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Year 2

Expressing an opinion about 'Don't Cross the Line!'

I can generate an opinion about the story 'Don't Cross the Line!'.

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New
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Year 2

Expressing an opinion about 'Don't Cross the Line!'

I can generate an opinion about the story 'Don't Cross the Line!'.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. 'Don't Cross the Line!' is a book that is mostly told through illustrations.
  2. Layout refers to how the content is presented on the page.
  3. The layout of 'Don't Cross the Line!' is a crucial part of telling the story.
  4. Stories that have few words are open to interpretation and designed to generate an opinion.
  5. You can justify an interpretation or opinion by offering a clear reason or explanation.

Keywords

  • Layout - the way the content is presented on the page

  • Interpretation - the meaning a person infers from something

  • Opinion - a personal view or judgement about something

  • Justify - giving a reason or explanation for something

Common misconception

Children may not understand that the physical features of a book can be used as a storytelling tool.

Authors and illustrators use a variety of techniques to tell stories. Show children a physical copy of the book and how the line is used.


To help you plan your year 2 english lesson on: Expressing an opinion about 'Don't Cross the Line!', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Offer an opportunity for children to hot seat as different characters to infer how they might be feeling. You could make a line across the classroom for children to act out the story.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is a fiction text?
A true account of a person's life.
Correct answer: A story that is made up or imagined.
A text which provides facts and information.
Q2.
What is an illustration?
Correct answer: A picture in a book that has been drawn by an artist.
A person in a book.
A real photograph in a book.
Q3.
What is an opinion?
What happens in a story.
The number of pages in the story.
Correct answer: What someone thinks or believes about something.
Q4.
Where would you find the title of a book?
In the middle of the book.
At the end of the book.
Correct answer: On the front cover.
On the back cover.
Q5.
Match the keywords with the correct definition.
Correct Answer:layout,How things are arranged on the page.
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How things are arranged on the page.

Correct Answer:speech bubble,A round or oval shape that shows what a character is saying.
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A round or oval shape that shows what a character is saying.

Correct Answer:author,The person who writes a book.
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The person who writes a book.

Correct Answer:illustrator,The person who draws images for a book.
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The person who draws images for a book.

Q6.
Match the words with the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:obey,To do what someone tells you to do.
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To do what someone tells you to do.

Correct Answer:order,A request or command to do something a certain way.
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A request or command to do something a certain way.

Correct Answer:respect,Following instructions or commands from authority figures.
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Following instructions or commands from authority figures.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How is the story of 'Don't Cross the Line' mostly told?
Through narrative story writing.
Through poetry.
Correct answer: Through illustrations.
Q2.
What does the 'layout' of a text refer to?
The order in which a story is told.
The genre that a story belongs to.
Correct answer: How the content is presented on the page.
Q3.
What does the line between the left-hand and right-hand page represent in the story?
Where you should turn the page.
Correct answer: The line that the character's are not allowed to cross over.
The line between what is right and wrong.
Q4.
How do the citizens manage to cross the line?
They force their way past the guard.
Correct answer: They work together and gradually persuade the guard to let them past.
The general in charge changes his mind.
Q5.
Select the statements that are true about 'Don't Cross the Line'
Correct answer: It tells a story of how people face unfair rules.
Correct answer: It shows how people can work together to fight for what is right and fair.
It is a peaceful story where everyone agrees.
Q6.
Match the vocabulary to the correct definition.
Correct Answer:opinion,A personal view or judgement about something.
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A personal view or judgement about something.

Correct Answer:interpretation,The meaning a person infers from something.
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The meaning a person infers from something.

Correct Answer:justify,To give a reason or explanation for something.
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To give a reason or explanation for something.