1. Exploring Narrative Texts Year 1 and Year 2

2. What are Narrative Texts?
Narrative texts tell a story. They have:
a setting – where and when
some characters – people, animals or objects
a plot – events that happen in order.

3. Narrative Writing - Fairy Tales
A fairy tale is a narrative text. It is a make-believe story that usually includes magical elements.
Fairy tales are commonly set in a faraway land. They usually start with the phrase, Once upon a time.
Fairy tale characters often include children, animals and magical creatures. There is normally a hero who must defeat or outsmart a villain.
Most fairy tales end with the phrase, They all lived happily ever after.

4. Fairy Tales - Activity As a class, brainstorm fairy tales that:
start with Once upon a time
have magical elements
have a hero and a villain
end with They all lived happily ever after.

5. Narrative Writing - Text Structure
Beginning/Opening (orientation)
Who is in the story?
When does the story happen?
Where does the story take place?
Problem (complication)
What is the problem?
What events lead to the solution?
(Resolution)
How is the problem resolved?
Ending (Coda)
What lesson is learned? By the character or the reader

6. Narrative Writing - Text Structure Little Red Riding Hood
Listen to the story of Little Red Riding Hood.
Who are the characters?
What is the setting?
What is the problem?
What is the sequence of events?
How is the problem resolved?

7. Text Structure - Beginning (Orientation)
Setting (when and where) Once upon a time, in the woods Characters (who) Little Red Riding Hood, Grandmother, the wolf and the woodsman

8. Text Structure - Middle (Complication)
The wolf tricks Little Red Riding Hood into taking another path so he can beat her to Grandmother’s house.

9. Text Structure - Series of Events
The wolf runs to Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother’s house. He hides Grandmother in the cupboard.
The wolf tries to trick Little Red Riding Hood by dressing up as her Grandmother and getting into her bed.
Little Red Riding Hood discovers that the wolf has disguised himself as her grandmother. She screams out for help.

10. Text Structure - Ending (Resolution)
A woodsman arrives to scare off the wolf.

11. Narrative Text Structure - Activity Little Red Riding Hood
Complete the Story Map worksheet for Little Red Riding Hood.

12. Narrative Writing - Text Structure Hansel and Gretel
Listen to the story of Hansel and Gretel.
Who are the characters?
What is the setting?
What is the problem?
What is the sequence of events?
How is the problem resolved?

13. Text Structure - Beginning (Orientation)
Setting
Once upon a time, in the woods
Characters
Hansel, Gretel, the woodcutter and the witch.

14. Text Structure - Middle (Complication)
The family have no food. The woodcutter sends Hansel and Gretel out into the woods to find some. Hansel and Gretel get lost.

15. Text Structure - Series of Events
Hansel and Gretel find a house made out of sweets.
The wicked witch invites the children in and gives them food to eat.
The wicked witch puts Hansel into a cage and wants to eat him.

16. Text Structure - Ending (Resolution)
Gretel pushes the wicked witch into the oven. Hansel and Gretel run away with the witch’s pearls and jewels. They never have to worry about money ever again.

17. Narrative Text Structure - Activity Hansel and Gretel
Complete the Story Map worksheet for Hansel and Gretel.

18. Narrative Writing – Character Building
Appearance
What does the character look like?
Character Traits What personal qualities does the character have?
Feelings
What type of feelings does the character experience?

19. Character Building - Appearance
How old are they?
What type of hair do they have?
What colour are their eyes?
What type of clothes are they wearing?
What body shape do they have?
Are they wearing any special accessories? e.g. glasses or a cape

20. Character Building – Appearance
Kate
Kate has rosy red cheeks.
Kate wears pink and purple clothes.
Kate has long black hair.
Kate has sparkling white teeth.
Kate has pink shoes.

21. Character Building – Appearance
Bobby
Bobby likes to wear red clothes.
Bobby has black glasses.
Bobby has fair skin.
Bobby has a big smile.
Bobby has blue shoes.

22. Character Building – Character Traits
Is the character…
mean?
shy?
intelligent?
mischievous?
sneaky?
considerate?

23. Character Building – Character Traits
Toby the tiger was cheeky.
Toby the tiger was smart.
Toby the tiger was curious.
Toby the tiger was brave.

24. Character Building – Character Traits
Suzie the scientist was smart.
Suzie the scientist was hard-working.
Suzie the scientist was curious.
Suzie the scientist was proud.
Suzie the scientist was friendly.

25. Character Building – Feelings
Is the character feeling…
excited?
angry?
sad?
surprised?
happy?
scared?
What might have happened to the character to make them feel this way?

26. Character Building – Feelings
How do you think this character is feeling?
Jane felt angry when she saw the rubbish on the beach.

27. Character Building – Feelings
How do you think this character is feeling?
Sasha felt scared when she saw the lightning outside.

28. Character Building - Activity
Chose one of the following characters. Use a Character Profile worksheet to describe their appearance, traits and feelings.
Red Riding Hood
Big Bad Wolf
Witch
Gretel
Hansel

29. Narrative Writing – Language Features
Nouns
A noun is a person, place or thing.
Adjectives An adjective describes the noun.
Verbs
A verb is a doing word.
Adverbs
An adverb describes the verb.

30. Narrative Writing – Language Features
The cheeky girls whisper quietly under the big oak tree.

31. Narrative Writing – Language Features
The fluffy dog hides happily in the autumn leaves.

32. Language Features - Activity
Use a noun, adjective, verb and adverb to describe this picture.

33. Narrative Writing - Activity
Choose one of the images on the following slides.
As a class, brainstorm a setting, character, problem and solution for your chosen images. Record your ideas on the Story Map template.
As a class, write a narrative based on your brainstorm.