Information Texts, Rooted in the UAE
A jigsaw-reading lesson on falcons connected text features to pupils’ own UAE context, graded Outstanding.
Context
A Year 1 lesson on identifying the features of an information text, observed formally as part of the school’s appraisal cycle.
Approach
I opened with a starter on how reporters gather information, then used jigsaw reading about falcons, a bird pupils recognise from their own UAE surroundings, so text features were learned through a subject they already cared about.
Impact
Pupils identified the features of an information text and applied them while reading, staying actively involved through the jigsaw structure. The observer noted the UAE link “added meaning to their learning” and graded the lesson Outstanding overall.
Reflection
Anchoring an abstract text type in something local did the heavy lifting. The natural next step, which I planned as a follow-up, was for pupils to write their own short information text using the features they had just spotted, moving from recognising to producing.
Supporting Evidence
Formal lesson observation report (May 2025), graded Outstanding across teaching, learning environment, progress and assessment. Observer names withheld; verification available on request.
