NZ Curriculum · Year 6 English · Primary

Year 6 English Lesson Plan & Curriculum Map

A full-year Year 6 English lesson plan for the New Zealand Curriculum (English learning area). 149 lessons across the school year from February to December, set out week by week for 1, 2, 3 or 4 lessons a week, covering narrative texts and vivid vocabulary; publishing a narrative, formality and bias; cohesion, media texts and persuasive writing; and informative texts, poetry and author style.

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Year 6 English learning map

Choose a term, then compare a lighter weekly plan with a more intensive schedule.

1 day/week · steady pace2–3 days/week · guided practice
February · Narrative texts and vivid vocabulary

Year 6 English — February Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · English
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
February 1st week
(English)		Exploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Reading a narrative text by a Māori, Pasifika or diverse New Zealand/world authorExploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Reading a narrative text by a Māori, Pasifika or diverse New Zealand/world author 2. Identifying the historical, social or cultural context the story is set inExploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Reading a narrative text by a Māori, Pasifika or diverse New Zealand/world author 2. Identifying the historical, social or cultural context the story is set in 3. Discussing how that context shapes the setting and eventsExploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Reading a narrative text by a Māori, Pasifika or diverse New Zealand/world author 2. Identifying the historical, social or cultural context the story is set in 3. Discussing how that context shapes the setting and events 4. Practice: noting 3 details in the text that reflect its context
February 2nd week
(English)		Exploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Identifying the historical, social or cultural context the story is set inExploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Discussing how that context shapes the setting and events 2. Practice: noting 3 details in the text that reflect its contextExploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Practice: noting 3 details in the text that reflect its context Responding to Characters & Events 1. Sharing a personal response to a character's actions or a key event 2. Explaining what in the text led to that responseResponding to Characters & Events 1. Sharing a personal response to a character's actions or a key event 2. Explaining what in the text led to that response 3. Discussing how the text's context influences your response 4. Comparing your response to a classmate's
February 3rd week
(English)		Exploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Discussing how that context shapes the setting and eventsResponding to Characters & Events 1. Sharing a personal response to a character's actions or a key event 2. Explaining what in the text led to that responseResponding to Characters & Events 1. Discussing how the text's context influences your response 2. Comparing your response to a classmate's Comparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Identifying similarities between 2 narrative texts on a similar theme or plotComparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Identifying similarities between 2 narrative texts on a similar theme or plot 2. Identifying differences between how each text handles that theme 3. Discussing which version you found more effective and why 4. Practice: creating a simple comparison chart for both texts
February 4th week
(English)		Exploring Narrative Texts & Contexts 1. Practice: noting 3 details in the text that reflect its contextResponding to Characters & Events 1. Discussing how the text's context influences your response 2. Comparing your response to a classmate'sComparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Identifying differences between how each text handles that theme 2. Discussing which version you found more effective and why 3. Practice: creating a simple comparison chart for both textsVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Simile, Metaphor & Personification 1. Identifying simile used to describe a character or setting 2. Identifying metaphor used the same way 3. Identifying personification (giving human qualities to something non-human) 4. Practice: finding one example of each in the class novel
March · Narrative texts and vivid vocabulary

