Lesson video

Hi everybody, I'm Ms. Gardner.

Welcome to the next lesson from our unit, the Happy Prince: reading and narrative writing.

You've all been doing absolutely brilliantly so far.

So, really well done and I hope you've been enjoying it as much as I have.

In today's lesson, we're going to be doing some more writing, which I'm really excited about.

So, let's get started.

In today's lesson from our Happy Prince unit, we are going to be writing the climax section of our narrative.

So, your learning outcome is, I can write the climax of the Happy Princes.

Let's start by looking at the key words.

We'll do my turn, your turn.

Text flow, fronted adverbial, direct speech, complex sentence.

Let's have a look at what these mean.

Text flow is how a text is written to keep the reader engaged.

A fronted adverbial is a sentence starter followed by a comma.

We write direct speech to show that a character is speaking out loud in a text.

And a complex sentence is a sentence formed of a main clause and a subordinate clause.

So, there are two sections of our lesson today.

In the first we'll be preparing to write and in the second we will be writing the climax.

So, let's start with preparing to write.

The Happy Prince can be structured like this, an opening and a buildup, a climax and then the resolution.

In today's lesson, we are writing the climax.

So, why do we need a climax? What is the purpose of the climax? The purpose of the climax is to describe the main action and take the tension and the excitement to its highest point.

So, let's just review the key moments in the climax of the Happy Prince.

Firstly, winter arrived in the city.

The days got darker and colder and snow covered the streets.

Then the bird became frailer and weaker, but he wouldn't leave the prince's side.

Then bird could not survive another day, he took his final breath at the prince's feet.

And finally the prince was so devastated, about the bird's death that his metal heart broke into two pieces.

So, now you need to put these key moments of the climax in chronological order, numbering them one, two, three and four.

Pause the video now and off you go.

Okay, so let's go through it.

The first moment of the climax, winter arrived in the city.

The days got darker and colder and snow was covering the streets.

Then bird became frailer and weaker, but he wouldn't leave the prince's side.

Number three, the bird could not survive another day, he took his final breath at the prince's feet.

And then finally, number four, the prince was so devastated about the bird's death that his metal heart broke into two pieces.

Well done.

So, we wrote some really thorough and detailed notes on our plan.

We wrote about the first key moment where winter arrived in the city and the days got darker and colder.

And we used really precise adjectives like cold and icy.

We used verb choices like snow whipping through the air and we remembered some figurative language.

We set the days where it's dark as the deepest depths of a cave.

The wind ripped through the city like a sharp knife and we used the metaphor blankets of snow, draped across the streets.

Then to describe the bird becoming weaker, we used adjectives like frailer, weaker, meeker, but he's still so devoted and loyal to the print the prince.

And then that quite dramatic state clause, death was rapidly approaching.

We also included the dialogue, "Goodbye, dear Prince," the reported clause, he weekly whimpered and then the prince responding, how can I live without you? We need to make sure we include this dialogue in our climax.

And then finally, that moment that they both died, really powerful moment.

We described the prince as grief stricken.

We said crack, the noise the heart made when it broke, that we described that sound as a devastating sound.

And then the verbs and adverbs.

The bird was gasping for breath.

He couldn't breathe really, the heart, sorry, plummeted to the ground and loudly shattered.

So, some really excellent vocabulary that we can include in our writing today from our plan.

So, this section needs to include the following ambitious vocabulary.

So precise adjectives, adverbs, verbs, sentences written in the past tense, fronted adverbials, time, place and manner.

Direct speech, first and second and then text flow.

So, a range of simple compound and complex sentences.

We can use the notes from our plan to form these full sentences, because these notes contain really precise and ambitious vocabulary that create this vivid picture for the reader.

But at the moment, they're not part of a full sentence.

So, they don't really make sense.

We need to use them and include them in our range of sentence types.

We know that using a range of sentence types, really helps to with text flow in our writing and conveys those really key moments of the climax.

