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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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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’.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The purpose of a build-up is to develop the characters and plot and often to introduce a problem.
  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 in the opening, climax or resolution.

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

  • Past tense - shows that the action happened before now

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

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 (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word needs to start with a capital letter?
man
Correct answer: Lily
moon
telescope
Q2.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
The man slumped on the cold bench
the man slumped on the cold bench.
Correct answer: The man slumped on the cold bench.
the man slumped on the cold bench
Q3.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Correct answer: Excitedly, Lily ran up the stairs.
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.
Correct Answer:noun,Earth

Earth

Correct Answer:adjective,cold

cold

Correct Answer:verb,stared

stared

Correct Answer:adverb,longingly

longingly

Q5.
When writing our build-up, we can use our to help us.
Correct Answer: plan, Plan
Q6.
What are the different sentence types you can use in your writing?
paragraph
Correct answer: complex
tension
Correct answer: simple
Correct answer: compound

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
The purpose of the build-up is to...
Correct answer: build up tension and excitement.
introduce the setting and characters.
Correct answer: introduce a problem.
find a resolution.
Q2.
What is the purpose of a rhetorical question?
Correct answer: to invite the reader to think about what's happening in the story
to give the reader general facts
Correct answer: to involve the reader in the story
to make the reader feel frustrated
Q3.
A sentence is formed of a main clause and a subordinate clause.
Correct Answer: complex, Complex
Q4.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
As the man slumped on the bench he gazed longingly at Earth.
Correct answer: 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.
Correct Answer:simple,Lily knew what she had to do.

Lily knew what she had to do.

Correct Answer:compound,Lily stared longingly and she knew what she had to do.

Lily stared longingly and she knew what she had to do.

Correct Answer:complex,As Lily stared, 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,
Correct answer: Again and again,
Carefully,