Possible activities for classroom use

It is essential that before the children begin the ‘Ready Bears’ unit of work, they have the opportunity to explore and ‘talk’ the explanation text type. The ‘How to use a mobile phone’ explanation could be used as a preparatory activity to engage the children with the purpose of this writing, and familiarising themselves with the action connectives which are crucial to the success of their writing. Once the children can imitate this piece with you, doing the actions, then they are ready to begin this unit of work.

Session Possible activities

1 • Read the first letter from Fred Ready, explaining the soggy teddy problem.

• Shared writing: Children to write a reply to Fred Ready – yes, we are able to help.

• Decide as a class to form our own company in order to carry out the investigation for Fred. Agree the name of the company with the class, decide on a company logo, and prepare individual name badges to be worn whenever completing Ready Bears work, e.g. Bother Busters – no problem too big, no problem too small.

N.B. A class telephone would be an excellent prop for this unit, as it would greatly assist role-play activities… children should always answer the phone with their name and the company slogan. Why not turn your writing area into ‘Bother Busters HQ’? Include a notice board on which to pin letters and signs.

2 • Share letter number two from Fred Ready, showing materials to test.

• Word-level activity: Match material names to samples.

• Class discussion: Which material do you think will be the most suitable? Provide post-its for children to record their predictions, and collect as a whole class ‘pictogram’.

3 • Recall Fred’s problem from yesterday.

• Talk for writing: “You know what we were thinking about yesterday? Well, I want you to help me today so that we can tell Freddy which material will be best for keeping the bears dry.”

• Show children samples and ask them to remember the name of each. Draw out a question to stimulate discussion between talking partners, e.g. What do you expect to happen? How will you make sure you don’t get your books wet? What do you need to do to make sure you are safe? How will you know if it is waterproof?

• Children to carry out investigation (see science lesson plan enclosed).

4 • Discuss test results, and remind children that we now need to write a letter to Fred Ready, explaining how we got our results.

• Using photographs from yesterday’s lesson, children to help you to sequence the events of the experiment: First we talked about what might happen. Then we put two drops of water on each sample, before we checked whether any water had soaked through. Finally we wrote down our results.

N.B. Children could receive a ‘phone call’ from Fred, asking them how they got on. This is an ideal opportunity for them to ‘talk’ the text type – the teacher could easily prompt the children with openers.

5 • Children to write letter of reply to Fred (using differentiated writing frames) explaining what they did and their findings: Because we wanted to find out which material was waterproof, we tested each of them. First we talked about what might happen. I thought that the (rubber) would be the most waterproof. Did you know that (Wellington boots are made from rubber)? So we put two drops of water on each sample, before checking whether any of the water had soaked through the material. Then we wrote down our results. We found out that the rubber was the most waterproof, and would be the best material for you to make the bears’ new coat from.

6 • Children to receive letter number three from Fred, asking the children to design a teddy bear coat which will include his special features.

• Children to design and label a cosy, comfortable coat, using Fred’s checklist.

7 • Children to write a reply to Fred’s letter, enclosing their designs.

• Teacher to model using a received letter to write a reply.

8 • Children to receive letter number four from Fred, asking children to design a poster for the unveiling of the chosen coat at Bearrods (secretly chosen by teacher).

• Children to design a poster, again following Fred’s checklist (price, description, special features).

N.B. Children could give their coat a special name, e.g. Ballerina Bear Coat.

9 • Children to independently write a letter to Fred to accompany their posters.

• Remind children of the writing you did together in session 7.

10 • Children to receive final letter from Fred, thanking them for all of their hard work (the ‘little something’ is up to you!). Children to enjoy class treat, and write a shared thank you letter (or card) to Fred.

Lewisham Primary Strategy Team 2007

Letter 1

Ready Bears

1 Marmalade Lane

Bearton-on-Sea

Dear Children,

My name is Fred Ready, and I am the manager of

‘Ready Bears’. We make lots of clothes for all shapes and

sizes of teddy. Usually our customers like our clothes,

but recently there have been some complaints, and I

wondered if you could help me to find a solution to them.

The problem is that when teddies are going to the woods

to have their picnics, the skies darken and it begins to

rain! As you can imagine that means a lot of cross, soggy

teddies, because none of the clothes we make at the

moment seem to keep the bears dry.

We need to find the best material to make a teddy

waterproof coat from. Do you think that you could help?

Look forward to hearing from you,

Fred Ready.

Manager of Ready Bears

Letter 2

Ready Bears

1 Marmalade Lane

Bearton-on-Sea

Dear Children,

Many thanks for your prompt reply. The

bears are very excited that you are going to

help them to stay dry on their picnics. I have

enclosed five different materials for you to

test: leather, rubber, silk, cotton and wool.

I look forward to hearing the result of your

experiment. If I have time tomorrow I will

telephone your teacher to see how you got on.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Ready.

Manager of Ready Bear

Letter 3

Ready Bears

1 Marmalade Lane

Bearton-on-Sea

Dear Children,

Thank you very much for your excellent findings. The

board of directors was so impressed by your work that

they have requested me to ask you if it would be possible

for you to undertake one more task for the company.

Now that we know which material is best, we need to

design a cosy, comfortable coat. It needs to have:

• something to keep the bear’s ears dry

• somewhere to keep a jar of honey

• a special shape to fit their big round tummies.

I am confident that this will be the best coat the bears

have ever had. Please send as many designs as you can – I

will be waiting by the letterbox!

Yours sincerely,

Fred Ready. Manager of Ready Bears

Letter 4

Ready Bears

1 Marmalade Lane

Bearton-on-Sea

Dear Children,

You certainly did not disappoint! Your designs were superb.

Although we plan to have many designs in the shops soon, the

first coat to be unveiled in our spring show at Bearrods is

enclosed in this envelope.

Now for your final task! The coat will be in the shops by the

beginning of June, and we need to tell as many bears as possible

about it so that they will come and buy it. Can you please make a

poster to advertise the ‘All-weather Deluxe’? You will need to

include the following information: a description, the price, and

special features.

Also (as you may know) bears sometimes prefer to spend their

money on sweeties and honey, so please try to make your advert

so exciting that the bears cannot possibly resist!

Yours sincerely,

Fred Ready.

Manager of Ready Bears

Letter 5

Ready Bears

1 Marmalade Lane

Bearton-on-Sea

Dear Children,

The posters were a great success. The bears

cannot wait for the grand unveiling of the

‘All-weather Deluxe’ and are counting their

pennies eagerly. I have thoroughly enjoyed

working with such a professional, hardworking

team. I do hope we can work together again

in the future. Please find enclosed a ‘little

something’ as a token of my appreciation.

Yours sincerely,

Fred Ready.

Manager of Ready Bears

Explanation

How to use a mobile phone

Because all mobile phones use electricity they

need to be switched on before you can make a

call. First find the on button and press it.

After the phone has come on, the screen will

light up. To make a call you have to press the

numbers. When you have dialled the number

you have to press the picture of the phone.

Next hold the phone to your ear so that you

can hear the caller. When you have finished

the phone must be switched off because it

runs on a battery. Did you know that mobile

phones get their signal from telephone masts

which look like tall poles?