So for example, as the days grew darker and longer, the cold icy winds ripped through the city, like a sharp knife, blankets of snow draped across the streets.

So, you can see I used the content from the plan and then translated it into full sentences and different types of full sentences as well.

I didn't just copy exactly off my plan, 'cause then the sentences wouldn't make sense.

So, check for understanding, true or false.

When I write the climax, I just copy out my plan, pause the video now.

That is false.

Can you use A or B to justify your answer? A, I should use the notes in my plan to form a range of sentences.

Or B, I should reorder the events from my plan.

Pause video now.

That's right, that is A, we don't want to reorder the events in our plan, 'cause we've written them deliberately in chronological order.

Well done.

So, let's just look now at the different sentence types formed from the plan about the first key moment.

As the day grew darker and longer, that's our adverbial clause that comes before a main clause to form an adverbial complex sentence.

Then you have a simple sentence, made up of just one main clause, blankets of snow draped across the streets.

And that was a lovely example as well of a metaphor when the snow is being compared to a blanket.

So, great example of figurative language in that simple sentence there.

So, you can see how we can use the notes to form two different types of sentences here.

So, let's just recap the rules of simple and compound sentences.

A sentence made of one main clause is called a simple sentence that has one idea.

A compound sentence is a sentence of formed of two main clauses and a coordinating conjunction and or, but.

Let's look at the rules now for an adverbial complex sentence.

An adverbial clause is a type of subordinate clause.

It is a group of words that contain a verb, but it does not make complete sense by itself, whereas a main clause does.

So, when a verbal clause is joined to a main clause, it makes an adverbial complex sentence.

Let's just recap the comma rule.

If a main clause comes first before the subordinate clause, you do not need a comma.

If the subordinate clause comes first, before the main clause, you do need a comma separating the two clauses.

We can use a range of subordinating conjunctions in our adverbial complex sentences.

Each is used for a different purpose.

So, when, after, because, so and as.

So, you need to think about when you are writing which is the most appropriate subordinating conjunction to use.

So, checking for understanding.

Match the sentence types to the correct examples.

You have a simple sentence, a compound sentence and adverbial proverbial complex sentence.

And there are three sentences to choose from.

So, pause the video now and off you go.

Okay, welcome back.

So our simple sentence was, he was not strong enough to survive another day, just made up of one main clause, one idea, but the compound sentence was, bird became colder and frailer.

That's your main clause.

But coordinating conjunction, he would not leave the prince's side your next main clause.

So, that's a compound sentence.

And then your aerial complex sentence was this.

He tried to warm himself on the prince's feet, main clause as the snow kept falling down as is all subordinating conjunction, starting the subordinate clause.

Well done.

So, we also want to include fronted adverbials in our writing because they support text flow.

Remember, they're always followed by a comma.

You can use fronted adverbials of time.

So, ones that we could include in our climax today, could be one cold night.

The icy winds ripped through the streets like a knife or eventually the bird became frailer and weaker or soon he was too weak to survive.

You could also use fronted adverbials of manner.

So, ones we could include in our climax could be gently the bird whimpered as he took his final breath.

Devotedly, he lay his head at the prince's feet with tears running down his face, the prince watched the bird take his lasts breath.

So, fronted adverbials are really effective in adding extra detail to the action in the main cause.

So, just checking for understanding, match the fronted adverbial to the correct main clause from our climax.

You have gently soon and devotedly.

And then he was two weeks to survive another day, the loyal bird lay his head at the prince's feet and the bird whimpered as he took his final breath.

So, pause the video now and off you go.

Okay, so a gently, the bird whimpered as he took his final breath.

B, soon he was two weeks to survive another day.

And C, devotedly the loyal bird lay his head at the prince's feet.

He is devoted to the prince, so he can use the fronted adverbial of manner, devotedly.

I wonder if you'll include any of these fronted adverbials in your climax today.

So, we also need to think about what dialogue log.

We want to include dialogue is the written conversation between two characters or more within a narrative.

