Lesson Planning
Non-fiction
English Year 4/5 Spring Biographies
Mathematicians
Inspire your class with the incredible stories of marvellous mathematicians: Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn, Paul Erdos and Albert Einstein, among others. Study the features of biographies, write persuasively to 'sell' an idea for a biopic and learn how to use adverbials to link ideas across paragraphs.
Start with the core unit to introduce key texts. Then select from comprehension, SPAG and composition units.
Unit 1 Core: Introduction to biographies and memoirs: Hidden Figures
(suggested as 5 days)
SPaG: Grammar and Punctuation
There is no spelling and grammar presentation for this unit.
You Will Need
Essential Text
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Weblinks
Short clip of Apollo 11 landing on the moon
BBC Black History Heroes Katherine Johnson
‘Give or Take’ clip from Hidden Figures
John Glenn orbiting the earth
Unit 2 SPaG: Using adverbials to link ideas across paragraphs
(suggested as 3 days)
Lesson Planning
SPaG: Grammar and Punctuation
You Will Need
Essential Text
The Boy who Loved Math: The Improbable Life of Paul Erdős by Deborah Heiligman, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Non-essential Text
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Weblinks
Information about Paul Erdős and the author Deborah Heiligman
Information about Christine Darden, NASA website
Unit 3 SPaG: Sentence types
(suggested as 2 days)
Lesson Planning
SPaG: Grammar and Punctuation
You Will Need
Essential Text
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne, illustrated by Vladimir Radunsky.
Weblinks
Suggested websites that could be used if children are interested in finding out more about Albert Einstein:
Kids Britannica
Kids National Geographic
Ducksters
Quiz about Albert Einstein
Unit 4 Composition: Planning a biopic and writing a persuasive letter
(suggested as 5 days)
Lesson Planning
SPaG: Grammar and Punctuation
There is no spelling and grammar presentation for this unit.
You Will Need
Essential Text
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly, illustrated by Laura Freeman
Rise Up: Ordinary Kids with Extraordinary Stories by Amanda Li
Optional Text
On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne
Weblinks
Boyan Slat’s website
Trailer for the film The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
Trailer for the film Hidden Figures