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Year 3

Developing storytelling vocabulary

I can develop precise and descriptive vocabulary to enhance the storytelling process.

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New
New
Year 3

Developing storytelling vocabulary

I can develop precise and descriptive vocabulary to enhance the storytelling process.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Link copied to clipboard

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

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. There is some vocabulary that is commonly used when retelling a story, particularly a fairy tale.
  2. 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' uses repetition of the number three as a key storytelling technique.
  3. Fronted adverbials of time can be used to help sequence a story.
  4. Using precise vocabulary helps to create vivid descriptions of characters, setting and action.

Keywords

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

  • Adjective - a word that describes a noun

  • Fronted adverbial of time - a sentence starter that tells the reader when something happens

Common misconception

Pupils may only want to use vocabulary from the original story.

Explain to pupils that we are retelling our own version of the story and therefore we can include our own precise and descriptive vocabulary.


To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Developing storytelling vocabulary, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Model and share different examples to fill in the vocabulary blanks. Use this to create a bank of precise and ambitious vocabulary that will support children with their oral storytelling.
Teacher tip

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.
True or false? To experience a story you have to read it.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q2.
When retelling a story, we should do which of these?
Correct answer: Use a loud and clear voice.
Look at the floor.
Correct answer: Look at the audience.
Whisper the story.
Q3.
True or false? When retelling a story aloud, we should use expression.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q4.
Successful listening includes ...
Correct answer: looking at the speaker.
Correct answer: listening carefully to the words and expressions of the speaker.
playing a game.
talking to my friend.
Q5.
Put the parts of a story structure in the correct order.
1 - opening
2 - build-up
3 - climax
4 - resolution
Q6.
Put the following events from 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' in the correct order.
1 - A family of bears went for a walk, leaving their porridge to cool.
2 - Goldilocks spotted the bears' cottage and went inside.
3 - Goldilocks tried each porridge and ate all of Baby Bear's.
4 - Goldilocks sat in each chair and broke Baby Bear's.
5 - Goldilocks lay in each bed and fell asleep in Baby Bear's.
6 - The bears came home and discovered Goldilocks asleep in Baby Bear's bed.
7 - Goldilocks woke up, saw the bears and screamed. She ran away and never returned.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? We should use simple vocabulary when telling a story orally.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q2.
How does a fairy tale normally begin?
Happily ever after,
Correct answer: Once upon a time,
At the end of the forest,
Q3.
Match each fronted adverbial to the correct main clause.
Correct Answer:One morning,,the bears went for a walk while waiting for their porridge to cool.

the bears went for a walk while waiting for their porridge to cool.

Correct Answer:That same day,,Goldilocks came across their cottage and smelt the porridge.

Goldilocks came across their cottage and smelt the porridge.

Correct Answer:Without hesitation,,she went inside.

she went inside.

Correct Answer:On the table,,she spotted three porridge bowls filled to the brim!

she spotted three porridge bowls filled to the brim!

Q4.
Put the following in the order that Goldilocks always tries the items in the house.
1 - Papa Bear's
2 - Mama Bear's
3 - Baby Bear's
Q5.
Which of these would be appropriate precise and descriptive verbs to complete the following sentence: 'Without a second to waste, Goldilocks __________ the porridge.'
ate
Correct answer: devoured
Correct answer: gobbled
swallowed
Q6.
Which of these would be appropriate adjectives to complete the following sentence: 'Feeling stuffed after her meal, Goldilocks wanted to find a __________ place to rest.'
funny
Correct answer: comfortable
hard
Correct answer: cosy