Year 6 English — March Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · English
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
March 1st week
(English)		Responding to Characters & Events 1. Sharing a personal response to a character's actions or a key eventComparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Identifying similarities between 2 narrative texts on a similar theme or plot 2. Identifying differences between how each text handles that themeVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Simile, Metaphor & Personification 1. Identifying simile used to describe a character or setting 2. Identifying metaphor used the same way 3. Identifying personification (giving human qualities to something non-human)Vivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Idiom, Imagery & Hyperbole 1. Identifying idioms used in the text and what they really mean 2. Identifying imagery that helps you picture a scene 3. Identifying hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration) and its effect 4. Practice: writing 3 sentences using a simile, an idiom and hyperbole
March 2nd week
(English)		Responding to Characters & Events 1. Explaining what in the text led to that responseComparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Discussing which version you found more effective and why 2. Practice: creating a simple comparison chart for both textsVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Simile, Metaphor & Personification 1. Practice: finding one example of each in the class novel Vivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Idiom, Imagery & Hyperbole 1. Identifying idioms used in the text and what they really mean 2. Identifying imagery that helps you picture a sceneComprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Using predicting — guessing what will happen next 2. Using visualising — picturing the scene in your mind 3. Using summarising — retelling the main events briefly 4. Using questioning and connecting — asking about anything unclear and linking to your own experience
March 3rd week
(English)		Responding to Characters & Events 1. Discussing how the text's context influences your responseVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Simile, Metaphor & Personification 1. Identifying simile used to describe a character or setting 2. Identifying metaphor used the same wayVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Idiom, Imagery & Hyperbole 1. Identifying hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration) and its effect 2. Practice: writing 3 sentences using a simile, an idiom and hyperbole Comprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Using predicting — guessing what will happen nextPlanning an Original Narrative 1. Choosing a familiar text to adapt — borrowing its plot structure, characters or setting 2. Deciding what to keep from the original and what to change 3. Planning your own characters and setting 4. Sketching a simple story map (beginning, problem, events, resolution)
March 4th week
(English)		Responding to Characters & Events 1. Comparing your response to a classmate'sVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Simile, Metaphor & Personification 1. Identifying personification (giving human qualities to something non-human) 2. Practice: finding one example of each in the class novelComprehension Strategies While Reading 1. Using visualising — picturing the scene in your mind 2. Using summarising — retelling the main events briefly 3. Using questioning and connecting — asking about anything unclear and linking to your own experienceDrafting the Narrative 1. Drafting the orientation (introducing characters and setting) 2. Drafting the complication and events 3. Drafting the resolution 4. Adding at least 2 literary devices from this term (simile, metaphor, personification, idiom, imagery or hyperbole)
April · Narrative texts and vivid vocabulary

Year 6 English — April Lesson Plan

New Zealand Curriculum · English
Week1 Day/Week2 Day/Week3 Day/Week4 Day/Week
April 1st week
(English)		Comparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Identifying similarities between 2 narrative texts on a similar theme or plotVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Idiom, Imagery & Hyperbole 1. Identifying idioms used in the text and what they really mean 2. Identifying imagery that helps you picture a scenePlanning an Original Narrative 1. Choosing a familiar text to adapt — borrowing its plot structure, characters or setting 2. Deciding what to keep from the original and what to change 3. Planning your own characters and settingEditing & Publishing the Narrative 1. Editing for clarity and sentence variety 2. Checking punctuation and spelling 3. Reading the piece aloud to check it flows well 4. Publishing a final version of the narrative
April 2nd week
(English)		Comparing Narratives on Similar Themes 1. Identifying differences between how each text handles that themeVivid & Emotive Vocabulary — Idiom, Imagery & Hyperbole 1. Identifying hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration) and its effect 2. Practice: writing 3 sentences using a simile, an idiom and hyperbolePlanning an Original Narrative 1. Sketching a simple story map (beginning, problem, events, resolution) Drafting the Narrative 1. Drafting the orientation (introducing characters and setting) 2. Drafting the complication and eventsTerm 1 Assessment & Consolidation 1. Revision workshop — context, comparing texts and literary devices 2. Revision workshop — narrative writing techniques 3. Term 1 assessment: narrative writing piece 4. Feedback session
The learning framework

Anatomy of a focused lesson

Each session moves from a clear focus to guided practice and a quick check for understanding.

10 minutes

Warm up

Start with a quick sounds, spelling or vocabulary game that links to the last lesson and gets your child talking.

25 minutes

Read, model and write

Read a short text together, model the skill of the week, then have your child practise it in their own reading or writing.

10 minutes

Share and check

Finish with a read-aloud, retell or short writing check that shows what is secure and what to come back to.

Student learning toolkit

Resources for Year 6 English

Reading lessons

Guided lessons on the texts, genres and language features in each unit.

Writing practice

Planning frames, models and short tasks matched to each week’s focus.

Speaking and listening

Discussion, presentation and oral language activities built up through the year.

Progress notes

A clear record of what your child has mastered and what comes next.

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