You Will Need
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
-
English Blocks or English Plans?
Which to use: Hamilton’s new flexible English blocks or our adaptable weekly plans?
-
Free English Resources on Hamilton
Find out which Hamilton English planning resources you can access for free.
-
Hamilton Group Readers
Hamilton have produced books in printed and digital formats specially for children to read in small groups.
Fiction
English Year 1 Summer Stories on a Theme
Superheroes
Superheroes All Sorts, Super Daisy, Superhero ABC will inspire your class to read and write! Study antonyms and punctuation while producing comic strips based on invented superheroes.
We recommend that you start with the core unit, the heart of this English block of study. This introduces key textual material and sets the tone for any further units you wish to teach. These can be selected on the basis of the needs of your class – look at the green icons to identify the unit’s particular focus: SPAG, Composition or Comprehension. Whichever units you choose, we suggest teaching them in order, as there is a built-in progression indicated by the numbering.
‘UNIT PLAN’ gives you a text version of all parts of the unit to use in your school planning documentation. ‘DOWNLOAD ALL FILES’ gives you that unit plan plus all of the associated documents.
Unit 1 Core Unit 1 – Read, recognise and enjoy a text about superheroes
(suggested as 4 days)
Objectives
Spoken Language
-- Maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations.
-- Participate in discussions.
-- Use spoken language to develop understanding.
-- Use relevant strategies to build their vocabulary.
-- Give well-structured descriptions.
-- Use spoken language to explore ideas.
Word Reading
-- Read accurately by blending sounds in unfamiliar words.
-- Read aloud books that are consistent with their phonic knowledge.
-- Apply phonic knowledge.
Comprehension
-- Discuss word meanings.
-- Understand books by checking the text makes sense as they read and correct inaccurate reading.
-- Explain clearly their understanding of what is read.
-- Explain clearly their understanding of what is read.
Transcription
-- Sit correctly at a table, holding a pencil correctly.
-- Form lowercase letters in the correct direction.
-- Form capital letters.
Composition
-- Say out loud what they are going to write about.
-- Compose a sentence orally before writing it.
-- Read aloud their writing.
-- Write sentences by sequencing sentences to form short narratives.
-- Re-read what they have written to check it makes sense.
Grammar
-- Begin to punctuate sentences.
-- Use a capital letter for names of people.
Teaching and Activities
Day 1 Teaching
Introduce Superheroes- All sorts (see resource). Describe any superheroes and toys they have bought in and discuss what makes these superheroes different from ‘ordinary’ people.
Activity
Children discuss and then draw a favourite superhero. They write the name and a short caption to describe what sort of a superhero they are. Some children write the name and orally say the caption for an adult to scribe.
Day 2 Teaching
Re-read Superheroes- All sorts (see resource). Discuss reading strategies using the decoding and word attack strategies to support them (see resource).
Activity
Organise children into groups to read and answer questions. Harder: read Superheroes-All Sorts with set 1 questions (see resource). Most: read the shortened version (see resource) with set 3 questions (see resource). Easier: read the shortened version (see resource) with set 2 of questions (see resource).
Day 3 Teaching
Children each think of a new superhero and discuss with partner. Look at pre-prepared sentences and non-sentences on the flipchart and correct missing punctuation. Dictate a sentence and children use correct punctuation.
Activity
Children think of their own superheroes. They draw a picture, name him/her and write a short description about their special abilities.
Day 4 Teaching
Children create a new page for a book. Model how this will be done. Explore capital letters by showing a lower case letter and children writing the capital.
Activity
They cut out the superhero drawing from day 3 and stick it on a new page. They then write up the name and description in neat using capital letters and full stops.
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
A quite superb book which points out that there are many types of superhero – human and otherwise! All children (and adults) will love the illustrations which can make us laugh out loud. This text is perfect for beginning readers.
You can purchase printed copies of this Group Reader from Hamilton Education.
Unit 2 SPAG: Spelling of plurals and words ending –ed and -ing
(suggested as 4 days)
Objectives
Spoken Language
None for this unit
Word Reading
None for this unit
Comprehension
None for this unit
Transcription
-- Learn regular plural noun suffixes –s or –es [for example, dog, dogs; wish, wishes], including the effects of these suffixes on the meaning of the noun.
-- Spell using Suffixes ing and ed, that can be added to verbs where no change is needed in the spelling of root words (e.g. helping, helped, helper).
-- Apply the simple spelling rules and guidance listed in Appendix 2.
Grammar
-- Join words and join clauses using and.
-- Begin to punctuate sentences using a capital letter and a full stop.
Composition
-- Say out loud what they are going to write.
-- Compose a sentence orally before writing it.
-- Discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils.
