Creative writing short story setting lesson that explores how to use vocabulary, structure and language to create an effective setting. Includes a model example, detailed teacher and student notes, engaging tasks, differentiated materials, and uses the drop, shift, zoom in, zoom out technique for creating effective descriptive writing. A useful lesson for both KS3 and GCSE English Literature and English Language students. Includes differentiated activities, source materials, engaging tasks and extensive student and teacher notes. Check out our English Shop for loads more free and inexpensive KS3, KS4, KS5, Literacy and whole school resources. AQA English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2 Knowledge Organisers AQA English Language Paper 1 Section A package AQA English Language Paper 1 Sections A and B package AQA English Language Paper 1 package AQA English Language Paper 2 Question 5 package AQA English Language Paper 1 Question 5 package AQA English Language Paper 2 Section A package AQA English Language and English Literature revision package An Inspector Calls whole scheme package An Inspector Calls revision package Macbeth whole scheme package Macbeth revision package A Christmas Carol whole scheme package A Christmas Carol revision package Jekyll and Hyde whole scheme package Jekyll and Hyde revision package Romeo and Juliet whole scheme package Power and Conflict poetry comparing poems package Power and Conflict poetry whole scheme package Love and Relationships poetry whole scheme package Unseen Poetry whole scheme package Or check out some Citizenship GCSE, RE, PSHE + RSE resources at EC Resources

A fully differentiated and resourced lesson for low ability KS3 and KS4 students to help them develop their sentence starters and use of language techniques to write a description of a winter scene. UPDATED FOR 2026 Query or question? Get in touch at info@englishgcse.co.uk Check out our English Shop for loads more free and inexpensive KS3, KS4, KS5, Literacy and whole school resources.* AQA English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2 Knowledge Organisers AQA English Language Paper 1 Section A package AQA English Language Paper 1 Sections A and B package AQA English Language Paper 1 package AQA English Language Paper 2 Question 5 package AQA English Language Paper 1 Question 5 package AQA English Language Paper 2 Section A package AQA English Language and English Literature revision package An Inspector Calls whole scheme package An Inspector Calls revision package Macbeth whole scheme package Macbeth revision package A Christmas Carol whole scheme package A Christmas Carol revision package Jekyll and Hyde whole scheme package Jekyll and Hyde revision package Romeo and Juliet whole scheme package Power and Conflict poetry comparing poems package Power and Conflict poetry whole scheme package Love and Relationships poetry whole scheme package Unseen Poetry whole scheme package

Unleash the magic of a Gothic Christmas in your classroom with this comprehensive resource! Explore the 5 senses through writing activities, elevate vocabulary with spine-chilling descriptors, and delight in quirky yet educational festive exercises. Designed for 1-2 lessons, this resource is a treasure trove for teachers seeking a perfect blend of creativity and skill-building. Silly activities, model answers, and seamless navigation make this resource an invaluable asset for a captivating Christmas writing experience.

KS2 (Key Stage 2) or early KS3 imaginative / descriptive writing story starters cards, featuring high quality photo prompts, vocabulary banks, prompt questions and more. These 20 full-page story generators can be used across a range of abilities and ages, especially in Year 4, 5, 6 and 7 (Y4 / Y5 / Y6 / Y7), to spark ideas for stories. Great for reluctant writers and they have a dyslexia friendly format too. PDF format. In Scotland use for Primary 4, 5, and 6 and S1. You can purchase this as part of this Creative Writing Story Prompts BIG BUNDLE 100 Prompts! Use as warm ups, early finishers activities and as a framework for free writing sessions Each of the 20 A4 cards features a visual element (photo / picture stimulus), a starter sentence or part-sentence to help launch children into their fiction / narrative writing Prompt questions to get ideas going A word bank and suggested openers to add variety to their writing A box at the bottom reminds students to read their work aloud, check for full stops and capital letters and common spellings Range of subjects and genres including sport, mystery, humour, fantasy and historical. Plenty of variety so children can choose ones that appeal to them. UK and US English versions included, with spellings and references to ‘full stops’ and ‘periods’ etc amended as appropriate Designed to offer maximum support for dyslexic learners and those with similar barriers to learning. Verdana font and spacing used are both dyslexia-friendly and the background colours are designed to reduce glare. Both the UK and US cards are also included with the background colours removed and could be used if printing on dyslexia friendly paper or card. Could be used to support the writing of a full story Could also work well as a regular tool to support struggling writers in one-to-one or small group sessions, where students write a few sentences inspired by the prompts, without worrying about completing a story.   SAVE AS PART OF OTHER BUNDLES, SUCH AS… Creative Writing Story Prompts KS2 Writing See below for more options.   YOU MIGHT LIKE… Complex Sentences Cards Full Stops and Capital Letters Cards Improving Sentences Worksheets

