Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 4

Writing the opening of 'A Christmas Carol'

I can write a narrative opening based on ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
New
New
Year 4

Writing the opening of 'A Christmas Carol'

I can write a narrative opening based on ‘A Christmas Carol’.

Download all resources
arrow-right
Share activities with pupils
arrow-right
warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.
View new resources
arrow-right

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The introduction of Scrooge’s character greatly contrasts the general Christmas atmosphere in the opening.
  2. Precise vocabulary, including ‘show and tell’ and direct speech, conveys a character’s traits and feelings.
  3. Using a range of simple, compound and complex sentences supports text flow.
  4. A relative complex sentence uses a relative pronoun (who or which) to provide greater detail about a noun.
  5. Inverted commas are used to demarcate speech and a piece of punctuation separates speech from the reporting clause.

Keywords

  • Contrast - the comparison of two or more elements that are strikingly different

  • 'show and tell' - a writing technique for showing a character’s feelings with description of their actions and expressions

  • Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text

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

  • Relative complex sentence - a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

Common misconception

Children may assume that any mention of character speech is direct speech, because that has been the focus in the lesson.

Model how speech can still be indirectly reported within the opening alongside direct speech. E.g. 'Scrooge muttered insults at all those he passed.'

Ensure children have access to their plan to support them in their writing. Additionally, ensure there is a clear model of correctly punctuated direct speech available for the children to refer to.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Skip lesson video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? When writing character speech, 'said' is the only verb you can use in the reporting clause.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q2.
Which piece of punctuation is used to enclose the words a character speaks?
commas
Correct answer: inverted commas
apostrophes
Q3.
How do you use your plan to support you when writing?
memorise it
copy it out
Correct answer: use the key vocabulary to form full sentences
Q4.
Why is it important to use a range of sentence types in your writing?
It ensures the narrative is written in the correct order.
Correct answer: It supports text flow for the reader.
It makes the writing rhyme.
Q5.
Match the sentence types to their definitions.
Correct Answer:simple sentence,a sentence made of just one main clause with just one idea

a sentence made of just one main clause with just one idea

Correct Answer:compound sentence,a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word

a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word

Correct Answer:complex sentence,a sentence formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause

a sentence formed of at least one main clause and a subordinate clause

Q6.
True or false? When describing Scrooge, I don't need to mention or describe the setting at all.
Correct Answer: False, false

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the sentence types to their definitions.
Correct Answer:simple sentence,a sentence made of just one main clause with just one idea

a sentence made of just one main clause with just one idea

Correct Answer:compound sentence,a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word

a sentence formed of two main clauses and a joining word

Correct Answer:adverbial complex sentence,a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause

a sentence formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause

Correct Answer:relative complex sentence,a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

a sentence formed of a main clause and a relative subordinate clause

Q2.
How do you form a relative complex sentence?
Correct answer: main clause + relative subordinate clause
main clause + adverbial subordinate clause
main clause + main clause
Q3.
Which two places can the relative subordinate clause appear in a sentence?
at the beginning of a sentence before the main clause
Correct answer: embedded within the main clause
Correct answer: at the end of the sentence after the main clause
Q4.
Which of the following are relative pronouns used to begin a relative subordinate clause?
why
when
Correct answer: who
Correct answer: which
where
Q5.
Put the following in the correct order to show how to punctuate direct speech when the speech comes first.
1 - open inverted commas
2 - capital letter to begin speech
3 - comma, exclamation mark or question mark
4 - close inverted commas
5 - reporting clause
6 - full stop
Q6.
True or false? It is important to read over my writing when I have finished.
Correct Answer: True, true