This 7-lesson narrative scheme is based on the wonderful wordless picture book, 'Journey' by Aaron Becker. Children will be inspired by the beautiful pictures and engaging storyline to write their own tales of adventure involving the characters in the book!

In the first two lessons, children will become familiar with the story, and will ask and answer questions about the events and characters. The focus is then placed on different aspects that will make their writing more engaging for the reader, including the 'show, don't tell' technique, descriptive language, and direct speech. Using this knowledge and understanding, children then plan and write their own adventure story inspired by the events in 'Journey'.

Looking for more Year 4 English schemes? Check out our other ready-to-teach lesson packs here.

Please be aware that, for copyright purposes, we are unable to provide any of the images from the book for this scheme of work.

Becoming Familiar with the Story

After predicting what the book might be about from the title and front cover, as a class you will look at the book together, discussing how the story is told in pictures only.

In their independent activities, children use the provided story strips to order the story. Alternatively, they are encouraged to retell the story orally in groups or as a class, using as much detail as they can.

This Journey by Aaron Becker lesson plan pack includes an engaging slide show, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

View Lesson 1

Showing Understanding of Events

As a class, children explore the book again, and this time are encouraged to think about the characters, the setting and how the story develops.

In groups or pairs, children discuss a range of given comprehension questions, justifying their answers and explaining their opinions. In the alternative activity provided, children devise their own questions to ask each other about a particular page from the book.

A detailed plan, a set of slides for the teaching input, and differentiated, printable resources are all included in this Journey by Aaron Becker lesson plan pack.

View Lesson 2

The 'Show don't Tell' Technique

In this lesson, children are introduced to and explore the 'show, don't tell' technique for conveying characters' emotions.

Children first explore and discuss the different facial expressions and body language for a range of different emotions, then use this knowledge and understanding to write their own 'show, don't tell' sentences for different scenarios and emotions in 'Journey'.

This lesson pack comes with a detailed plan, differentiated activity ideas, PDF lesson slides as well as all the printable resources to support your class as they work independently.

View Lesson 3

Descriptive Language

In this lesson, children first recap on their knowledge of descriptive language, and the types of words can can be used to add small details to descriptions that help the reader to visualise events more clearly.

After working as a class to improve the descriptive detail of some simple given sentences, children are then tasked with writing an audio description for one of the double-page spreads in the book, aimed at someone who cannot see the pictures.

This Journey by Aaron Becker lesson plan pack includes an engaging slide show, differentiated activity ideas and printable resources.

View Lesson 4

Punctuating Direct Speech

As a class, children recap on the correct use of inverted commas when using direct speech, as well as where to position closing punctuation and reporting clauses.

In their independent activities, children will apply this knowledge by adding the correct punctuation to given direct speech sentences, as well as writing their own based on imagined conversations between the characters in 'Journey'.

A detailed plan, a set of informative slides and differentiated, printable resources are all included in this Journey by Aaron Becker lesson plan pack.

View Lesson 5

Planning a Story

In this lesson, children revisit 'Journey' and focus on what they know about the character of the boy, and the purple bird. Children use their skills of deduction and inference to imagine what might have happened to the boy between the first double-page spread of the book, and the last.

Children are then challenged to plan a narrative for the boy's story. In the Fancy Something Different? option, children are tasked with planning a sequel to 'Journey', with the boy and girl having an adventure together using their magic crayons.

Everything you need is included in this Journey by Aaron Becker lesson plan pack - engaging and informative slides, differentiated activity ideas, printable resources, and of course, a detailed plan!

View Lesson 6

Writing a Story

In this final lesson, children first look at the useful technique of composing and orally rehearsing their sentences before they write them.

After looking at examples of this technique, and exploring how it works as a class, children are challenged to put it into practice when writing their story inspired by events in 'Journey'.

A detailed plan, a set of slides for the teaching input, and differentiated, printable resources are all included in this Journey by Aaron Becker lesson plan pack.

View Lesson 7