An engaging and fully resourced extended writing lesson. Suitable for KS3 or KS4 AQA English Language Paper 1 Section B - Descriptive Writing practice. The PowerPoint includes: Overview of the features of Gothic literature Extract from Bram Stoker’s Dracula for analysis Creative writing image, activity and choice prompts Planning worksheet Peer assessment focus In the past I also used this as a cover lesson which worked really well. Please leave a review if you found this resource helpful :) Or browse my online shop for other creative writing resources: https://www.tes.com/teaching-resources/shop/NovelTeachingUK

** Christmas Creative Writing** Hi all, I used this resource with my lower end GCSE students for some end of term creative writing fun. Usually they’re reluctant to pick up a pen and do composition, but they all really enjoyed this lesson. It covers plenty if tasks, focussing on: Complex sentences VCOP Character descriptions Christmas vocabulary Persuasive writing Figurative language Similes Metaphors Group tasks I hope you enjoy this resource - do leave a review if you have any feedback; thank you :)

A lively and engaging lesson developing students’ ability to open their descriptive and narrative writing in an original and engaging way. Ideal in preparing students for AQA GCSE English Language Paper 1, Section B. The full scheme of work is available to purchase for just £5. Click this link to check it out! Activities are designed to develop your pupils’ ability to open their story/description in an engaging and varied way, giving them lots of different methods and strategies to enable them to do this. The lessons have been designed with the new AQA Language Paper 1 specification in mind, which places heavy emphasis on making effective vocabulary choices in the writing, but is equally useful for KS3 teaching. Would work well as a standalone writing/literacy lesson or as part of the paper 1 writing scheme of work of which this is a part. If you loved the resource and think it’s worth 5 stars, why not get another one absolutely free? Simply leave a review, email ireviewedajs@outlook.com with your TES username and state the free resource* you would like! (Free resource cannot exceed the value of the original resource purchased)

Transport your students into stories of wonder, loss and light with Christmas Writing Prompts — a five-day collection of richly atmospheric creative writing tasks. From eerie parades and enchanted journeys to celestial mysteries and trapped towns, these prompts explore the many meanings of Christmas: hope, memory, longing and the hidden corners beneath celebration. Each prompt pairs a striking, story-rich image with structured creative guidance to help students craft writing filled with emotion, tension and imagination. Whether haunting, heartfelt or magical, every task opens a doorway into powerful storytelling. What’s Included ★ 5 Christmas-themed creative writing prompts ★ A visually striking image to spark inspiration ★ A thematic title to shape tone and atmosphere ★ A suggested opening line to launch the narrative ★ A closing line to build a strong ending ★ A plot idea for structure and challenge ★ 5 discussion questions per prompt to deepen thinking and support analysis Key Benefits ➤ Instant use — ideal for projecting or sharing digitally ➤ No preparation needed: simply open and write ➤ Fully editable to adapt for different learners or contexts ➤ Perfect for seasonal lessons, emergency cover, or a week-long writing challenge ➤ Encourages voice, atmosphere and critical thinking through guided creativity Let your students step into worlds where frost never melts, reindeer chase the aurora alone, wishes rewrite reality, and cathedrals fall silent beneath frozen stars. Christmas Writing Prompts offers five days of mystery, magic and meaning — a powerful way to transform a winter week into something unforgettable.

This festive KS3 Christmas Creative Writing Resource includes five differentiated writing tasks, each with its own Christmas-themed prompt, starter sentence, and 10 ambitious vocabulary words to stretch learners’ creativity and literacy skills. Perfect for English lessons in December, this pack offers a mix of prose, poetry, descriptive writing and letter writing tasks that are engaging, imaginative and curriculum-friendly. Designed to build vocabulary, encourage extended writing, and support creative independence, these activities work brilliantly across a range of abilities in Years 7–9. This resource is ideal for: Classwork Homework Cover lessons Independent writing tasks End-of-term Christmas activities Literacy enrichment and vocabulary building Each task includes: A high-quality Christmas writing prompt -A starter sentence to kickstart ideas -Ten challenging vocabulary words to embed -A range of genres (narrative, description, poetry, letter writing) Perfect for busy teachers needing ready-to-use Christmas English lessons. These tasks require no preparation and can easily be used as stand-alone lessons or part of a festive writing unit. Keywords: KS3 English, Christmas creative writing, festive writing tasks, Christmas activities, literacy, vocabulary building, cover work, homework, narrative writing, poetry, letter writing, descriptive writing, end of term.

