A complete 8-lesson Year 2 narrative writing unit based on the BBC short film One Christmas: The Supporting Act, using the film and Symphony to develop vocabulary, sentence construction and storytelling. Pupils build the narrative across the unit, from the opening through dialogue, emotions and character reactions to the climax and ending. Lessons include I DO, WE DO and YOU DO modelling, vocabulary banks, dictation, grammar retrieval, shared and independent writing, editing and challenges. Writing techniques include -ing verbs, alliteration, adverbs, similes, dialogue, inverted commas, repetition, commas in lists, synonyms, onomatopoeia, internal dialogue, comparative and superlative adjectives, and metaphor. Teacher notes, lesson objectives, success criteria, key vocabulary and follow-up ideas are included throughout. Lesson 1 – To explore vocabulary linked to music. I can identify words linked to music. I can explain the meaning of new words. I can recognise when a word can have more than one meaning. Lesson 2 – To use descriptive language to write the opening of a narrative. I can use -ing verbs to describe movement. I can add detail using an adverb. I can use a simile to describe a character. Lesson 3 – To use dialogue and emotions to develop a narrative. I can use inverted commas to show what a character says. I can choose effective words to describe a character’s feelings. I can describe how a character reacts to an event. Lesson 4 – To use effective language techniques to develop a narrative. I can use repetition (the power of 3) for effect. I can use commas to separate items in a list. I can choose effective vocabulary, including synonyms and onomatopoeia. Lesson 5 – To use repetition (the power of 3) for effect. I can use repetition (the power of 3) for effect. I can choose effective vocabulary to describe a character’s actions and feelings. I can use an adverb to show the strength of an emotion. Lesson 6 – To use descriptive language to build the next part of a narrative. I can use a simile to describe how something moves. I can use sight and sound to describe what happens. I can choose effective synonyms to describe a character’s feelings. Lesson 7 – To describe a character’s feelings and thoughts in a narrative. I can use effective vocabulary to describe how a character feels. I can describe how a character’s body reacts to an emotion. I can use inverted commas to show a character’s thoughts. Lesson 8 – To use effective language to write the ending of a narrative. I can describe how characters act together. I can use -er and -est to compare and show change. I can use a metaphor to describe a character.

Year 1 Poetry - Firework Night | Complete 8-Lesson Bonfire Night Poetry Sequence Bring poetry to life with this engaging and carefully sequenced 8-lesson Year 1 poetry unit, built around the original model poem Firework Night by Andrew Collett. Designed specifically for KS1 / Year 1, the unit gradually builds children’s confidence as young poets. Rather than expecting pupils to simply “write a poem”, each lesson explicitly teaches and practises the vocabulary, grammatical structures and poetic techniques they need to create effective poetry of their own. Children begin by exploring the shape and structure of a poem, including stanzas and repetition, before developing their ideas through a practical firework art and vocabulary-building lesson. The sequence then progressively introduces nouns, verbs, the -ing suffix, exciting colour vocabulary, movement verbs, metaphors and onomatopoeia, alongside opportunities to describe the people, sights, sounds and movement of a firework display. Throughout the unit, children revisit previous learning and build an increasingly rich bank of vocabulary. Clear modelling and an I Do → We Do → You Do approach support pupils before they apply their learning independently. The lessons include child-friendly learning objectives and success criteria, teacher guidance, vocabulary teaching, retrieval and recap activities, visual prompts, modelled examples, shared writing, independent application and exit-ticket assessment opportunities. The sequence includes Lessons 1–8, with Lessons 1 and 2 presented together as an extended introduction to the model poem and its structure. An ideal seasonal English unit for Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes Night, fireworks or autumn poetry, while still delivering purposeful Year 1 writing and vocabulary development. A structured, visually engaging poetry sequence that does the difficult part for you: building the vocabulary and skills first, so children have something meaningful to write when the pencil reaches the page. Details: