New
New
Year 3
Writing the build-up of a narrative based on 'The Man on the Moon'
I can write a narrative build-up based on 'The Man on the Moon’.
New
New
Year 3
Writing the build-up of a narrative based on 'The Man on the Moon'
I can write a narrative build-up based on 'The Man on the Moon’.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- The purpose of a build-up is to develop the characters and plot and often to introduce a problem.
- Saying sentences aloud before they are written helps to check for sense.
- Using the full range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow for the reader.
- A rhetorical question engages the reader and makes them feel more curious about the narrative.
- Fronted adverbials of time, place and manner describe the action in the main clause in further detail.
Keywords
Text flow - how a text is written to keep the reader engaged
Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma
Past tense - shows that the action happened before now
Rhetorical question - a question asked to the reader that does not expect an answer
Common misconception
Pupils might write about moments that take place in the opening, climax or resolution.
The build-up follows a clear, chronological order that includes the three key moments from pupils' plans.
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
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 word needs to start with a capital letter?
man
moon
telescope
Q2.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
The man slumped on the cold bench
the man slumped on the cold bench.
the man slumped on the cold bench
Q3.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Excitedly Lily ran up the stairs.
Excitedly, Lily, ran up the stairs.
Excitedly Lily ran up, the stairs.
Q4.
Match the word class to its example.
Earth
cold
stared
longingly
Q5.
When writing our build-up, we can use our to help us.
Q6.
What are the different sentence types you can use in your writing?
paragraph
tension
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
The purpose of the build-up is to...
introduce the setting and characters.
find a resolution.
Q2.
What is the purpose of a rhetorical question?
to give the reader general facts
to make the reader feel frustrated
Q3.
A sentence is formed of a main clause and a subordinate clause.
Q4.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
As the man slumped on the bench he gazed longingly at Earth.
As the man, slumped on the bench he gazed longingly at Earth.
As, the man slumped on the bench, he gazed longingly at Earth.
Q5.
Match the sentence type to its example.
Lily knew what she had to do.
Lily stared longingly and she knew what she had to do.
As Lily stared, she knew what she had to do.
Q6.
Complete this sentence with an appropriate fronted adverbial: '__________ she tried to find a way to send the letter to the moon.'
Interestingly,
In the starry sky,
Carefully,