Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Planning the climax of 'A Kind of Spark' including flashbacks

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can plan to write about Addie's speech from her perspective, incorporating third person flashbacks to the witch trials.

      Key learning points

      1. Writing is most successful when it is planned.
      2. Writing can include a shift in perspective from first to third person and a change from present to past tense.
      3. The first person allows the reader to hear Addie's direct thoughts and emotions.
      4. We can also plan to include flashbacks that show past events in the third person.
      5. These flashbacks might be 'triggered' by a certain action in the present.

      Keywords

      • First person - the 'I/we' perspective

      • Present tense - shows the action is happening now

      • Flashback - a jump to a time or event that happened earlier in the narrative

      • Third person - the 'he/she/it/they' perspective

      • Past tense - shows that the action happened before now

      Common misconception

      Pupils may find it challenging to segment Addie's speech into three sections.

      Encourage pupils to think about past drama tasks where they looked at Addie's feelings before, during and after her speech.

      Teacher tip

      If you are using the writing that results from this task as evidence for teacher assessment, refer to local and national guidance regarding the level of teacher input that is appropriate.

      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

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these describes the 'climax' of a story?

      where the writer describes the setting and characters
      where the problems are introduced and tension rises
      Correct answer: where the highest point of the action and tension is
      where the problems are resolved

      Q2.
      Which of these are not arguments made in Addie's speech?

      Correct answer: autistic people are more interesting that non-autistic people
      she might have been treated like the witches in the past
      differences are positive things
      Correct answer: we should pardon everyone who was convicted of witchcraft

      Q3.
      Which of these key arguments in Addie's speech comes first?

      In the past, people who were different might have been accused of witchcraft.
      Correct answer: Because she's autistic, she experiences the world differently.
      We shouldn't forget the people who experienced this in the past.

      Q4.
      What clues are there that the following sentence comes from speech as opposed to formal writing? 'And that's what I want to explain to you today.'

      Correct answer: a contraction
      a complex sentence
      Correct answer: an informal way of starting the sentence
      asking questions to the audience

      Q5.
      At what point might Addie be thinking the following piece of internal monologue in relation to her speech? 'People are really listening! Maybe they're being convinced ...'.

      before she is called to speak
      when she gets up to speak
      Correct answer: as she is speaking
      when she sits back down

      Q6.
      At what point did Addie notice the following in relation to her speech? 'I see that everyone is paying attention; they're watching and listening carefully now.'

      before she is called to speak
      when she gets up to speak
      Correct answer: as she is speaking
      when she sits back down

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these are features of the sections where we write in role as Addie?

      Correct answer: first person
      third person
      past tense
      Correct answer: present tense

      Q2.
      Which of these are features of the flashback sections of our text?

      first person
      Correct answer: third person
      Correct answer: past tense
      present tense

      Q3.
      Put the sections of our text in order.

      1 - first person, present tense for point 1
      2 - first flashback to Maggie's story
      3 - first person, present tense for point 2
      4 - second flashback to Maggie's story
      5 - first person, present tense for point 3

      Q4.
      What is the 'trigger' for the flashbacks in the model story?

      Addie thinks about Bonnie's story.
      Maggie thinks about Addie.
      Correct answer: Addie looks at Maggie's name on her hand.
      Addie looks at Keedie.

      Q5.
      Which of these sentences could be from the flashbacks in our narrative?

      Correct answer: The children laughed and trod on Maggie's food.
      Correct answer: "Get away from me!" Maggie yelled.
      I can't believe they're listening to me.
      Can I really do this?

      Q6.
      Which of the following describes how the mood changes in the sections written from Addie's perspective about her speech?

      becomes more negative
      Correct answer: becomes more positive
      stays positive throughout
      stays negative throughout

      To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Planning the climax of 'A Kind of Spark' including flashbacks, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...