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Year 3 - English

Engaging with the plot of 'The Day the Crayons Quit'

'The Day the Crayons Quit': reading and writing persuasive letters

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils write a persuasive letter, using the picture book 'The Day the Crayons Quit' by Drew Daywalt as their starting point. They learn about persuasive writing devices, including flattery and rhetorical questions. Pupils learn and apply a variety of conventions of letter writing.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to engage with the plot of 'The Day the Crayons Quit'.

Key Notes

  • 'The Day the Crayons Quit' is a children's picture book.
  • The book is compiled of letters from the crayons to their owner, Duncan, explaining why they are going to quit.
  • The illustrations visually bring to life the personalities and emotions of each crayon character.
  • Letters are often written when the writer has a feeling or an opinion about something.
  • The crayon characters all have different reasons for writing their letter to Duncan.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • fiction: when authors create made up stories with characters, places and adventures which did not happen in real life
  • character: a person, animal, being, creature or thing in a story
  • letter: a written communication sent in an envelope by post
  • recipient: the person who receives the letter

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that a character in a book has to be a person or animal.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

'The Day the Crayons Quit' is a children's picture book. The book is compiled of letters from the crayons to their owner, Duncan, explaining why they are going to quit.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'fiction'

when authors create made up stories with characters, places and adventures which did not happen in real life.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that a character in a book has to be a person or animal. Correction: Explain to pupils that objects can be personified; the illustrations visually bring to life the personalities and emotions of each crayon character.

More Lessons In This Unit

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