Four Corners: Write It Down
Four corners Series
What’s inside...
Write it Down! Journals or diaries can help you express yourself and understand events in your life. They can also teach us about events in the past. Four Corners provides the widest cross-curricular coverage including science, history, geography, and mathematics themes, all clearly linked to the National Curriculum Programmes for Study and the 5-14 Guidelines for Scotland. It features unparalleled Dorling Kindersley photography and design to visually inspire readers, engages with lively writing styles covering a broad range of topics to interest every child, and offers constructive links to various subjects with practical suggestions in its teaching support. Teachers and teaching assistants can easily use the laminated teaching support and activity cards provided in each pack of 6, which highlight all NLS links and extension opportunities. Support for parents and homework activities are included in the Teacher's Files.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
32 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What would you write in your own journal about your day today?
How do you think the character felt when they shared their story with their friends?
Why is it important to keep a diary or journal?
Can you think of a time when writing something down helped you remember or understand it better?
If you could write a story about anyone in the book, who would it be and what would the story be?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their personal experiences to those of the character in the book to deepen their understanding and empathy.
Discuss the importance of expressing feelings and thoughts through writing, highlighting how it can be both a creative outlet and a tool for communication.
Suggest keeping a simple shared journal where you can both write thoughts or events from your days, then spend time reading each other’s entries to foster communication.
Reinforce the concept that writing is not only for stories but can also be used to document daily activities, and feelings, or to create lists and plans.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The importance of self-expression.
Explanation: In 'Four Corners: Write It Down', the characters use journals to express their thoughts and emotions, showing children that writing can be a powerful outlet for self-expression.
Real-World Application: Children can use journals or diaries to explore their own feelings and thoughts, helping them understand and manage their emotions.
Example Lesson: The value of perseverance.
Explanation: The characters in the book face challenges with their writing, but they persist and improve. This teaches children the value of sticking with a task even when it's tough.
Real-World Application: Kids learn to keep trying in their personal challenges, whether it’s learning a new skill or working through difficult homework.
Example Lesson: The importance of sharing stories.
Explanation: Characters in the book share their writings with each other, illustrating how sharing stories can strengthen community bonds and foster understanding.
Real-World Application: Children can be encouraged to share their stories and writings with family and friends, enhancing their communication skills and emotional connections.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination.
Explanation: The book showcases characters creating unique and imaginative pieces of writing, highlighting how creative thinking can be fun and rewarding.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to use their imagination in writing and other forms of expression, boosting their creative and cognitive skills.