# Lesson Plan: Writing Essays and Narratives
## Year Group: Year 4
### Subject: Language Arts
### Topic: Writing Essays and Narratives
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#### **Learning Objectives:**
- Students will understand the structure and components of an essay and a narrative.
- Students will be able to plan and write a short essay and a narrative.
- Students will develop skills in organising their thoughts and ideas before writing.
- Students will practice using descriptive language and connectives to enhance their writing.
### **Materials Needed:**
- Whiteboard and markers
- Chart paper and markers
- “Writing Essays and Narratives” handout
- Sample essay and narrative texts
- Notebooks or writing paper
- Pencils and erasers
- Story planning templates
- Visual aids for parts of essay and narrative structure
### **Lesson Duration:**
**1 hour and 30 minutes**
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### **Lesson Outline:**
#### **1. Introduction (10 minutes)**
1. Begin with a brief discussion about different types of writing students might already be familiar with (e.g., letters, stories, reports).
2. Introduce the topic of writing essays and narratives.
3. Explain the learning objectives for the lesson.
#### **2. Warm-Up Activity (10 minutes)**
1. **Activity: Mind Mapping**
- Ask students to work in pairs to create a mind map of any topic they are interested in (e.g., their favourite animal, a memorable holiday).
- Allow 5 minutes for the activity, then ask pairs to share their mind maps with the class.
#### **3. Direct Instruction (20 minutes)**
1. **Understanding an Essay**
- Define an essay and explain its purpose.
- Discuss the basic structure of an essay: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
- Show a visual aid of an essay structure.
- Read and analyse a sample short essay together as a class, highlighting key parts.
2. **Understanding a Narrative**
- Define a narrative and explain its purpose.
- Discuss the basic structure of a narrative: beginning, middle, and end.
- Show a visual aid of a narrative structure.
- Read and analyse a sample short narrative together as a class, highlighting key parts.
#### **4. Guided Practice (20 minutes)**
1. **Planning an Essay**
- Provide students with a simple essay prompt (e.g., "Describe your favourite season and why you like it").
- Distribute “Writing Essays and Narratives” handouts.
- Guide students through planning their essay using a graphic organiser: brainstorming ideas, organising thoughts, and outlining their essay.
2. **Planning a Narrative**
- Provide students with a narrative prompt (e.g., "Write a story about a magical adventure in the forest").
- Use story planning templates to help students plan their narrative: setting, characters, plot, conflict, and resolution.
#### **5. Independent Practice (20 minutes)**
1. **Writing the Essay**
- Have students write a short essay based on their planning in their notebooks.
- Encourage them to use descriptive language and connectives.
- Monitor and offer support as necessary.
2. **Writing the Narrative**
- Have students write a short narrative based on their planning in their notebooks.
- Encourage them to be imaginative and detailed.
- Monitor and offer support as necessary.
#### **6. Sharing and Feedback (15 minutes)**
1. **Peer Review**
- Pair up students to exchange their essays and narratives with a partner.
- Ask them to read each other’s work and provide constructive feedback using a simple checklist (e.g., Did they use paragraphs? Is the story clear?).
2. **Class Sharing**
- Select a few students to share their essays and narratives with the class.
- Encourage positive comments and suggestions for improvement from classmates.
#### **7. Conclusion and Reflection (5 minutes)**
1. Recap the main points of writing essays and narratives.
2. Ask students to reflect on what they found easy or challenging during the lesson.
3. Collect writing samples for further review and assessment.
### **Differentiation:**
- For students who need extra support, provide sentence starters and more guided templates.
- For advanced students, offer additional prompts and encourage them to add more complex elements to their writing.
### **Assessment:**
- Observe and note student participation during discussions and activities.
- Review the written essays and narratives for understanding of structure and content.
- Assess the use of descriptive language and connectives in student writing.
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### **Homework:**
- Ask students to think of another topic they are interested in and create a new essay or narrative plan at home.
- Encourage them to write a first draft based on their plan and be ready to share it in the next class.
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This lesson plan aims to equip Year 4 students with the foundational skills needed to write both essays and narratives, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively through written language.