It is used to help move the action forward in a narrative.

Here is the most important dialogue in the climax.

Goodbye dear prince, the bird whimpered and then the prince replied, how can I live without you? We have these on our plans so we'll remember to use them when it comes to writing.

We need to use direct speech to show that a character is speaking out loud.

Each time there is a new speaker, you need to remember to start a new line and switching between speech first and speech second is an effective way to avoid repetition in your speech sentences.

So, let's just recap.

A speech first sentence always follows the same steps.

Goodbye dear prince, the bird weekly whimpered, we started with our inverted commas.

Then a capital letter for the first word of the speech.

Then you had your speech, then you had your punctuation mark.

So, this time we went for an exclamation mark.

Then closed and inverted commas, then your reporting clause and then a full stop.

So, the reporting clause can start with the speaker or the said word.

So, you could say whimpered the bird weekly or the bird weekly whimpered, either would work.

A speech, second sentence also always follows the same steps, but they're a bit different to speech first.

So, the prince asks the dying bird, how can I live without you? This time the reporting clause comes first.

So, we have a capital letter, because it's the start of a sentence.

Then you have your reporting clause, then you have a comma at the end of the reporting clause.

Then your first set of inverted commas, a capital letter at the start of the speech, you have the speech, then your end of speech punctuation.

This time it's a question mark because it was a question.

And then you are closing inverted commas.

So, the reporting clause now comes at the start of the sentence.

So, it always has a capital letter and the reporting clause, because it's at the start of the sentence, is now always followed by a comma.

So, checking for understanding, which two sentences are correctly punctuated.

Look really carefully at each sentence, before you decide which two are correctly punctuated.

Pause video now and off you go.

Okay, so hopefully you could spot which two were correctly punctuated.

B was our speech first sentence that was correctly punctuated.

It had the correct inverted commas at either side of the speech.

There was comma at the end of the speech and then whispered the bird.

Weekly was followed by a full stop.

A was not correct because it didn't have an inverse comma, at the start of the speech before goodbye.

And there was no comma at the end of the speech.

So, it couldn't be A.

The correctly punctuated speech second was D, you had your comma at the end of the reporting clause and you had two pairs of inverted commas.

C wasn't correct, because there was no comma after mumbled, the end of the reporting clause and there was no inverted comma at the very end of the sentence after the question mark.

So, that couldn't be correct.

Well done.

Right, it's time for task A.

You need to say the first few sentences of the climax and make sure you include the following, precise and ambitious vocabulary from your plan, including figurative language, fronted adverbials and a range of sentence types, including an adverbial complex sentence.

You can use these sentence scaffolds to help you as the days grew bleaker and longer, and complete that complex sentence and eventually the bird and you can complete that sentence.

So, pause video now and have a go at saying these sentences out loud.

Well done everybody.

Welcome back.

Let's read these sentences out loud together.

And I wonder if I've included everything we needed to from the list above.

As the days group bleaker and longer, the cold icy winds ripped through the city, like a sharp knife.

The nights were as dark as the deepest steps of the cave.

Eventually the bird became weaker and frailer, but he did not leave the prince's side.

So, have I used precise and ambitious vocabulary for my plan, including figurative language? I did.

I said that cold, icy winds ripped through the city, like a sharp knife.

So, just used a smiley there, bleaker, longer, adjectives to describe the days.

I used another simile when I described the knights as dark as the deepest depths of a cave.

And I described the bird as weaker and frailer.

So more descriptive adjectives there.

Have I used a fronted adverbial? I said eventually, so a fronted adverbial of time.

And then a range of sentence types, including an adverbial complex sentence.

I did my first sentence as the days group bleaker and longer.

That's my adverbial proverbial subordinate clause, part of my complex sentence.

Then I had a sentence, the knights were as dark as the deepest steps of the cave.

And then I had a compound sentence, but he did not leave the prince's side.

So, I used my coordinating conjunction.

