Sharing Our Stories

Lesson Overview

Subject: English (ELA)
Year Group: Year 6
Unit: Writing Adventures in Aru (Lesson 10 of 10)
Lesson Duration: 60 minutes
Class Size: 15 students

Curriculum Links

National Curriculum for England:

• Spoken Language (Year 6): Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations, and debates.
• Writing Composition (Year 6): Plan, draft, and share writing; assess the effectiveness of their own and others’ writing; suggest improvements.
• Reading Comprehension (Year 6): Identify themes and conventions in a wide range of books; discuss and evaluate how authors use language.

Lesson Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will:

1. Confidently present their written work to peers.
2. Provide and receive constructive feedback using structured peer review.
3. Compare and discuss their writing in relation to the themes of Aru Shah and the End of Time.
4. Reflect on their growth as writers over the unit.

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Lesson Structure

Starter Activity – Warm-Up (10 minutes)

Objective: Build confidence in speaking and sharing ideas.

1. Lightning Round Discussion: Teacher asks students the following:

   • What makes a great story stand out?
   • What have you enjoyed most about writing in this unit?
   • What challenges did you overcome in your writing?

2. Quickfire Pair Share: Students turn to a partner and share a one-sentence summary of their story before officially presenting.

Main Activity – Story Sharing (30 minutes)

Objective: Encourage students to present their writing and receive feedback.

1. Presentation of Stories (3-4 mins per student)

   • Each student shares a section of their writing aloud.
   • The class listens attentively, making quick notes for feedback.

2. Peer Review & Discussion

   • After each reading, the teacher prompts students with structured feedback questions:

     • What did you enjoy about the story?
     • What was especially creative or unique?
     • What is one way the story could be made even stronger?

   • Students provide feedback using Two Stars and a Wish (two positive comments and one suggestion for improvement).

3. Theme Reflection Discussion (Whole Class)

   • Teacher leads a discussion linking student stories to the themes of Aru Shah and the End of Time (e.g. bravery, myths and legends, self-discovery).
   • How do our stories connect to what we’ve read?

Plenary – Writer’s Reflection (15 minutes)

Objective: Encourage students to self-assess their progress and set targets for future writing.

1. Silent Reflection (5 minutes)

   • Students individually complete a short reflection sheet with prompts:
     • What is one thing you’re proud of in your story?
     • What feedback was most useful today?
     • If you rewrote this story, how would you improve it?

2. Final Class Discussion (10 minutes)

   • What have we learned throughout this unit?
   • How has our writing changed since Lesson 1?
   • What will we take forward into future writing projects?

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support: Prompt cards for those who need help presenting. Pair with a confident speaker for practice.
• Challenge: Encourage more able writers to consider alternate endings or deeper character motivations in the discussion.

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Assessment for Learning (AfL)

• Teacher Observation: Engagement during presentation and discussions.
• Peer Feedback: Quality and depth of student feedback.
• Self-Assessment: Student reflection sheets reveal understanding and progression.

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Resources Required

• Copies of student writing pieces
• Writing reflection sheets
• Peer feedback slips (Two Stars and a Wish template)

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Teacher’s Reflection After Lesson

(To be completed after class by the teacher to inform future planning.)

• What worked well?
• What challenges were observed?
• How did students respond to feedback?
• Next steps for future writing lessons?

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This lesson is designed to be interactive, engaging, and confidence-building for Year 6 students as they share their written work. By emphasising structured peer feedback and connecting their stories to the novel’s themes, students will not only refine their writing but also develop critical thinking and evaluative skills essential for KS2 and beyond.