Overview

This 60-minute lesson invites Year 5 students to immerse themselves in the richness of language, focusing on vocabulary building, language appreciation, and creative expression. The lesson aligns with the English programmes of study for Key Stage 2, emphasizing widening vocabulary, understanding figurative language, and expressing ideas clearly and creatively through writing.

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National Curriculum Links

• English Programme of Study – Year 5:
  • Vocabulary, grammar and punctuation:
    • Recognise vocabulary and structures that are appropriate for formal speech and writing, including subjunctive forms.
    • Use expanded noun phrases to convey complicated information concisely.
  • Reading – comprehension: Develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by:
    • Checking that the book makes sense, discussing understanding, and exploring the meaning of words in context.
  • Writing – composition:
    • Plan their writing by identifying the audience and purpose.
    • Draft and write by selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary to enhance meaning.
    • Assess the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing and suggest improvements.

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Learning Objectives (WALT)

We Are Learning To:

• Appreciate the beauty and creativity of language through sensory and figurative vocabulary.
• Build a rich and varied vocabulary connected to sensory experiences.
• Use descriptive and imaginative language to create vivid written expressions.

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Success Criteria

By the end of the lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify and discuss examples of vivid and figurative language in food-related descriptions.
• Select interesting adjectives, similes, and metaphors to describe tastes, smells, textures, and appearances.
• Write a short creative piece using “delicious language” that evokes sensory imagery.
• Read aloud their writing clearly and confidently.

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Resources

• Sensory word bank worksheet (with dyslexia-friendly fonts and coloured backgrounds)
• Examples of rich descriptive texts about food (printed and audio versions)
• Whiteboard and markers
• Writing paper and coloured pens/pencils
• Laptops/tablets (optional) for digital thesaurus or recording

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Lesson Structure

1. Engagement & Introduction (10 minutes)

• Introduce the topic by inviting students to think about their favourite foods.
• Share a vibrant, sensory-rich food description passage (read aloud and displayed).
• Discuss what makes the language “delicious”: e.g., adjectives like “velvety,” similes such as “like biting into sunshine.”
• Present WALT and success criteria on the board.

Teaching Point: Emphasise how language can paint pictures and make the reader almost taste or smell the food.

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2. Exploring Language (15 minutes)

• Activity: In pairs, pupils explore a sensory word bank worksheet with words and phrases linked to taste, smell, texture, sight, and sound.
• Discuss unfamiliar words and their meanings, encouraging use of a dyslexia-friendly thesaurus.
• Introduce figurative language devices: similes, metaphors, alliteration - with examples.
• Ask pairs to create 3-4 descriptive phrases about a fruit or dish using the word bank and figurative language.

Differentiation:

• Additional scaffold for learners needing support with vocabulary via sentence starters, e.g. "The apple is as…", or "The juice smells like…"
• Advanced learners encouraged to create multi-sensory descriptions and experiment with complex metaphors.

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3. Creative Writing (20 minutes)

• Pupils write a short descriptive paragraph or poem titled “A Delicious Bite.”
• Encourage use of sensory adjectives and figurative language learned.
• Provide dyslexia-friendly lined paper with spacing and font suited for any learner needing it.
• Teachers support as needed, circulating to prompt and challenge.

Extension:

• Advanced pupils write a short story of a magical food experience using imaginative language.
• Option to type work on laptops using spell-check and voice-to-text.

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4. Sharing & Reflecting (10 minutes)

• Volunteers share their descriptive writing with the class.
• Class gives positive feedback focused on the use of language that made the writing vivid.
• Quick reflection: Discuss what was enjoyable about using “delicious language” and how it changes writing.

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5. Plenary & Assessment (5 minutes)

• Quick quiz or thumbs-up/thumbs-down on statements such as:
  • “I can use similes to describe taste.”
  • “I have chosen exciting words to describe texture.”
• Exit ticket: One new word or phrase they enjoyed learning today and one sentence using it.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Provide multi-sensory word bank (words with symbols, pictures).
• Use dyslexia-friendly fonts (such as OpenDyslexic) and coloured paper backgrounds for worksheets.
• Pair verbal explanations with written and audio examples.
• Sentence starters and writing frames for those who need support.
• Advanced learners receive challenge prompts to use figurative language and widen vocabulary further.

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Extension Activities

• Compose a recipe poem using only sensory and figurative language.
• Write a short descriptive story about tasting a magical or imaginary food.
• Create a visual “language feast” poster with keywords, metaphors, and similes illustrating sensory descriptions.

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Assessment for Learning

• Observation of pair work and class discussion to check understanding of “delicious language.”
• Review of written work against success criteria focusing on vocabulary use and creative expression.
• Exit tickets to assess individual learning and vocabulary acquisition.

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Teacher’s Notes

This lesson harnesses students’ natural enthusiasm for food and everyday experiences to deepen their appreciation for language. It moves beyond basic vocabulary to explore how words can powerfully evoke sensory experiences and emotions, supporting National Curriculum objectives in vocabulary development and creative writing. Using dyslexia-friendly resources ensures inclusivity, while open-ended creative tasks allow every child to engage at their level.

Encourage teachers to model expressive reading and share their own creative phrases to inspire pupils. The focus on “delicious language” provides a memorable context to embed key language skills in an enjoyable and relevant way.