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Respect Resilience Responsibility

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In the Summer term, children focus on the following texts in their English lessons:

Year 3

Emmanuel's Dream by Laurie Ann Thompson

This book tells the inspiring true story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah, who cycled an incredible four hundred miles across Ghana – with only one strong leg – to spread his powerful message: disability does not mean inability.

The bold collage illustrations with their stylish, expressive figures tell his inspirational story in an engaging and accessible way. Filled with layers of rich, warm colour on pale, thickly painted backgrounds, Qualls’s illustrations and Thompson’s engaging narrative offer a powerful celebration of triumph over adversity.

Children will also be reading examples of persuasive writing and creating persuasive letters in the character of Emmanuel.

 

Year 4

Varmints by Helen Ward and Mark Craste

The Lost Words by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris

The Wild Way Home by Sophie Kirtley

Varmints is a book that explores topics about the environment and conservation. With dramatically lit artwork and a spare, intriguing text, Varmints tells of a pastoral world in need of protection and of the souls who love it enough to ensure its regeneration.

The Lost Words is a very special illustrated collection of spell-poems to re-wild the language of children. All over the country, there are words disappearing from children's lives. These are the words of the natural world - Dandelion, Otter, Bramble and Acorn, all gone. The rich landscape of wild imagination and wild play is rapidly fading from our children's minds.

The Wild Way Home is a story about a wild, big-hearted adventure. This multi-layered time-slip adventure is both thrilling and moving. In the midst of life-threatening danger from wild beasts and environmental hazards, Charlie unexpectedly learns about his fears, his courage, his compassion and the importance of family and love. A perfect story to show how, when bad things happen, it’s OK to be scared but that most storms can be weathered with support from those who care about you.

 

Year 5

The Nowhere Emporium by Ross Mackenzie

Orphaned as a toddler and growing up in a children's home, Daniel is constantly picked on by Spud Harper and his gang of bullies. However, his life changes forever when he stumbles upon The Nowhere Emporium, which has mysteriously arrived in Glasgow.

Its owner and creator, Lucien Silver, quickly spots something special about Daniel. He invites him to come and work at the Emporium, which can inexplicably travel anywhere in the world and at any time. It doesn't take long for Silver to realise the true extent of Daniel's talent - and so begins an exciting adventure to save the Emporium from his lifelong arch-nemesis, Vindictus Sharpe.

A dazzling and quirky tale, full of imagination and wonder. 

 

Year 6

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

Short by Kevin Crossley-Holland

The 500-word book by our 2022 short listed children from the Oak Academy Trust


The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas links with Year 6's history learning about WW2. There will be themes of a sensitive nature covered in the book as well as the Holocaust.
Parents may wish to speak to their children more about this, prior to reading the book.