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      Writing descriptive sentences about the setting in 'Anna Hibiscus' Song'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can join two ideas together to write a descriptive sentence.

      Key learning points

      1. An adjective or list of adjectives can describe a noun, such as 'sweet mango' or 'noisy, chirping birds'
      2. Describing a setting using senses helps the reader to imagine they are there or have been there.
      3. The joining word 'and' can be used to join two complete ideas into a full sentence.
      4. Joining two simple sentences with the joining word 'and' is a compound sentence.

      Keywords

      • Sense - the physical abilities of sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste

      • Expanded noun phrase - a group of words with no verb that adds detail to a noun

      • Sentence - an idea that makes complete sense including a verb

      • Verb - a doing or being word

      • Joining word - a word that joins words or ideas

      Common misconception

      Pupils may want to use 'and' repeatedly, creating a long sentence.

      Give the children an 'and' card. Tell them to keep it in their pockets and emphasise they only have one 'and' per sentence, so they have to decide when they have used it. Once they have used it for the sentence, they have to give it back!

      Teacher tip

      Refer to the previous lesson to focus on the generation of vocabulary and forming expanded noun phrases using a senses map. Allow the children to have access to their senses map for support with constructing their sentences. Practise rehearsing the sentences aloud in different voices.

      Equipment

      You will need a copy of the 2012 Walker Books edition of 'Anna Hibiscus' Song' by Atinuke.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the name of the punctuation to its mark.

      Correct Answer:full stop,.

      .

      Correct Answer:comma,,

      ,

      Correct Answer:question mark,?

      ?

      Correct Answer:exclamation mark,!

      !

      Q2.
      Which piece of punctuation separates two adjectives describing a noun?

      full stop
      Correct answer: comma
      exclamation mark
      question mark

      Q3.
      Match the term with its example.

      Correct Answer:noun,mango

      mango

      Correct Answer:adjective,juicy

      juicy

      Correct Answer:expanded noun phrase,juicy, sweet mango

      juicy, sweet mango

      Correct Answer:verb,tasted

      tasted

      Correct Answer:simple sentence,I tasted a juicy, sweet mango.

      I tasted a juicy, sweet mango.

      Q4.
      Which of these is a sentence?

      Correct answer: I like juicy mangoes.
      juicy mangoes
      like juicy mangoes

      Q5.
      Match the present tense verb that describes the senses with its past tense verb.

      Correct Answer:see,saw

      saw

      Correct Answer:hear,heard

      heard

      Correct Answer:taste,tasted

      tasted

      Correct Answer:smell,smelt

      smelt

      Correct Answer:feel,felt

      felt

      Q6.
      Which expanded noun phrase has the comma in the correct place?

      fresh floral flowers,
      fresh, floral, flowers
      Correct answer: fresh, floral flowers
      , fresh floral flowers

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these are needed to create a simple sentence?

      contain a proper noun
      be written in the past tense
      Correct answer: make complete sense
      Correct answer: contain a verb

      Q2.
      Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

      I saw a smoky engine
      i saw a smoky engine.
      Correct answer: I saw a smoky engine.
      I Saw a Smoky Engine.

      Q3.
      Identify the verb in this sentence: I felt the warm branches.

      I
      Correct answer: felt
      warm
      branches

      Q4.
      Which of these is a joining word?

      my
      I
      Correct answer: and
      the

      Q5.
      What can we use the joining word 'and' for?

      to describe
      Correct answer: to build on ideas
      to tell someone to do something
      to ask a question

      Q6.
      Which of these compound sentences is punctuated correctly?

      I heard noisy, chirping birds. And I saw bright, colourful flowers.
      I heard noisy, chirping birds. and I saw bright, colourful flowers.
      I heard noisy, chirping birds and I saw bright, colourful flowers
      Correct answer: I heard noisy, chirping birds and I saw bright, colourful flowers.

      To help you plan your 1 English lesson on: Writing descriptive sentences about the setting in 'Anna Hibiscus' Song', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...