New
New
Year 4
Writing a stormy scene
I can write a descriptive scene about a dark, stormy night.
New
New
Year 4
Writing a stormy scene
I can write a descriptive scene about a dark, stormy night.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Sentences should be said aloud before writing to ensure they make sense and read back once written to check for errors.
- Ambitious vocabulary and figurative language create a vivid picture in the reader's mind.
- Writers choose varied fronted adverbials and different sentence types to ensure the text flows for the reader.
- Careful selection of nouns and pronouns ensures cohesion within sentences and across sections of a written piece.
- Past simple, progressive and perfect verb forms can be used to improve text cohesion.
Keywords
Zoom-in - a writing technique that involves starting description with a broad idea and gradually narrowing the focus to explore specific details
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
Common misconception
Pupils copy notes directly from their plans without forming full sentences.
Pupils should say the sentence aloud first, then write it out. Finally, pupils should check their writing for sense and punctuation.
Encourage pupils to practise writing their sentences on mini-whiteboards after saying their sentences aloud.
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.
What is a fronted adverbial?
a sentence starter followed by a full stop
a sentence starter followed by a capital letter
a sentence starter followed by a question mark
Q2.
Order these according to the 'zoom-in' writing technique where a writer starts describing a broad idea and gradually narrows their writing to more specific descriptive details.
Q3.
When we write, we always try to do which of these things?
Warm up our body and legs.
Sketch a picture of the character.
Q4.
Which of these evoke the most vivid imagery?
under a tree
in the middle of the road
Q5.
Match the present tense form of the word to its past tense form.
splattered
howled
echoed
took
was
Q6.
Why is text flow an important element in writing?
It abruptly transitions between paragraphs and sections.
Readers are more likely to forget information if the text flows well.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which of the words in this sentence are adjectives? 'A downpour of ominous, threatening rain splattered onto the pavement.'
splattered
pavement
Q2.
Which of these is the closest in meaning to 'tempestuous'?
endless or non-stop
thrilling or stunning
splashed or sprinkled
Q3.
Which of these contain an element of personification?
howled like an angry beast
like frenzied serpents
roared like an angry lion
Q4.
Which of these are fronted adverbials of manner?
All around,
Every few minutes,
Q5.
Fill in the gap: 'The menacing, deafening thunder boomed a haunting rhythm __________ it raged its fury through the land.'
but
or
Q6.
Which of these is a relative complex sentence?
The rain splattered in every direction as the wind howled.
The torrential rain poured down like heavy tears.
The pouring rain descended from the heavens.