Writing the opening of 'The Viewer'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write the opening of 'The Viewer'.
Key learning points
- The opening is the first section of a story where the writer describes the setting and main characters.
- The opening should be descriptive and use figurative language to build an atmosphere for the reader.
- A non-finite complex sentence contains a non-finite clause.
- A non-finite clause extends the sentence by telling the reader about a second thing that the subject is doing.
- A non-finite clause can vary its position in a sentence.
Keywords
Opening - the first section of a story and where the writer describes the setting and main characters
Figurative language - the use of metaphor, simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the reader
Non-finite clause - a type of subordinate clause that can start with a verb in the progressive tense
Common misconception
Pupils may think that non-finite clauses always come at the start of sentences.
Teach pupils that non-finite clauses can vary their position in a sentence and model a non-finite clause in both positions.
Teacher tip
You may wish to provide pupils with a plan if they haven't completed one in a previous lesson.
Equipment
You need a copy of the 2012 Hodder Children's Books edition of ‘The Viewer’ written by Gary Crew and illustrated by Shaun Tan, for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Fill in the missing word. Figurative language is the use of metaphor, simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the __________.
Q2.Fill in the missing word. A __________ is a type of figurative language that involves describing something as though it actually is something else.
Q3.True or false? There is no difference between a simile and a metaphor.
Q4.Which of these is a metaphor?
Q5.Which of these is a metaphor?
Q6.When planning a setting description, we start from the...
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? 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 any type of subordinate clause.
Q3.Fill in the missing word. A main clause contains a __________ and makes sense on its own.
Q4.A non-finite (-ing) clause starts with a word that ends in ...
Q5.Which of these is a sentence that features a non-finite (-ing) clause?
Q6.Which two of these sentences feature a non-finite (-ing) clause?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Writing the opening of 'The Viewer', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Writing the opening of 'The Viewer', 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 Viewer': narrative writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.