You Will Need
Texts
Class book from Unit 1
Websites
DC Super Friends Episode 13, League Vs. Legion from www.YouTube.com
DC Super Hero Girls , Season 3 from www.YouTube.com
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
Teaching and Activities
Day 1 Teaching
Show the superhero clip DC Super Friends Episode 13, League Vs. Legion or DC Super Hero Girls Season 3 on www.YouTube.com. Write superhero and discuss plurals. Write superheroes and discuss the simple rules we can follow.
Activity
Children play the plural game and match the base word with –s or –es. Some children play the game then write sentences containing some of their words.
Day 2 Teaching
Share the class book from Unit 1 or Superheroes All Sorts (see resource). Discuss superpowers with –ing endings e.g. freezing people, flying etc. Discuss rules for adding –ing, with examples.
Activity
Pairs have pictures of superheroes. They think of –ing words to match, then write these, e.g. climbing skyscrapers. Some children only write one –ing word per picture. Some children discuss what happens if the word ends –e, e.g. slide, where we lose the ‘e’ to get sliding.
Day 3 Teaching
Show more of day 1 clip. Write a statement about a superhero and point out –ed ending. Discuss spelling rules for –ed endings with examples.
Activity
Children write two sentences about superheroes, using the past tense and some given regular verbs (see resource). Some children also draw on irregular verbs to write past tense sentences.
Day 4 Teaching
This day consolidates the learning and makes sure that the spelling rules are familiar and beginning to become embedded in children’s spelling strategies. Revise rules for –ed endings, -ing endings and plurals.
Activity
Set up three tables with resources and instructions (see resources). Children move round each activity, writing the words they have changed using correct spelling (see resource). Some children write sentences.
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
A quite superb book which points out that there are many types of superhero – human and otherwise! All children (and adults) will love the illustrations which can make us laugh out loud. This text is perfect for beginning readers.
You can purchase printed copies of this Group Reader from Hamilton Education.
Unit 3 Composition: Recognising and writing antonyms and comparisons
(suggested as 3 days)
Objectives
Spoken Language
None for this unit
Word Reading
-- Apply phonic knowledge to decode words.
-- Read aloud accurately books consistent with their phonic knowledge.
-- Read common exception words.
-- Read by blending sounds.
Comprehension
-- Understand by checking the text makes sense as they read.
-- Make inferences.
-- Participate in discussion about what is read to them.
-- Discuss word meanings, linking to those they already know.
Composition
-- Say out loud what they are going to write about.
-- Compose a sentence orally before writing it.
-- Re-read what they have written to check it makes sense.
-- Read aloud their writing.
Transcription
-- Spell words containing each of the 40+ phonemes taught.
-- Spell using prefixes and suffixes.
-- Sit at a table, holding a pencil correctly.
-- Form lower-case letters correctly and legibly.
Grammar
None for this unit
You Will Need
Texts
Super Daisy by Kes Gray and Nick Sharrett
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
Teaching and Activities
Day 1 Teaching
Read Super Daisy and look at the pages with comparisons, e.g. Super Daisy is stronger than a lunar elephant. Discuss that opposite of strong is weak and make up a sentence E.g. Super Daisy is as weak as a new born baby. Identify some pairs of opposites (antonyms) with children.
Activity
Children read the illustrated sentences (see resources) and then answer comprehension questions about them (see resources). Some children read these sentences as part of a group and have a discussion.
Day 2 Teaching
Re-read Super Daisy and look at ‘as fast as… as strong as…’ sentences. Look at Superheroes All Sorts (see resources) and write comparisons about the superheroes e.g. Nana superhero is as nice as chocolate cake, etc.
Activity
Children make up superheroes and write comparative sentences about them, e.g. Bendy superhero is as bendy as a snake. They can use the Helpful words sheet (see resources) to help them. Some children are challenged to write comparative sentences containing synonyms.
Day 3 Teaching
Re-read Super Daisy and Superheroes All Sorts (see resources). Make a list of superheroes who may be regarded as opposite, e.g. long/short, flat, bumpy, speedy and sluggish, etc.
Activity
Children work in pairs to invent superhero opposites. They can use the Opposite Superhero illustrations (see resources) and Superhero Words (see resources) to help them. They orally compose the sentence then write comparisons for their pairs of superheroes. Some children work as a group to do this and write one comparative sentence.
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
A quite superb book which points out that there are many types of superhero – human and otherwise! All children (and adults) will love the illustrations which can make us laugh out loud. This text is perfect for beginning readers.
You can purchase printed copies of this Group Reader from Hamilton Education.
Unit 4 SPAG: Alphabet and initial sounds; using capitals for proper names
(suggested as 3 days)
Objectives
Spoken Language
-- Maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations.
-- Use spoken language to develop understanding.
Word Reading
None for this unit
Comprehension
None for this unit
Transcription
-- Name the letters of the alphabet in order.
