New
New
Year 5

Generating vocabulary to describe a character in 'The Viewer'

I can generate vocabulary to describe a character in ‘The Viewer’.

New
New
Year 5

Generating vocabulary to describe a character in 'The Viewer'

I can generate vocabulary to describe a character in ‘The Viewer’.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A character is a person, animal or figure in a story.
  2. We can use expanded noun phrases to add detail and description to a noun.
  3. A simile describes something by comparing it to something else.

Keywords

  • Character - a person, animal or figure in a story

  • Figurative language - is the use of metaphor, simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the reader

  • Simile - a linguistic device that compares two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’, highlighting similarities to create vivid imagery

Common misconception

Pupils might find it hard to generate adjectives and description about a character they do not have a clear illustration of.

You could ask the children to draw their version of the main character, Tristan, at the start of this lesson. They will then find it easier to generate the descriptive vocabulary.

You may wish to play a game around the school where you describe things using similes. For example: this fire extinguisher is as red as blood, the playground gates are as tall as a mountain...
Teacher tip

Equipment

You need a copy of the 2012 Hodder Children's Books edition of ‘The Viewer’ written by Gary Crew and illustrated by Shaun Tan, 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).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
A setting is ...
the name of the story.
Correct answer: where or when the story takes place.
the characters in a story.
Q2.
True or false? A writer cannot create a particular atmosphere when describing a setting.
Correct Answer: false, False
Q3.
Fill in the blanks. is the use of metaphor, simile and personification to paint vivid pictures for the reader.
Alliteration
Non-fiction writing
Correct answer: Figurative language
Q4.
True or false? Personification is a linguistic device that compares non-human objects to human characteristics to create vivid imagery.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q5.
True or false? We want to create a detailed and clear picture of the setting for the reader. We do this through using lots of precise description.
Correct Answer: true, True
Q6.
When using precise description, what will a writer include next to many of the nouns?
verbs
Correct answer: adjectives
more nouns

6 Questions

Q1.
Fill in the missing word. A is a person, animal or figure in a story.
setting
title
Correct answer: character
Q2.
What is the name of the main character in 'The Viewer'?
Correct answer: Tristan
Tyler
Tim
Q3.
When describing a character, a writer will often use ...
Correct answer: expanded noun phrases.
rhetorical questions.
exclamation marks.
Q4.
Which of these adjectives could describe Tristan's hair?
slim
curious
Correct answer: unwashed
Q5.
Which of these literary devices create figurative language?
Correct answer: similes
Correct answer: personification
rhyme
Correct answer: metaphors
Q6.
Which of these is a simile?
He was on fire.
Correct answer: He was as hot as fire.
He was an oven.