Writing paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in the climax of ‘Whale Rider’.
Key learning points
- This emotive scene is written over two paragraphs and it is important to demonstrate a change in atmosphere across them.
- Using a range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow and cohesion.
- Precise and ambitious vocabulary, including 'show-not-tell' language, is used to convey an emotive atmosphere.
- ‘Show-not-tell’ shows a character’s feelings with description of their actions, body language and facial expressions.
- Oral rehearsal before writing helps to structure grammatically correct sentences and check for sense.
Keywords
Emotive - evoking intense feelings or emotions
Ambitious vocabulary - high-level language in writing that meets the text purpose
Cohesion - how a text flows in order to maintain the interest of the reader and achieve the purpose
'show-not-tell' - shows a character’s feelings by describing their actions, body language and facial expressions
Common misconception
Internal thoughts are rhetorical questions only.
Internal thoughts can be questions and statements. Ensure pupils use their plans with ideas for Paikea's internal thoughts and model how to write these in the third person.
Teacher tip
Pupils should be given lots of opportunities to say sentences aloud or to write sentences on whiteboards, paying particular attention to internal thoughts, using the notes from their plan.
Equipment
You must have access to the film 'Whale Rider' (South Pacific Pictures, 2002) to complete this unit. Images of the characters and scenes from the film will be helpful.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.How do you use a plan to write part of a narrative?
Q2.What is a fronted adverbial?
Q3.What are the different sentence types that you can use in your writing?
Q4.Put the four key moments of the climax in chronological order.
Q5.What is an adverbial complex sentence?
Q6.Which of the following is an example of 'show-not-tell' language?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.True or false? We should use a range of sentence types (like simple, compound and complex) in our writing.
Q2.Match the sentence type to its example.
Q3.What linguistic device is this an example of?
'How could she just watch these symbols of her heritage ebb away?'
Q4.Complete the following sentence with an appropriate fronted adverbial: '__________ an urgent, sudden cry from the beach interrupted the ocean’s rhythmic motion.'
Q5.Which of the following uses 'show-not-tell' language to describe how the villagers felt when they saw the stranded whales?
Q6.Select all that apply to complete this sentence: 'When writing, we should...'
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Writing paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider', 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 'Whale Rider': narrative writing unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.