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Year 5

Planning a setting and character description based on 'The Highwayman'

I can use my understanding of ‘The Highwayman’ to plan an atmospheric setting and character description.

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Year 5

Planning a setting and character description based on 'The Highwayman'

I can use my understanding of ‘The Highwayman’ to plan an atmospheric setting and character description.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Adverbials of time, place and manner explain to the reader when, where and how things happened.
  2. Figurative language can be used to create atmosphere and imagery for the reader.
  3. A complex sentence consists of at least one main clause and any type of subordinate clause.
  4. Using a range of sentence types enhances the flow of a text.

Keywords

  • Adverbial detail - tells the reader when, where or how something happened

  • Complex sentence - a sentence formed of at least one main clause and any type of subordinate clause

  • Figurative language - the use of simile, metaphor and personification to create vivid imagery

  • Atmosphere - how a writer constructs their writing to convey emotions and mood to the reader

Common misconception

Pupils may find it difficult to recall, define and use different figurative language structures.

Use Joseph Coelho's 'MORERAPS' poem to provide additional examples of effective figurative language.

If pupils need additional support with complex sentences, use the Year 5 Grammar unit 'Five sentence types'.
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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.
Match each linguistic device to its definition.
Correct Answer:metaphor,comparing two things by saying that one thing is another
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comparing two things by saying that one thing is another

Correct Answer:simile,comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'
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comparing two things using 'like' or 'as'

Correct Answer:personification,giving human characteristics to non-human things
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giving human characteristics to non-human things

Correct Answer:alliteration,many words beginning with the same letter
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many words beginning with the same letter

Correct Answer:repetition,the repeating of key words and phrases
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the repeating of key words and phrases

Q2.
Match each linguistic device to its example.
Correct Answer:metaphor,the moon was a ghostly orb
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the moon was a ghostly orb

Correct Answer:simile,as fast as lightning
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as fast as lightning

Correct Answer:personification,the trees begged for mercy
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the trees begged for mercy

Correct Answer:alliteration,the slender, silver path
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the slender, silver path

Correct Answer:repetition,riding - riding - riding
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riding - riding - riding

Q3.
What is a verb?
a person, place or thing
a describing word
Correct answer: a doing, being or having word
Q4.
A main clause is...
a group of words without a verb.
Correct answer: a group of words including a verb that makes sense on its own.
a group of words including a verb that does not make sense on its own.
Q5.
A subordinate clause is...
a group of words without a verb.
a group of words including a verb that makes sense on its own.
Correct answer: a group of words including a verb that does not make sense on its own.
Q6.
What is the setting of a text?
the characters in the story
who wrote the text
Correct answer: where the story takes place

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Select the definition of a complex sentence.
a sentence formed of one main clause
a sentence formed of two main clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction
Correct answer: a sentence formed of at least one main clause and any type of subordinate clause
Q2.
Match the types of complex sentences to their definitions:
Correct Answer:adverbial complex,formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause
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formed of a main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause

Correct Answer:non-finite complex,formed of a main clause and a non-finite subordinate clause
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formed of a main clause and a non-finite subordinate clause

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

Q3.
'Charging across the desolate moor' is an example of which type of subordinate clause?
adverbial subordinate
Correct answer: non-finite subordinate
relative subordinate
Q4.
'As the stars glimmered in the sky above' is an example of which type of subordinate clause?
Correct answer: adverbial subordinate
non-finite subordinate
relative subordinate
Q5.
'Who wore a French-cocked hat' is an example of which type of subordinate clause?
adverbial subordinate
non-finite subordinate
Correct answer: relative subordinate
Q6.
Match the adverbial types to their examples:
Correct Answer:adverbial of time,in the dead of night
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in the dead of night

Correct Answer:adverbial of place,behind the clouds
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behind the clouds

Correct Answer:adverbial of manner,deafeningly
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deafeningly