But so great range of sentence types there.

Thank you for helping me check these over and well done on task A.

It's now time for the second part of our lesson, where we are writing the climax.

When we write, we always try to do these things.

Plan and say each sentence before we write it.

Use punctuation where we know the rules.

Showcase each sentence type we know.

So simple, compound, complex.

Write letters neatly on the line and join handwriting, use spelling strategies to spell words accurately and check and improve our writing when we think we have finished.

Here is the success criteria for your writing today.

Let's go through it.

I have written at least two fronted adverbials.

I have used ambitious vocabulary, including figurative language.

I've written a range of sentence types, simple, compound, complex to improve text flow.

And I've included direct speech sentences with correct punctuation.

So, we're going to use this today to make sure we're including everything we need to in our climax.

So, first I'm gonna write the first few sentences of my climax.

And you will help me check that I've used the success criteria.

So, I started by sticking in my success criteria and I'm going to keep referring back to it.

So, I make sure I'm including everything I need to.

So, I've already written the first two sentences.

Let's read them back though, just to check they make sense, 'cause we always need to read back our sentences.

Winter arrived in the city.

Nice simple sentence to start.

Icy winds tore through the city like a jagged knife as the snow whipped through the frosty air.

So, in this complex sentence, this is a complex sentence, 'cause we have a subordinate adverbial clause here.

As the snow whipped through the frosty air, I've used a simile, I compared the icy winds to a jagged knife.

And I used a really precise verb choice there by saying the snow whipped through the frost air.

So, I've set the scene of my climax, it's really negative image here.

It's cold and it's really difficult for the bird to survive.

So, I want to say that now.

I want to say about how the bird was becoming weaker each day.

Maybe an adjective to describe the bird here.

The frail bird.

The frail bird becomes or became, we're writing in the past tense.

So, I need to say became, the bird became, the frail bird became weaker each day.

Could do a full stop here.

Keep it as a simple sentence, but we know we want to have a range of sentence types.

I've already used a simple sentence at the beginning, so I'm going to make it a compound sentence.

But we always remember our comma before the but, but he would not.

And we know this 'cause he was really loyal.

So, actually I'm going to use the adjective loyal.

But the loyal, could say bird, I don't want to repeat it in one sentence.

So, I'm going to say creature.

But the loyal creature would not leave the prince's side.

He's devoted to the statute of the prince, would not leave the prince's side.

Now, I'm at the end of my sentence, so I need a full stop, but I'm going to read back and check for any errors and check it makes sense.

The frail bird became weaker each day, but the loyal creature would not leave the prince's side.

I wonder if anyone can spot the punctuation error I've made.

The prince's side, the prince possesses the side.

So, we need to use an apostrophe for possession, well done.

And it comes before the S, but we know the bird became two weeks to survive.

So, we need to say that.

So, I'm going to say use the fronted adverbial of time, soon.

I'm remembering it, comma, after our fronted adverbial.

But soon there was nothing he could do.

And a nice simple sentence here for dramatic effect.

Soon there was nothing he could do, full stop.

So, now I want to move the action forward by including some speech.

And we know from our plan that the first line of speech was that he said goodbye to the prince.

So, it's a new speaker.

So, it's a new line.

I'm remembering my inverted commas, capital letter at the start of my speech.

And now I can write my speech.

Goodbye dear Prince and my closing inverted commas.

I can say whimpered, the weak bird or the bird whimpered weekly, either would work.

I'm going to go for the bird weekly whimpered, because then I have some alliteration with W and W in weekly whimper, full stop.

So, now let's just read the sentence back to check it makes sense or for any errors.

Goodbye dear Prince, that's my speech sentence.

Have I got all the punctuation I need for a speech sentence? I have my inverted commas letter, but I also need a comma.

Well done before the final inverted commas.

Goodbye dear Prince, the bird weekly whimpered, full stop.

So, now I want to write the prince's response and I'm going to use speech second this time.

And I'm going to introduce my speech second with some show not tell.

