Writing a postcard with descriptions and questions
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a postcard from Paddington's perspective, including descriptions and questions.
Key learning points
- Adding descriptive language to a postcard helps the reader imagine what the place is like.
- Two adjective sentences need a comma in between the two adjectives, such as 'black, zooming taxi'.
- Asking a 'Did you know ...?' question teaches someone a fact about something, in this case, London.
- A postcard should end with naming who the postcard is from, in this case, Paddington.
Keywords
Description - using words to help someone imagine what something is like
Question - a type of simple sentence that asks the reader for an answer and ends with a question mark
Question mark - a punctuation mark used at the end of a question
Fact - something that is known to be true or proved
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle to generate descriptions or facts.
Refer back to the setting description lesson and have pupils use their word banks and senses maps to help join ideas together. Facts are 'drip-fed' throughout the lesson. Keep referring back to them and tell pupils that they can choose one of these.
Teacher tip
Get pupils to continue to write on their postcard template from the previous lesson, so that it feels like a completed piece of writing. Allow pupils to draw an image of Paddington in London on the other side.
Equipment
You will need a copy of the 2014 Harper Collins Children's Books edition of 'Paddington' by Michael Bond, illustrated by R. W. Alley for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each punctuation mark to its name.
full stop
exclamation mark
question mark
comma
Q2.Which of these words might you use if you are writing from Paddington's point of view?
Q3.Identify the expanded noun phrase in the following sentence: 'I travelled in a black, zooming taxi.'
Q4.Which of these words are adjectives?
Q5.Match each sense to its past tense verb.
felt
heard
tasted
smelt
Q6.Which of these are questions?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What do word banks of adjectives help us with?
Q2.Which word would you use to end a postcard?
Q3.Identify the expanded noun phrase in the following sentence: 'I heard noisy, chatty people.'
Q4.Which of these are questions?
Q5.Which question is correctly punctuated?
Q6.Which compound sentence is correctly punctuated?
To help you plan your 1 English lesson on: Writing a postcard with descriptions and questions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 1 English lesson on: Writing a postcard with descriptions and questions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 English lessons from the 'Paddington': reading and writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.