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Year 2

Exploring vocabulary in 'Leaf'

I can understand and use the vocabulary used in the story.

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New
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Year 2

Exploring vocabulary in 'Leaf'

I can understand and use the vocabulary used in the story.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Vocabulary in a story can generate a description of a character, such as the use of "stomping" and "destructive".
  2. Descriptions of a character may change throughout the story as demonstrated through vocabulary, such as "lonely".
  3. Powerful verbs and adjectives are used to help the reader build an image in their mind.

Keywords

  • Vocabulary - the words we know and use to communicate with others

  • Description - using words to help someone imagine what something is like

  • Verb - a doing or a being word

  • Adjective - a word that describes or gives more information about a noun

Common misconception

Children may think characters can only be portrayed in one way, e.g. either as safe or dangerous.

A character can be described in a variety of ways. This can signal a change in their circumstances or demonstrate different impressions.


To help you plan your year 2 english lesson on: Exploring vocabulary in 'Leaf', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Make sure you give the children opportunity to re-read the text aloud either as a class, independently or in pairs, supporting those who have not secured sufficient phonics knowledge.
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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.
Which pieces of information would you find on the front cover of a picture book?
Correct answer: title
blurb
Correct answer: author
caption
Q2.
True or false? 'Leaf' is a non-fiction text.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q3.
True or false? All the characters in 'Leaf' are animals.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q4.
Match the keywords to the correct definitions.
Correct Answer:fiction,A story which is made up or imagined.
tick

A story which is made up or imagined.

Correct Answer:prediction,Deciding what you think will happen next in a story.
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Deciding what you think will happen next in a story.

Correct Answer:character,A person or animal in a story.
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A person or animal in a story.

Correct Answer:illustration,A picture in a book drawn by an artist.
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A picture in a book drawn by an artist.

Q5.
Starting from the beginning, order these events from the story 'Leaf'.
1 - One day, a crow saw a polar bear washed up on the shore.
2 - The polar bear collected leaves every day.
3 - The forest animals did not talk to the polar bear and they were afraid of him.
4 - The polar bear tried to jump off the cliff and fly home but it didn't work.
5 - The animals felt sorry for the polar bear and finally listened to his story.
6 - The crows helped to fly the polar bear home.
Q6.
Which real life issue is the story of 'Leaf' based on?
Healthcare.
Correct answer: Climate change.
Technology.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which statement best summarises the story of 'Leaf'?
It is about animals who fight with each other but then make friends.
Correct answer: It is about the effects of climate change on an animal's habitat and friendship.
It is about a polar bear that wants to use leaves as wings to fly.
Q2.
Order the events from the story of 'Leaf' correctly.
1 - A crow spotted a polar bear floating towards the shore on a slab of ice.
2 - The polar bear set up home inside a cave and all the animals were afraid of him.
3 - The polar bear, now named Leaf, tried to use leaves to fly off a hill.
4 - The animals called a meeting to discuss Leaf but couldn't agree on anything.
5 - Leaf tried to fly again, this time off a cliff and landed in the sea.
6 - The crows, seeing Leaf sad and lonely, decided to listen to his story.
7 - All the animals vowed to tell Leaf's story and the crows flew Leaf home.
Q3.
Match the word class to its correct definition.
Correct Answer:verb,A doing or being word.
tick

A doing or being word.

Correct Answer:adjective,A word that describes a noun.
tick

A word that describes a noun.

Correct Answer:noun,A person, place, thing or idea.
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A person, place, thing or idea.

Q4.
Which of the following words are verbs?
big, beautiful, terrifying, sad, happy
picture, mountain, cave, animal, crow
Correct answer: leaped, cried, played, discussed, wished
Q5.
Which of the following are examples of adjectives?
Correct answer: dangerous, lonely, scared, kind, empathetic
climate, family, ocean, friends, hill, lake
burst, jumped, promised, talk, listened
Q6.
Which of the following sentences uses the word 'destructive' appropriately?
Correct answer: The destructive storm destroyed many homes and wiped out electricity lines.
The destructive nurse cared for her patients with kindness and warmth.
Correct answer: The destructive animal launched itself through others' habitats, creating chaos.