Creating a Mood Board

Overview

This 45-minute lesson is the fifth in a 24-lesson unit titled Setting the Scene. The focus is on exploring how setting can create mood in narrative writing. Pupils will engage creatively and critically by producing a mood board, synthesising visual and textual elements to express atmosphere and tone related to different settings.

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National Curriculum Links

English – Years 5 & 6:

• Reading – comprehension
  • Pupils should develop an understanding of how language, structure, and presentation can contribute to meaning (NC Programme of Study - English, Y5 & Y6, Reading, comprehension).
• Writing – composition
  • Plan their writing by identifying the audience and purpose, and selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary (Y5 & Y6 Writing, composition).
  • In narratives, describe settings, characters and atmosphere (Y5 & Y6 Writing, composition).
• Spoken language
  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates (Y5 & Y6 Spoken Language).

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Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, all pupils will:

1. Understand how specific words and images contribute to creating mood in a setting.
2. Select and organise words and images to reflect different moods accurately.
3. Collaborate to share ideas and justify choices to peers.
4. Use a mood board as a pre-writing tool to plan descriptive writing about settings.

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Resources Required

• Large sheets of paper or poster boards (A3 size)
• Magazines, newspapers with diverse images
• Printed word banks with descriptive adjectives and nouns related to mood and setting (e.g., eerie, bustling, tranquil, shadowy, golden, windswept)
• Scissors, glue sticks, coloured markers
• Whiteboard and marker

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Lesson Structure

Time	Activity	Details & Teacher Guidance
0-5 mins	Starter: Setting the Mood Brainstorm	- Write “Mood” and “Setting” on whiteboard. - Ask pupils: “What feelings can a place make you have? What vocabulary describes these feelings?” - Record responses, pointing out adjectives and sensory details. Encourage precise vocabulary linked to feelings/moods.
5-15 mins	Introduction to Mood Boards	- Explain concept of a mood board: a visual and textual collage that captures the feeling or atmosphere of a scene. - Show examples (prepared beforehand): e.g. a moody forest scene with dark greens, foggy images, words like “mysterious”, “whispering”. - Discuss how choice of images and words sets a tone. - Link to writing: this will help with vivid, purposeful setting descriptions in their stories.
15-35 mins	Main Activity: Creating Mood Boards	- Pupils work in pairs or individually to create 2 mood boards: 1) A bright, happy setting (e.g., sunny, cheerful day) 2) A dark, suspenseful setting (e.g., eerie night, abandoned house) - Use magazines, word banks, and markers. - Circulate to prompt choices: “Why did you choose that image? What mood does this word create?” - Encourage use of sensory language, colour symbolism, and varied vocabulary. - Facilitate peer support and discussion.
35-42 mins	Sharing and Discussion	- Each pupil or pair presents one mood board. - Class discusses which words and images most effectively create the mood. - Teacher highlights connections to writing techniques (metaphor, alliteration, colour imagery).
42-45 mins	Plenary and Review	- Quick verbal quiz: “Name one word or image you will use in your writing from today’s mood board.” - Remind pupils mood boards help writers plan how to ‘show’ not just ‘tell’ feelings through setting. - Give a homework challenge: write a short paragraph using one of their mood boards as inspiration.

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Differentiation

• Support: Provide labelled word banks and pre-cut images if fine motor skills are a challenge. Pair lower-attaining pupils with more confident peers for collaborative support.
• Challenge: Encourage extension by adding similes, personification, or using thesauruses to find vivid adjectives. Pupils can write short descriptive sentences on mood boards.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment during activity: teacher listens for pupils’ reasoning about mood choices and vocabulary precision.
• Peer feedback during sharing, focused on clarity of mood representation.
• Plenary quiz responses to gauge vocabulary application.
• Homework paragraph will provide insight into individual understanding of mood creation through setting.

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Additional Notes

• Encourage use of multiple modalities — visual images plus evocative words deepen understanding and engagement.
• This lesson builds critical pre-writing skills aligned with Y6 expectations to compose detailed narrative descriptions.
• Mood board creation also encourages metacognitive awareness of language effects.
• The small class size allows for personalised feedback and rich discussion.

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This plan combines creativity, critical thinking, spoken language practice, and foundational writing skills – perfectly aligned with the National Curriculum goals for Year 6 English. It equips pupils to think deliberately about setting and mood, crucial for crafting engaging narratives.