Writing a desert island scene
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a descriptive scene about a hot desert island.
Key learning points
- Sentences should be said aloud before writing to ensure they make sense and read back once written to check for errors.
- Ambitious vocabulary and figurative language create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
- Writers choose varied fronted adverbials and different sentence types to ensure the text flows for the reader.
- Careful selection of nouns and pronouns ensures cohesion within sentences and across sections of a written piece.
- Past simple, progressive and perfect verb forms can be used to improve text cohesion.
Keywords
Zoom-in - a writing technique that involves starting description with a broad idea and gradually narrowing the focus to explore specific details
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
Common misconception
Pupils copy notes directly from their plans without forming full sentences.
Pupils should say the sentence aloud first, then write it out. Finally, pupils should check their writing for sense and punctuation.
Teacher tip
Encourage pupils to practise writing their sentences on mini-whiteboards after saying their sentences aloud.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these are examples of figurative language?
Q2.Identify the simile.
Q3.Identify the simile.
Q4.Which sentence uses personification?
Q5.Which sentence uses personification?
Q6.Match the stylistic device to the correct sentence.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of these words are the adjectives in the following sentence? 'High above the vast ocean, the relentless, oppressive sun blazed like an angry dragon.'
Q2.Which of these adjectives has the closest meaning to 'gleaming'?
Q3.Which of these contain an element of personification?
Q4.Which of these is a fronted adverbial of manner?
Q5.Fill in the gap: 'The gleaming desert island emerged like a jewel __________ it invited explorers to come ashore with its mysterious allure.'
Q6.Which of these is a relative complex sentence?
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing a desert island scene, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing a desert island scene, 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 Weather: descriptive writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.