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Year 4

Writing the resolution of 'Whale Rider'

I can write the resolution of 'Whale Rider'.

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New
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Year 4

Writing the resolution of 'Whale Rider'

I can write the resolution of 'Whale Rider'.

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Share activities with pupils
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These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The purpose of a resolution is to resolve the story and give the reader a chance to reflect.
  2. Using the full range of sentence types (simple, compound and complex) improves text flow and cohesion.
  3. Fronted adverbials of time, place and manner describe the action in the main clause in further detail.
  4. Oral rehearsal before writing helps to structure grammatically correct sentences and check for sense.

Keywords

  • Ambitious vocabulary - high-level language in writing that meets the text purpose

  • Fronted adverbial - a sentence starter followed by a comma

  • 'show-not-tell' - shows a character’s feelings by describing their actions, body language and facial expressions

Common misconception

Pupils might not write about all the key moments from the resolution.

The resolution follows a chronological order that includes four key moments that are detailed in pupils' plans.


To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Writing the resolution of 'Whale Rider', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Pupils should be given lots of opportunities to say sentences aloud and to write sentences on whiteboards, using the notes from their plans ahead of writing.
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Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

You must have access to the film 'Whale Rider' (South Pacific Pictures, 2002) to complete this unit. Images of the characters and scenes from the film will be helpful.

copyright

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 sentence is written in the past tense?
Paikea holds on tightly as her heart soars with each movement.
Correct answer: Paikea was holding on tightly as her heart soared with each movement.
Paikea is holding on tightly as her heart soars with each movement.
Paikea will hold on tightly as her heart soars with each movement.
Q2.
True or false? You can copy out the notes from your plan exactly as they are.
Correct Answer: false, False
Q3.
Fill in the missing word: The __________ is the section of a story where the writer brings the story to a close.
opening
build-up
climax
Correct answer: resolution
Q4.
Order the four key moments of the resolution chronologically.
1 - Paikea greets the whale with a hongi.
2 - Paikea climbs onto its back and she encourages the whale to move into the water.
3 - Paikea rides the whale through the water in the sea.
4 - Koro understands that Paikea is the one chosen by their ancestors.
Q5.
What is an adverbial complex sentence?
a sentence formed of two main clauses
Correct answer: a sentence formed of one main clause and an adverbial subordinate clause
a sentence formed of two main clauses joined by a co-ordinating conjunction
Q6.
Which of the following sentences is correctly punctuated?
With power Paikea and the whale surged forward into the sea.
With, power, Paikea and the whale surged forward into the sea.
Correct answer: With power, Paikea and the whale surged forward into the sea.
With power Paikea and the whale, surged forward into the sea.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is an adverbial complex sentence?
She chanted and the whale began to move.
Slowly, the whale began to move.
She chanted, but the whale began to move.
Correct answer: As she chanted, the whale began to move.
Q2.
Match the word class to its example.
Correct Answer:noun,ancestor
tick

ancestor

Correct Answer:verb,deepened
tick

deepened

Correct Answer:adverb,deeply
tick

deeply

Correct Answer:adjective,courageous
tick

courageous

Q3.
Which is the adverb in this sentence? 'Determinedly, Paikea held onto the whale as her heart soared.'
heart
Correct answer: determinedly
whale
soared
Q4.
Which of the following is punctuated correctly?
As, they swam further away Paikea knew that this was the start of their journey.
As they swam further away Paikea knew that this was the start of their journey.
Correct answer: As they swam further away, Paikea knew that this was the start of their journey.
As they swam further away Paikea knew, that this was the start of their journey.
Q5.
Which sentence contains an example of show-not-tell language?
Koro was shocked by what he was witnessing.
Koro couldn't believe what he was witnessing.
It was a shocking sight.
Correct answer: Koro’s eyes filled with tears.
Q6.
What are the main purposes of a resolution?
Correct answer: resolve a story
build up suspense and tension
describe the most exciting and tense moment
Correct answer: allow the reader to reflect
introduce the characters and setting