Year 4 Reading into Writing: Exploring Narratives with a Dilemma

In our Reading into Writing lessons this half term, Year 4 pupils have been on an exciting learning journey exploring narratives with a dilemma. The children have read and discussed a range of carefully chosen texts, identifying key genre features such as build‑up, tension, character choices, and moments of decision. These discussions have helped pupils understand how authors engage readers and develop meaningful storylines.

To inspire our own writing, pupils watched the Disney short film Paperman, using it as a rich visual stimulus. They explored how the film creates emotion, tension, and a clear dilemma without dialogue, and discussed how these techniques could be translated into written storytelling.

Pupils then observed the class teacher model the opening of the story, focusing on setting, character introduction, and mood. Working collaboratively, the children wrote the middle section together, developing the dilemma and building suspense. This shared approach supported confidence and encouraged thoughtful discussion about vocabulary and sentence choices.

Next, pupils will independently plan, draft, and write a polished version of the story’s climax, applying everything they have learned to create a powerful and engaging ending. We are looking forward to seeing their ideas come to life!