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Year 3

Writing the build-up of 'The BFG' (part one)

I can write the first part of a build-up of a narrative based on ‘The BFG’.

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New
New
Year 3

Writing the build-up of 'The BFG' (part one)

I can write the first part of a build-up of a narrative based on ‘The BFG’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The purpose of the build-up is to build tension and suspense.
  2. Saying sentences aloud before they are written helps to check for sense.
  3. Using the full range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
  4. A rhetorical question engages the reader and makes them feel more curious about the narrative.
  5. Fronted adverbials of time, place and manner describe the action in the main clause in further detail.

Common misconception

Pupils might write about moments that take place later in the narrative.

The first part of the build-up follows a clear, chronological order that includes the three key moments from pupils' plans.

Keywords

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

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

  • Rhetorical question - a question asked to the reader that does not expect an answer

  • Suspense - when you are feeling anxious or excited about what may happen

Pupils should be given lots of opportunities to say sentences aloud or to write sentences on whiteboards, using the notes from their plan ahead of writing.
Teacher tip

Equipment

You will need access to the 1989 film version of 'The BFG' for this lesson.

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).

Video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put the three key moments of the first part of the build-up in chronological order.
1 - Sophie ducked down and she hid.
2 - The hooded figure started walking down the street.
3 - Sophie nervously peered through the window.
Q2.
Choose an appropriate fronted adverbial to start this sentence: '__________ the figure edged towards her.'
Cheerfully,
Correct answer: Slowly,
In the morning,
In addition,
Q3.
Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
As quick as a flash Sophie ducked behind the window.
As quick, as a flash, Sophie ducked behind the window.
Correct answer: As quick as a flash, Sophie ducked behind the window.
As quick as a flash Sophie ducked behind, the window.
Q4.
Which of these nouns must start with a capital letter?
window
Correct answer: sophie
figure
girl
Q5.
Which is the adverbial phrase in this sentence? 'In panic, Sophie ducked below the window.'
Sophie
ducked
window
Correct answer: In panic
Q6.
Match the word class to its example.
Correct Answer:verb,ducked

ducked

Correct Answer:adverb,nervously

nervously

Correct Answer:noun,street

street

Correct Answer:adjective,dim

dim

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of the build-up?
introduce the characters and setting
Correct answer: build up excitement and suspense
bring the story to a close
describe the main action
Q2.
What is the purpose of a rhetorical question?
to make the reader feel frustrated
to give the reader general facts
Correct answer: to involve the reader in the story
Q3.
A sentence is formed of two main clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction.
Correct Answer: compound, Compound
Q4.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
As, Sophie hid, her legs began to tremble.
Correct answer: As Sophie hid, her legs began to tremble.
As Sophie hid her legs began to tremble.
As Sophie hid her legs began, to tremble.
Q5.
Match the sentence type to its example.
Correct Answer:simple,It edged closer towards her.

It edged closer towards her.

Correct Answer:compound,Her legs began to shake and her heart pounded in her chest.

Her legs began to shake and her heart pounded in her chest.

Correct Answer:complex,She peeked through the curtains as she gulped in fear.

She peeked through the curtains as she gulped in fear.

Q6.
Which sentence is written in the past tense?
She hesitantly peeks out of the window.
Correct answer: She hesitantly peeked out of the window.
She is hesitantly peeking out of the window.