SAVE HOURS OF PLANNING

Stop planning from scratch every week.

This unit is part of a COMPLETE Talk for Writing bundle designed to give you a full year of high-quality writing covered:

✔ 22 fully planned writing units
✔ 88 weeks of lessons
✔ Clear progression across KS2
✔ No prep required
✔ Ready to teach immediately

Perfect if you want consistency, structure, and zero stress planning.

Get the full bundle here (best value):
/teaching-resource/resource-13408088

This 4-week Talk for Writing narrative unit is based on the suspense story A Close Call and is designed for Year 3 / Lower KS2.

The unit follows the proven Talk for Writing teaching sequence and supports pupils to develop confidence, structure, and creativity in narrative writing through a carefully scaffolded approach.

What’s Included

✔ A complete 4-week teaching sequence
✔ Clear weekly focus following Talk for Writing pedagogy
✔ Teacher guidance for oral rehearsal, shared discussion, and modelling
✔ Progression from imitation to independent writing
✔ Planning support only – no worksheets or slides included

TEACHERS ALSO CHOOSE THE FULL BUNDLE

If you like this unit, the full bundle gives you a complete, structured writing curriculum with everything planned for you.

✔ 22 complete Talk for Writing units
✔ Covers a wide range of narrative themes
✔ Built for clear progression across KS2
✔ Ideal for long-term planning and consistency

Many teachers choose the full bundle to avoid planning each unit individually and to ensure progression across the year.

View the full bundle here:
/teaching-resource/resource-13408088

Teaching Sequence Overview

Week 1 – Imitation
Pupils become familiar with the story through oral retelling, story mapping, and exploration of narrative structure.

Week 2 – Analysis
Pupils explore how suspense is created through setting, character reactions, and language choices.

Week 3 – Innovation
Pupils adapt the model story by changing characters, settings, or dangers while keeping the narrative structure.

Week 4 – Independent Application
Pupils plan, write, edit, and present an original suspense narrative inspired by the model text.

Skills Developed
• Narrative structure
• Building suspense and tension
• Character reactions and development
• Setting and atmosphere
• Sentence structure and vocabulary choice
• Planning, drafting, editing, and presenting writing

Additional Information
• Designed for whole-class teaching
• Lessons are approximately 45 minutes
• Activities can be adapted for different abilities
• Oral rehearsal is a key feature throughout
• Planning guidance only – does not include worksheets, slides, or a written model text

AGE RANGE
7–9

CURRICULUM LINKS
English – Writing
Narrative Writing
Talk for Writing