Writing the opening of 'The Happy Prince'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write the opening of 'The Happy Prince'.
Key learning points
- The purpose of the opening is to engage the reader and introduce the setting and characters.
- Using a range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
- Direct speech is punctuated using inverted commas. Dialogue moves the action forward.
- An adverbial clause is joined with a main clause to form an adverbial complex sentence.
- Notes from the plan are used to form full sentences.
Keywords
Text flow - how a text is written to keep the reader engaged
Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma
Past tense - shows that the action happened before now
Direct speech - shows that a character is speaking out loud in a text
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle with remembering the comma rule in an adverbial complex sentence.
Provide a visual scaffold of an adverbial complex sentence. Ask children to identify the subordinating conjunction that begins the adverbial clause and ensure that the visual highlights the comma rule.
Teacher tip
Refer to the Year 4 Grammar unit 'Apostrophes and speech punctuation' to support pupils with writing direct speech correctly. Remind pupils to start a new line each time there is a new speaker.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is a simple sentence?
Q2.Order the four key moments of the opening chronologically.
Q3.Fill in the missing word. Figurative language is the use of metaphor, simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the ...
Q4.What is a compound sentence?
Q5.Which of the following are true about dialogue?
Q6.What is an adverbial complex sentence?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Fill in the missing word: The __________ is the first section of a story where the writer describes the setting and main characters.
Q2.True or false? 'A complex sentence is a sentence consisting of a main clause and a subordinate clause.'
Q3.What is the name of the punctuation mark that indicates where the words the character said begin and end?
Q4.Which direct speech sentence is correctly punctuated?
Q5.Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
Q6.Which sentence includes an example of figurative language?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing the opening of 'The Happy Prince', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing the opening of 'The Happy Prince', 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 2 English lessons from the 'The Happy Prince': narrative writing and reading unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.