Story opener (2 Week unit)

This two-week writing unit is designed for Year 4 and focuses on creating effective story openers, using Escape from Pompeii as the central text. The resource supports children in developing the skills needed to write engaging and atmospheric openings that draw the reader into the story.

The pack includes:

A complete two-week lesson plan with clear objectives, teaching guidance, and step-by-step activities.

An engaging PowerPoint presentation, with detailed teacher notes to support modelling and guided practice.

Editable worksheets and activity pages for flexibility and ease of use.

Differentiated tasks for lower ability, middle ability, and higher ability learners, ensuring that all pupils are supported and challenged appropriately.

Additional resources to build vocabulary, sentence structure, and creative writing techniques.

Across the two weeks, pupils will learn how to:

Identify and analyse the features of effective story openers.

Use expanded noun phrases, fronted adverbials, and varied sentence starters.

Build atmosphere through sensory detail, descriptive language, and figurative devices.

Explore how Escape from Pompeii establishes setting, character, and tension at the start of the story.

Plan, draft, edit, and publish their own engaging story openers.

By the end of the unit, pupils will have produced a polished story opener inspired by Escape from Pompeii, demonstrating a strong grasp of descriptive language, structure, and the techniques needed to hook the reader.