AQA English Language Paper Question 5, descriptive writing lesson. Complete 1 hour, well differentiated lesson with worksheets and differentiated tasks throughout. Includes peer assessment task and marking criteria. Ideal preparation for Section B of AQA Language Paper 1. Suitable for KS3/4 - adaptable Different level tasks for MA,LA or Core Designed to fit Ofsted criteria for’ Good’ or above. UPDATED FOR THE 2026 EXAMS Query or question? Get in touch at info@englishgcse.co.uk Check out our English Shop for loads more free and inexpensive KS3, KS4, KS5, Literacy and whole school resources. AQA English Language Paper 1 and Paper 2 Knowledge Organisers AQA English Language Paper 1 Section A package AQA English Language Paper 1 Sections A and B package AQA English Language Paper 1 package AQA English Language Paper 2 Question 5 package AQA English Language Paper 1 Question 5 package AQA English Language Paper 2 Section A package AQA English Language and English Literature revision package An Inspector Calls whole scheme package An Inspector Calls revision package Macbeth whole scheme package Macbeth revision package A Christmas Carol whole scheme package A Christmas Carol revision package Jekyll and Hyde whole scheme package Jekyll and Hyde revision package Romeo and Juliet whole scheme package Power and Conflict poetry comparing poems package Power and Conflict poetry whole scheme package Love and Relationships poetry whole scheme package Unseen Poetry whole scheme package

A set of 3 (potentially 4) lessons you could easily set as cover (as I have done so!) if a teacher is likely to be absent for a few days. Lesson 1: Implying information based on the image of a door. Lesson 2: Describing approaching the door (rising action / building tension) Lesson 3: The other side of the door (climax) Lesson 4 (optional): Neat write up of their 3 part description of the door ‘for display’ The lessons indicate that the writing should IMPLY, not state (i.e. my take on ‘show, don’t tell’), whereby certain rules are included such as 'you cannot use the word ‘door’. Lessons include examples / models; scaffolding and success criteria; peer assessment tasks.

Two engaging lesson on varying sentence structures and using punctuation for effect. Includes a range of activities and detailed worksheets that really encourage pupils to see the merit of more varied structural choices, as well as emphasises the significance of technical accuracy. Worked extremely well and had high impact on my own classes. Suitable for both KS3 and KS4.

Perfect for a cover lesson Aimed at Year 5/6/7/8 pupils Guided writing lesson, using a gothic picture, which could be adapted for any image and using numerous times Ideal preparation for Language Paper 1 Question 5, for KS4

You are purchasing a 16 page booklet which takes students through the skills and structure of the P1Q5 task. You will recieve the .pdf and .doc files (please note because of the fonts used the word document may change from the pdf.) This was used for a 3 hour revision writing workshop. The PowerPoint for the workshop is included. The booklet has the following structure: Front page with key information Page explaining a planning structure: Drop, Shift, Zoom in, Zoom out Space with 2 practice questions to apply the structure (with linked ambitious vocabulary) 3 descriptions of snow and 3 rural descriptions where students can extract new vocabulary and phrasing Example AQA question (storm image) and an example response Reduced mark scheme on one page Another example response for students to mark A band 3 answer for students to move the response into band 4 A space with slow writing prompts for students to write an opening paragraph A space for them to continue their response 4 x practice questions with linked ambitious vocabulary A ‘stolen vocabulary’ page for students to add vocabulary as they work through the booklet

These creative writing tasks for Macbeth are designed for KS4 students to improve their language Paper 1 skills. With engaging prompts inspired by the play’s themes, characters, and dramatic tension, students will develop their narrative and descriptive writing, honing techniques such as imagery, structure, and character voice. Perfect for enhancing exam performance and fostering creativity in analysing Shakespeare’s work.

Story writing prompt used for a Year 7 baseline assessment.

A PowerPoint designed to challenge pupils and get them thinking creatively! Based on another ppt from TES that I have used and my classes love. There are four categories - 10 Minute Stories; Whose is it?; Location, location, location; Word Limit. Pupils choose a category and then a number from 1-9 as their inspiration. There are given time limits or word limits and instructions on each slide. Each slide has clickable content so good to use on IWB or just as a normal ppt.

A Harry Potter themed creative writing lesson focusing upon creating an effective description of setting. Pupils begin by exploring several descriptions of famous locations on Diagon Alley which they use to gather examples of how the five senses are used. Following this, pupils are challenged to create their own description of their chosen location on Diagon Alley before completing a peer-assessment which helps to reduce teacher marking! All resources are included and provide examples of shops, higher level vocabulary and examples of language devices in action to offer additional assistance and guidance.

10 visual prompts for narrative/story writing. Great for a one-off lesson or cover work. (KS2/KS3/KS4)