Session 1 · AUTHOR: Audience
The 'Did you know?' brief
- 10 minHook: read a boring paragraph and a gripping one on the same topic (kererū). Which would you keep reading? Why?
- 15 minMeet the brief and the readers: families, library visitors, other students. What do they already know? What would make them stop and read?
- 15 minWonder wall: each student writes five things they wonder about the area. Group them into nature, history and numbers.
- 10 minStart a topic shortlist and note one possible expert or source for each.
Session 2 · AUTHOR: Understand
Report, explanation or feature?
- 10 minRead 'Report, explanation or feature?'. Make a three-column chart.
- 20 minText-type sort: in groups, sort six model texts into the three types and highlight the features that gave them away.
- 15 minSkeleton drawing: draw the 'bones' of one model text: title, lead, headings, paragraphs, visuals, conclusion.
- 5 minExit card: which text type suits your topic, and why?
Getting started
Choose a topic from a shortlist of five local ideas prepared by the teacher.
Stretch
Find a text that mixes two types, such as a feature with an explanation box, and explain why the writer mixed them.
Checkpoint
Everyone has a topic idea and can name the features of a report, an explanation and a feature article.
Activities for this week
- Text-type skeletons: How are reports, explanations and feature articles built differently?
Useful this week
- Kiwi Kids News ↗ News articles written for young New Zealand readers, to study as models.
- Kererū – our native pigeon ↗ A clear science article to use as a model and a source.