Hello.
This week we are going to build up to 2 short pieces of writing in sessions 3 and 5 (Wednesday and Friday for most of you). Here is an overview of the unit of work.
Session 1 – Understanding the story
Open up the document below and follow the link, underneath the title, to the film clip. I’ve also put the film clip separately if you prefer. It’s really tempting to watch the whole thing at once but don’t! The questions ask you to stop at certain points, so you will need to have the time counter visible on your screen as you watch, or ask an adult to be in charge of stopping at the right place. Before you start, you will need to find the meaning of and understand the word “idiom”. There are no particular right or wrong answers here. I am trying to focus you in on the key parts of the story in preparation for the rest of the week. If you can find an answer to the questions based on what you see in the film, you will be able to have a good go at the writing in session 3.
The Clock Tower 1
The Clock Tower – Film
Session 2 – Actions and Insights
You will need to watch really carefully today to find clues about the thoughts, feelings and emotions of our character. Actors in films never turn to the camera and say “I am really angry!” or “Just to be clear, I am feeling anxious”. They don’t have to because we can tell from their actions, tone of voice, facial expression and the dialogue. In your writing, you should rarely say to the reader “she was really happy” or “he felt scared”. You shouldn’t have to if you choose carefully your vocabulary, description of facial expression and body language and include the thoughts and words of your characters.
Before you start, you will need to remember what an adverb is. Open up the document below. There is a link to the film and you can watch and pause as you find helpful. You are asked to focus on the girl’s actions and what they tell us about how she feels. You are also asked what she might think or say that would reflect those emotions. The actor in a film might say “It’s so colourful! I’ve never had one”. to convey a feeling of longing, rather than “I want a balloon”.
The Clock Tower 2
Session 3 – Writing – show don’t tell – actions and insight
There is no document or link for this session
Before you start – find your work from session 2 to support your writing.
We are going to focus on the part of the film from the beginning until the girl crosses the room to leave the clock tower. Watch this part of the film paying attention to the actions and expressions that show how she feels. Before you start – What might she say or think when she is relentlessly twirling round at the beginning? What might she say or think when she is looking out of the window? Jot these ideas down.
Task – Imagine you are watching this course of events. Write a recount focusing on making the girl’s thoughts and emotions clear through the vocabulary you choose and the description of her body language, facial expression and by including her thoughts or words. You should aim for two paragraphs.
The first paragraph should describe the tower room in a sentence (more of this in session 5) and what the girl is doing. Then, describe how she tries to see out of the window with each pirouette. Choose vocabulary to convey that she longs to be outside. Include the moment she catches sight of the balloons but don’t tell your reader straight away what she has seen. End this paragraph with her opening the window. Make sure your reader gains some insight into her emotions by your clever use of ‘show don’t tell’.
The second paragraph should describe the girl’s response to the view from the window. Focus on 3 or 4 aspects of the view and show the reader her response to what she sees by describing her actions, expression, body language, thoughts, sounds or words. Finish this paragraph by describing how she crosses the room to the stairs in the corner. (we don’t see the stairs, I have just assumed they are there!)
Session 4 – Vocabulary and ideas – Preparation for writing
There are two tasks for this session, both intended to support your writing tomorrow, when you will be writing 2 paragraphs, this time contrasting the settings.
Task 4a – This builds on the work we have done on the girl’s emotions. You will need to use your imagination and decide what the girl would know about the village based on her view from the tower. Complete the poem, following the structure in the example verse. Notice the second verse is about what she has seen, and the third about what she hears. I would suggest the fourth verse highlights the longing she has for the outdoors, and perhaps uses contrast. Think about the question for this verse – do you long for me? – do you notice me? – do you value what you have? – do you know what I dream of? You can probably do better than that!
Task 4b – This is self explanatory! Before you start you will need to remind yourself what synonyms and antonyms are.
The Clock Tower 4a 4b
Session 5 – Writing – Contrasting settings
Using all the work you have done this week in addition to prior learning about setting description – Write 2 paragraphs. Write in the first person – I .
You have a choice about the settings.
Either
The first should describe the clock tower, the second the village as viewed from the window.
or
The first should describe the village as viewed from the window, the second the village when the girl goes outside.
You should include actions and insights (the responses to the settings e.g. “I wince as I catch sight of the grinding glinting steel cogs”.
Open the documents below to find some vocabulary prompts and picture prompts to support you.
The Clock Tower 5
The Clocktower 5 picture prompts
Challenge – introduce the first paragraph with a context sentence or sentences for example; “Each day began the same as the last. I would open my eyes and gaze at the bleak scene before me”.
Link the second paragraph to the first with a connecting opening sentence e.g. “Sometimes, I would lean far out of the window and feast on the sights and sounds below”. (I’m quite pleased with that one!)
I have seen some of the super work that you have been doing in English this week. Mrs Deards has set this weeks English so if you want to share your work with her, i know she will be able to gove you specific feedback.
Spellings
I think after that major effort with your English, we will repeat your spelling task from last week. Find 5 challenging spellings from the Year 5/6 statutory word list and make sure you learn them. Year 6 – You should make a real effort to get this list learnt before September.
-years-5-and-6-word-mat_ver_1