-- Use letter names to distinguish between alternative spellings of the same sound.
-- Form lowercase letters correctly.
-- Form capital letters.
Composition
-- Say out loud what they are going to write about.
-- Discuss what they have written with teacher or friends.
-- Read aloud their writing.
-- Re-read what they have written to check it makes sense.
Grammar
-- Begin to punctuate using a capital letter.
-- Use capital letter for names of people.
You Will Need
Texts
Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod
Teaching and Activities
Day 1 Teaching
Read Superhero ABC by Bob McLeod, focussing on the pages A,B,C,D,P and W. Rehearse singing or chanting the alphabet, then discuss the way the author has used names and words with the same initial sounds and letters.
Activity
Children complete a carousel activity. Put four copies of each of the pages G,H,O,R,S and V on six different tables e.g. table 1 has four copies of G etc. Children visit each table and write words beginning with the same letter on post-it notes.
Day 2 Teaching
Revisit Superhero ABC and then write two children’s names on the board without capital letters. See if children spot the mistake. Remind children that even superheroes need capital letters.
Activity
Children choose a consonant letter and pick the matching Superhero Planning sheet (see resources). They think of a name for their superhero and some words to describe them beginning with the same letter. Some children are given the letters T, S or N and some suggested adjectives to make it easier.
Day 3 Teaching
Revisit the Superhero ABC book and look at the ‘W’ page. Discuss the features of the page and help children to think about the layout for their own pages.
Activity
Children create their own superhero ABC pages. They draw the superhero, add the name using capital letters and then write words and phrases to describe that superhero using the same initial sounds. Some children write longer phrases and sentences.
Unit 5 Composition: Write dialogue and produce a comic strip about a superhero
(suggested as 5 days)
Objectives
Spoken Language
-- Listen and respond appropriately to adults and peers.
-- Use spoken language to develop understanding through imagining and exploring ideas.
-- Participate in discussions and performances.
-- Ask relevant questions to extend understanding.
-- Articulate and justify answers.
-- Speak audibly and fluently.
Word Reading
None for this unit
Comprehension
None for this unit
Transcription
-- Spell using –ing.
-- Apply simple spelling rules and guidance.
Composition
-- Say out loud what they are going to write about.
-- Compose a sentence orally before writing it.
-- Sequence sentences to form short narratives.
-- Re-read what they have written to check that it makes sense.
-- Discuss what they have written with the teacher or other pupils.
Grammar
-- Learn to punctuate sentences using capital letter and a full stop, exclamation mark or question mark.
-- Leave spaces between words.
You Will Need
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
Teaching and Activities
Day 1 Teaching
Display examples of Superheroes and discuss powers they might have. Children think of possibilities for their own superhero and use –ing words to describe these, e.g. saving children in danger. They also consider who the baddy might be whom their superhero will need to oppose.
Activity
Children work with a partner to invent a new superhero. They write –ing words to describe their special powers. Some children write full sentences, e.g. Sonic Girl loves flying through clouds.
Day 2 Teaching
Give children ‘thinking time’ and ask them questions about their superhero’s history, e.g. How/when did they discover their powers? Were they happy/scared? They then imagine a ‘baddy’ character and his/her characteristics. Model how to fill out the Superhero ID Form (see resources).
Activity
Children discuss the information to go on the Superhero ID Form (see resources) with a partner. They then fill out the form individually. Some children work in a group with an adult to do this.
Day 3 Teaching
Children think more about the ‘baddy’’ character. Role-play a conversation between a superhero and a baddy using either a confident child or another adult. Model how this dialogue can be recorded in Speech Bubble Dialogue (see resources).
Activity
Children work in pairs to create oral dialogue between their superhero and their baddy. They swap roles to include all their characters. Some children go on to record this dialogue on the Speech Bubble Dialogue sheet (see resources).
Day 4 Teaching
Discuss comic book strips and their features. Model writing a comic book by writing some dialogue in speech bubbles on the enlarged Comic Strip sheet (see resources) and include extra captions below the pictures. Discuss punctuation.
Activity
Children begin writing their comic book strips on enlarged copies of the Comic Strip sheet (see resources). Some children only have 3 frames to complete (Just pictures today).
Day 5 Teaching
Model the editing process to children by using two examples from the class. Discuss how speech bubbles can be added to their comic strips. Recap the use of punctuation. Encourage children to re-read their writing to check that it makes sense.
Activity
Children re-read and edit their comic strips so far, before continuing until finished. Then they present all their work on Superheroes to an audience of peers and parents.
Group Readers
Superheroes All Sorts
A quite superb book which points out that there are many types of superhero – human and otherwise! All children (and adults) will love the illustrations which can make us laugh out loud. This text is perfect for beginning readers.
You can purchase printed copies of this Group Reader from Hamilton Education.