Traditional Stories - Lesson 7 - PowerPoint

The seventh lesson in a series on traditional stories is tailored for Key Stage 1 pupils, focusing on the creative task of writing their own version of a traditional story. The objectives of the lesson are twofold: firstly, to construct a story mountain that outlines the structure of a traditional story; and secondly, to use this framework to craft an original narrative. The lesson encourages students to think critically about the elements that make up a story, such as the beginning, middle, and end, as well as the characters and setting. The setting, in particular, prompts students to consider the typical backdrops found in traditional tales, while character creation involves the inclusion of both good and bad figures, with the option to add a magical character for an enchanting twist.

Planning is emphasized as a crucial step in the writing process, and the lesson introduces the concept of a 'story mountain' as a visual planning tool to map out the story's progression. This includes a resolution, ending, problem, build-up, and beginning. Students are encouraged to use a blank story mountain template to organise their thoughts and plot points. The class collaboratively constructs a traditional tale, starting with a setting and characters, and guided by ideas written on the board by the teacher. The lesson culminates in the creation of a shared story, which could potentially be transformed into a picture book. For those ready for a challenge, differentiation and extension activities are available, allowing some students to apply the same process independently or in small groups to devise their own traditional stories.