Grade 4 marks the beginning of the Intermediate Phase, where English Home Language (HL) shifts from learning to read, to reading to learn. The 2026 curriculum focuses on advanced comprehension strategies, structured creative writing, and the analysis of literary texts like novelettes and poetry.
This guide outlines the 2026 English HL Annual Teaching Plan (ATP), providing a structured weekly roadmap to help teachers guide learners through folklore, instructional texts, and the major Creative Writing Project.
English HL Grade 4 ATP 2026
The curriculum is divided into four terms, with continuous assessment in Listening and Speaking, Reading and Viewing, Writing and Presenting, and Language Structures.
Term 1: Information & Narrative Texts
Focus: The first term establishes a baseline and focuses on information texts (posters/maps) and narrative writing based on personal experiences.
- Weeks 1–2: Information Texts
- Listening: Identifying details in posters advertising events.
- Reading: Interpreting charts, tables, and mind maps. Pre-reading strategies (predicting from titles/visuals).
- Writing: Designing an advertisement with appropriate visuals and layout.
- Language: Nouns (common/abstract), adjectives, verbs, and similes/metaphors.
- Weeks 3–4: The Novelette (Extracts)
- Listening: Listening to an extract from a novelette and identifying the main message.
- Reading: Skimming and scanning strategies. Discussing characters and themes.
- Writing: Writing a character sketch using a frame.
- Language: Pronouns (relative/reflexive), adverbs, and simple tenses.
- Weeks 5–6: Short Stories
- Reading: Reading a short story and making inferences about unfamiliar words.
- Writing: Writing a story based on a personal experience (narrative essay).
- Language: Countable/Uncountable nouns, punctuation.
- Weeks 7–8: Instructional Texts (Recipes)
- Listening: Following instructions (e.g., making tea).
- Writing: Writing instructions using command verbs and correct sequence.
- Language: Personal/Possessive pronouns and conjunctions.
- Weeks 9–10: Visual Literacy (Posters)
- Reading: Analysing posters/notices (font, colour, layout).
- Writing: Designing a poster to advertise an event.
Term 1 Assessments
- Task 1 (Oral): Read Aloud (Start in Term 1, finish in Term 2).
- Task 2 (Writing): Essay (Narrative/Descriptive) – 20 Marks.
- Task 3 (Test): Response to Texts (40 Marks).
Term 2: Poetry, Weather & Dialogue
Focus: The second term explores creative genres like poetry and drama, alongside informative weather reports.
- Weeks 1–2: Poetry
- Listening: Identifying rhyme and rhythm in poems/songs.
- Writing: Writing a simple poem/song/limerick using appropriate structure.
- Language: Personification, alliteration, and abstract nouns.
- Weeks 3–4: Weather Reports
- Reading: Reading weather charts/maps and comparing conditions in different places.
- Writing: Creating a weather chart with symbols.
- Language: Future tense, adjectives, and subject-verb agreement.
- Weeks 5–6: Dialogue
- Listening: Identifying speakers and context in a dialogue.
- Writing: Writing an interview using direct speech rules.
- Language: Direct speech punctuation (inverted commas).
- Weeks 7–8: Instructional Texts (Safety)
- Writing: Writing an essay explaining why it is important to follow instructions (e.g., road safety).
Term 2 Assessments
- Task 4 (Writing): Transactional Writing (10 Marks).
- Task 5 (Test): June Control Test (40 Marks) covering Comprehension, Visual Text, Summary, and Language.
Term 3: Folklore & Creative Project
Focus: The third term delves into cultural stories (myths/legends) and a major Creative Writing Project.
- Weeks 1–2: Folklore (Myths/Legends)
- Listening: Identifying plot and moral in folktales.
- Writing: Retelling a myth/legend using a writing frame.
- Language: Prefixes/Suffixes, proverbs, and idioms.
- Weeks 3–4: Creative Project (Phase 1 – Research)
- Activity: Researching a specific genre (Poem/Story/Drama). Gathering information and planning.
- Weeks 5–6: Creative Project (Phase 2 – Writing)
- Activity: Drafting and refining the creative piece based on research.
- Focus: Using the writing process (Drafting, Editing, Proofreading).
- Weeks 7–8: Poetry (Advanced)
- Writing: Writing sentences that rhyme and using onomatopoeia.
- Weeks 9–10: Advertisements
- Reading: Analysing persuasive language and stereotypes in ads.
- Writing: Creating an advertisement with a specific target audience.
Term 3 Assessments
- Task 6 (Writing): Creative Writing Project (40 Marks).
- Task 7 (Oral): Oral Presentation of Project (Start in Term 3, finish in Term 4).
Term 4: Drama, News & Exam Prep
Focus: The final term covers drama scripts, news reports, and preparation for the final examination.
- Weeks 1–2: Short Stories
- Writing: Writing a short story with a clear plot and characters.
- Weeks 3–4: Drama
- Reading: Reading a play script and understanding format/punctuation.
- Writing: Writing a dialogue script.
- Weeks 5–6: News Reports
- Reading: Analysing newspaper articles (headline, lead paragraph, 5 Ws).
- Writing: Summarizing a news report.
- Weeks 7–8: Oral Preparation
- Activity: Presenting a prepared speech.
Term 4 Assessments
- Task 8 (Writing): Transactional Writing (10 Marks).
- Task 9 (Test): End-of-Year Control Test (40 Marks).
FAQ: English HL Grade 4
Q: What is the “Creative Writing Project”? A: In Term 3, learners complete a project centered on a specific genre (e.g., writing a poem or story). It involves three phases: Research, Writing, and Oral Presentation. It is a major component of the term’s assessment.
Q: How is reading assessed? A: Reading is assessed continuously. Learners must read a novelette/reader for at least 30 minutes daily. Formal assessment includes “Read Aloud” and written comprehension tests.
Q: What are “Language Structures”? A: These are the grammar rules. In Grade 4, key structures include Tenses (Simple/Continuous), Plurals, Prefixes/Suffixes, Conjunctions, and Direct Speech.