Year 4 - English
Retelling the story of 'Whale Rider'
'Whale Rider': narrative writing
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils write a range of narrative outcomes based on the film 'Whale Rider'. They analyse sections of the film carefully, from which they write an opening, an emotive scene and a resolution. Pupils also practise using speech punctuation accurately in their narratives.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to retell the story of 'Whale Rider'.
Key Notes
- 'Whale Rider' tells the story of Paikea and the challenges she faces and overcomes as a young girl in a Maori tribe.
- A narrative can be structured into four key sections: the opening, the build-up, the climax and the resolution.
- Each part of a narrative has a specific purpose.
- We can use our voice, language choices and expression to retell a story effectively.
- When retelling a story, it is important to convey the appropriate tone at each point of the story.
Vocabulary To Learn
- sequencing: putting the events that occur in a story in order from the beginning to the end
- structure: the order of events within a narrative that gives it a coherent and engaging flow
- setting: where the story takes place
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Sequencing and retelling a story only involves recounting the events in the exact order that they occurred.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
'Whale Rider' tells the story of Paikea and the challenges she faces and overcomes as a young girl in a Maori tribe. A narrative can be structured into four key sections: the opening, the build-up, the climax and the resolution.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'sequencing'
putting the events that occur in a story in order from the beginning to the end.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Sequencing and retelling a story only involves recounting the events in the exact order that they occurred. Correction: Effective sequencing and retelling requires pupils to know the plot deeply and to understand some key themes that are threaded through it.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Editing paragraphs of a narrative in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Exploring characters' perspectives Study Guide
- Learning about the context of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning the opening of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Planning the resolution of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Practising writing direct speech for 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Publishing and reading my 'Whale Rider' narrative aloud Study Guide
- Writing a narrative scene with direct speech in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing paragraph one of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing paragraph two of an emotive narrative scene in 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing the opening of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
- Writing the resolution of 'Whale Rider' Study Guide
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