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      Generating vocabulary to use when writing the story of the animation 'Otherwise'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can generate vocabulary to use when writing the story of ‘Otherwise’.

      Key learning points

      1. A setting is where the story takes place.
      2. We can use our senses to describe a setting in detail.
      3. An expanded noun phrase can contain two adjectives to describe a noun, separated by a comma.
      4. A character’s appearance is what they look like.
      5. A character’s personality is what kind of person they are on the inside and how they behave.

      Keywords

      • Vocabulary - the words a writer uses

      • Setting - where the story takes place

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

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

      Common misconception

      Pupils may find it hard to generate adjectives to describe the characters' personalities.

      Watch the animation together, stopping at various points to discuss the actions of Anders and the green chameleons. Verbally generate adjectives together. Children can then work in small groups to create their lists.

      Teacher tip

      You may wish to use the video clips more often than laid out in the lesson if this helps your class to generate vocabulary. Display a class word bank for children to use throughout the unit.

      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.
      Complete the sentence: Sequencing means...

      putting things in any order.
      Correct answer: putting things in a specific order.
      putting things into groups.

      Q2.
      If we are summarising a story in our own words, what are we doing?

      Correct answer: retelling the main events
      retelling every single detail
      recording the story

      Q3.
      To retell a story accurately, you need to include the key details.

      Correct answer: True
      False

      Q4.
      Finish the sentence: A sentence starter that tells the reader when something happens is known as a fronted adverbial of ...

      Correct answer: time.
      place.
      manner.

      Q5.
      Fill in the blank: Fronted adverbials of time always have a __________ after.

      Correct answer: comma
      question mark
      full stop

      Q6.
      Which of these is a fronted adverbial of time?

      Carefully,
      To the left,
      Correct answer: Then,

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      A setting is where the story takes place.

      Correct answer: True
      False

      Q2.
      Fiction stories can take place anywhere.

      Correct answer: True
      False

      Q3.
      Fill in the blank: A __________ must be described in as much detail as possible to help the reader clearly picture it in their mind.

      book title
      Correct answer: setting
      writer

      Q4.
      Fill in the blank: Vocabulary refers to the __________ a writer uses.

      Correct answer: words
      font
      punctuation

      Q5.
      Fill in the blank: An expanded noun phrase is a group of words with no verb that adds detail to a ...

      verb.
      Correct answer: noun.
      adverb.

      Q6.
      Which of these is a correctly written expanded noun phrase?

      tail
      long curly tail
      Correct answer: long, curly tail

      To help you plan your 2 English lesson on: Generating vocabulary to use when writing the story of the animation 'Otherwise', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...