Upper KS2
Year Group: Year 6
