Winter Wonders Writing

Curriculum Area and Level

Subject: English
Year Group: Year 4
Curriculum Area: Literacy
Focus: Writing composition (Writing to describe)
Curriculum Link: UK National Curriculum (KS2 - English)
Key Skills: Use of descriptive language, expanded noun phrases, paragraphing, and structuring a piece of creative writing.

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Lesson Objectives

1. Key Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will draft a descriptive paragraph about their ideal winter holiday, including detailed imagery and exciting vocabulary.
2. Develop an understanding of how to use expanded noun phrases to add richness to writing.
3. Practise structuring ideas into a cohesive paragraph using clear beginnings, middles, and ends.

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Preparation

Resources:

• The teacher will need:

  • A photo slideshow of winter scenes (forests, snowy landscapes, cabins, festive towns).
  • A modelled paragraph describing a winter holiday scene (see 'Teacher Input').
  • A timer for activities.

• Students will need:

  • Personal whiteboards and markers (to brainstorm).
  • Writing books or devices.
  • Access to coloured pencils or crayons for extension work if time allows.

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Lesson Structure

Introduction (10 minutes)

1. Set the Scene (3 minutes):
   Welcome the class with soft, festive music playing in the background. Start with a big question: "If you could spend your winter holidays anywhere in the world, what would it look, feel, and smell like?" Introduce today's writing challenge.

2. Activating Prior Knowledge (5 minutes):
   Show a slideshow of six different wintery scenes (e.g., a snowy forest, an ice rink, a cosy fireplace). Pause after each image and invite students to call out descriptive words and phrases, e.g., "sparkling," "frosty breath," "pine-scented air." Write the most imaginative suggestions on the board.

3. Share the Focus (2 minutes):
   Explain that today’s lesson will focus on writing a vivid description of their ideal winter holiday using strong descriptive language. Provide the key success criteria:

   • Use expanded noun phrases (e.g., "the soft, glistening snow").
   • Include at least two senses (e.g., what it looks and feels like).
   • Write a clear and detailed paragraph.

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Main Activity (30 minutes)

1. Teacher Input: Modelling (5 minutes)
Share a written example:
"As I stepped into the clearing, the soft, glistening snow crunched beneath my boots. Towering pine trees stretched into the icy blue sky, their branches dripping with silvery icicles. The air smelled crisp, sharp with the scent of winter. I held a steaming mug of hot chocolate, its sweetness warming my chilly hands. This was my winter wonderland."

Highlight how expanded noun phrases and sensory details (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell) are used to engage the reader. Model underlining expanded noun phrases and pointing out sensory details.

2. Guided Task (10 minutes)

• Step 1: Brainstorming (3 minutes):
  Students use their whiteboards to quickly brainstorm nouns they associate with winter holidays (e.g., snow, winter hats, fires). Encourage creativity!
• Step 2: Expanding Ideas (3 minutes):
  On the board, show how to turn "fire" into "the roaring, crackling fire glowing in the corner." Students create their own expanded noun phrases for three of their brainstormed words.
• Step 3: Planning Their Paragraph (4 minutes):
  Using the question, "What would your perfect winter holiday look, feel, and smell like?" students quickly jot ideas under headers (e.g., Sights, Feelings, Smells).

3. Independent Writing (15 minutes)
Students use their brainstorm and planned ideas to write a descriptive paragraph titled “My Perfect Winter Holiday.” Remind students of the success criteria:

• Use at least three expanded noun phrases.
• Include details that appeal to two or more senses.
• Make the description flow as a complete paragraph (not a list).

Challenge/Extension: Fast finishers can illustrate their winter scene as an accompaniment.

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Plenary and Reflection (5 minutes)

1. Peer Sharing (3 minutes):
   Invite a few students to read their paragraphs aloud to the class. Ask other students to listen for great examples of descriptive language and expanded noun phrases.

2. Quick Review (2 minutes):
   On the board, write:

   • “One thing I did well...”
   • “One thing I want to improve next time...”
     Ask students to discuss these sentences with their table partner and come up with their own answers about their writing efforts today.

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Assessment Opportunities

• Observe students during brainstorming and whiteboard work to gauge their ability to generate expanded noun phrases.
• Review the written paragraphs, checking for use of senses and overall paragraph structure.
• Gather peer and self-assessment feedback during the plenary.

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Differentiation

Support:

• Provide a word bank for students who need help with winter-themed vocabulary (e.g., "frosty," "twinkling," "cosy").
• Allow students with additional needs to verbalise their ideas to a teaching assistant before writing.

Challenge:

• Encourage advanced writers to write a second paragraph describing what happens in their holiday scene (e.g., building a snowman, ice skating).
• Ask them to use similes or metaphors.

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Homework/Follow-Up

Assign students the task of sharing their paragraph with a family member and asking them for feedback. Students can revise their writing based on that feedback and hand in the final version during the next lesson.

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Teacher Notes

• Prepare examples ahead of time to ensure clear modelling.
• Keep the tone fun and festive while focusing on writing improvement goals.
• Encourage all students to visualise their descriptions as a way of making their writing more vivid.