Writing the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write the opening of a narrative based on ‘Jabberwocky’.
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.
- Notes from the plan can be used to form full sentences.
- A new paragraph is used to signal the start of a new idea or key moment.
Keywords
Text flow - how a text is written to keep the reader engaged
Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma
Relative clause - a type of subordinate clause that starts with a relative pronoun
Direct speech - shows that a character is speaking out loud in a text
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle with using accurate punctuation in direct speech sentences.
Give pupils an opportunity to practise writing speech on mini-whiteboards and provide a visual scaffold to support them.
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 are the purposes of the opening of a narrative?
Q2.Put the four key moments of the opening in chronological order.
Q3.What is a simple sentence?
Q4.What is a compound sentence?
Q5.Which of the following are true about dialogue?
Q6.Writers start a new to signal the start of a new idea or key moment.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.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 of these relative complex sentences is punctuated correctly?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing the opening of a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky', 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 a narrative based on 'Jabberwocky', 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 'Jabberwocky': narrative writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.