Traditional stories
(4 weeks)

This is the second of four narrative units in Year 2. The unit has two alternative outcomes. Children can work towards their own written version of a traditional narrative, or create a digital text combining words, images and sounds using presentation software. The unit can be linked to many other curriculum subjects or themes.

Phase 1

Read and compare alternative versions of traditional stories. Discuss opposing characters from the narrative. Discuss and compose dialogue for different characters.

Phase 2

Discuss how characters behave if their roles in a narrative are exchanged. Plan an alternative traditional story. Write a short alternative traditional story using connectives to indicate time and tension.

Phase 3

Discuss how words, sounds and images can convey different information to a reader. Demonstrate how images and sounds can tell a reader a different version of a story. Children create their own digital story, adding dialogue and images to a written narrative.

Overview

• (Reading and response): Read several traditional stories with examples of predictable and patterned language. Children join in and recite familiar words and phrases. Identify examples of formal story language.
• Children prepare and retell familiar stories using appropriate voice for different characters and incorporating some formal story language. Encourage them to sustain the account whilst keeping the listener's interest.
• (Analysis): Compare the themes, settings and characters in several stories. Locate key descriptive words and phrases. Identify sequence of events and compare the plots of different stories. Predict incidents and endings based on experience of traditional tales. Use improvisation and role-play to explore alternatives.
• (Speaking and listening): Watch presentation (live performance/video) of traditional tale(s) from another culture. Discuss how mood and atmosphere were created. Describe characters orally and in writing.
• (Writing): Using a familiar setting from a traditional tale, demonstrate how to structure a new sequence of events and use this as a story plan. Children write own short stories in the style of a traditional tale. Include elements from reading, for example formal story language, typical dialogue. Use past tense consistently and temporal connectives to introduce the different parts of the story.

1998 Framework objectives covered:

Year 2, Term 2: T3 compare story themes; T4 predict story endings/incidents; T5 discuss and compare story settings; T6 identify and describe characters; T7 prepare and retell stories; T13 use story settings from reading; T14 write character profiles.