I want to show how upset the prince is.

So, I'm going to use a fronted adverbial of manner, with tears in his eyes.

What do I need after a fronted adverbial of manner? We need a comma.

Well done.

The Prince.

Now, let's think of a synonym for sad, 'cause sad isn't quite ambitious enough.

I don't wanna say shouted or exclaimed.

That's too loud, I think maybe he whispered, the prince whispered.

And now we're going to use our speech, so that we've got to the end of our reporting clause.

So, we need a comma and then inverted commas.

Capital letter, how will I live without you? That's a question, isn't it? So, it needs to have a question mark at the end.

And then our final inverted commas, I'm going to leave it there and you'll be able to carry on with the rest of the climax.

But first, let's just go through my success criteria to check.

We've included everything we need to have.

I written at least two fronted adverbials, I've had soon and with tears in his eyes.

So yes, I can give myself tick.

Have I used ambitious vocabulary? Lots of ambitious vocabulary here.

Jagged, whipped, loyal, weekly whimpered.

And I've used some figurative language where I used the simile like a jagged knife.

So yes, a range of sentence types.

I have a simple sentence here, a complex sentence here and a compound.

Then another simple.

So yes, definitely and then my direct speech.

I've included speech first and speech second with accurate punctuation.

So, I can give myself a tick.

You'll now be able to carry on, writing the rest of the climax.

Okay, it's time for task B.

It's your turn to write.

In a moment, you'll pause the video and then you'll indent your first sentence.

Make sure you use your success criteria and your plan to help you structure your paragraph.

So, pause the video now and off you go writing the climax of the Happy Prince.

Off you go.

Well done everybody.

Welcome back.

In a moment, you're going to read your writing back to check for sense and for any errors.

Then you'll tick the success criteria as you find an example of each part, like in this example.

So, I'm going to read the sentences out loud now, and you can be listening and checking if I've included everything from my success criteria.

As the days grew longer and darker, the cold, icy winds ripped through the city, like a sharp knife, blankets of snow draped across the streets as if they were covering them for the night.

Eventually the bird became weaker and frailer, but he would not leave the prince's side.

Soon, there was nothing he could do.

Death was coming.

He was not strong enough to survive another day.

Goodbye dear Prince, the gentle bird, whimpered weekly with his eyes brewing with tears, the prince asked, "How will I live without you?" Crack, as the grief stricken, prince realised that bird had gone, his own heart shattered into two pieces.

So, have I included two fronted adverbials? I did, I said eventually and soon.

So, two fronted adverbial a time, so I can give myself a tick.

Ambitious vocabulary including figurative language, lots of ambitious vocabulary, all from my plan.

And I had simile.

I said, the winds ripped through the city like a sharp knife, metaphor, the blankets of snow.

And so yes, I have used some figurative language and very ambitious vocabulary.

A range of sentence types, my first sentence was an adverbial complex sentence.

Then I had a compound sentence.

The bird became weaker and frailer, but he would not leave the prince's side.

And I had three simple sentences in a row.

Soon there was nothing he could do.

Death was coming.

He could not, he was not strong enough to survive another day.

So, three simple sentences in a row.

Really effective way of creating dramatic effect.

So, I can give myself a tick.

And then finally, the direct speech with correct punctuation.

I said goodbye dear prince and how will I live without you? So, I use speech first and speech second, both with the correct punctuation, so I can give myself a tick.

Now, you are going to pause the video and go back through your climax and checking your success criteria as you read through it.

Pause the video now and off you go.

Great job today, everybody.

Well done.

Here is a summary of everything we've learned.

The purpose of the climax is to describe the main action and to take the intention and excitement to its highest point.

We use notes from our plan, full sentences, using a range of sentence types.

Simple, compound and complex improves text flow for the reader.

We use direct speech to show that a character is speaking out loud and to move the action forward.

And a range of fronted adverbial is used to improve text flow.

Super drop today everybody.

Well done.