LO: To write a setting description.

The setting of a story is where and when it takes place and usually tells the reader how it looks and feels, so they can imagine it in

their mindsHow the setting is described will depend on the

genre of the story.

What is a setting?

How do we write a setting description?

Watch both videos from the link below…

Writing story setting descriptions - Year 4 - P5 - English - Catch Up Lessons - Home Learning with BBC Bitesize - BBC Bitesize

The Creature in the Cave

When I was nine years old, I found something truly incredible.

My mother had taken me exploring, as she often did, and we stumbled upon a beach. It was a small curved bay with pebbles and a patch of sand. While I poked around in rock pools and swam in the sea, my mother stretched out on the warm stones and soon fell asleep. This meant I could wander further.

I was scrambling over some boulders when I discovered the cave. It was hidden behind a curtain of leaves; inside, the light was green and the air had a tang of salt and fish. I thought the cave led to nowhere, but then, at the very back I found a tunnel. I crept into the gloom and something crunched under my feet. Shells? I was a little frightened, but kept going because I was nine and this was exciting and ahead I could see a dot of light. The dot grew bigger. It became a circle, an opening, I smelt the sea and heard the crash of waves. I had found another cave, but this was not the incredible thing I wanted to tell you about.

Read out loud this extract from the story ‘The Creature in the Cave’ by Jenny McLachlan. Taken from: The Book of Hopes; Edited by Katherine Rundell by Bloomsbury Publishing – issuu

Read the sentence below.‘It was a small, curved bay with pebbles and a patch of sand.’

a) Using a thesaurus, find 3 synonyms for the words underlined. b) Re-write the sentence, using the new and improved adjectives you

have found! c) Write another two sentences describing the picture below – try use

the most exciting adjectives you can find!

Task 1

Collins Thesaurus | Synonyms, Antonyms and Definitions (collinsdictionary.com)

Read the sentences below from the story.

I thought the cave led to nowhere, but then, at the very back I found a tunnel. I crept into the gloom and something crunched under my feet. Shells?

1. Write an additional three sentences in your home learning books to describe the tunnel/ cave. Try and include a range of adjectives. Think about what you could see, smell, hear, feel?

Challenge: Include a simile in your sentence (like/as).Sentence starters = Under my feet… At the end of the tunnel… All around me… The noise of…

Task 2

The Lamagaia Nest I grasp Nanijees’s hand tight as we scramble together over loose stones and winding steep paths. We’re heading through the snow-capped Himalaya, to a special place that Nanijee has been promising to show me, a place where the wide wings lamagaias nest.

The sky, like a never ending blue ribbon, stretches ahead of us, leading us higher, further until my legs ache. We rest by a cold stream bubbling between two hefty boulders and scoop iced water with our cupped palms.

Read out loud this extract from the story ‘The Lamagaia Nest’ by Jasbinder Bilan. Taken from: The Book of Hopes; Edited by Katherine Rundell by Bloomsbury Publishing – issuu

Read the sentence below: I grasp Nanijees’s hand tight as we scramble together over loose stones and winding steep paths. __________________________________________Write a minimum of two sentences, that include similes, to describe the path through the mountains. Try and make it link to the sentence above.

Challenge: see if you can write it as subordinate clause. For example: The path, that was like a rock face, stretched for miles and was surrounded by green, mossy hills.

Task 3

Ideas for description…• Clouds • Path • Grass • Snow-capped mountains • Hills

What are metaphors and similes? - BBC Bitesize

Hopes and DreamsLook at this image on the left. Spend 1 minute looking at the different features of the setting. What do you notice?

1. In your Home Learning book write some phrases or adjectives to describe the setting.

E.G.• Tall oak tree • Cloudy sky

2. Now, have ago at using adjectives to extend these noun phrases and make complete sentences.

E.G. A single dark brown, tall oak tree stood impressively on the isolated island.

Ideas for description…• Trunk • Island • Clouds • Leaves• Flowers • Sky

Task 4

What is an expanded noun phrase? - BBC Bitesize

Watch this video if you are unsure…

Hopes and Dreams

Now, using all your ideas write a short setting description for this image (4-7

sentences).

Use this criteria to help you:

Capital letters and full stops Exciting adjectives

Co- 0rdinating conjunctions (FANBOYS)

All of the above Expanded noun phrases

Subordinating conjunctions

All of the above Fronted adverbials (e.g. In the

distance,…) Relative clause (e.g. The island, which

floated alone, drifted across the sky) Similes

Ideas for description…• Trunk • Island • Clouds • Leaves• Flowers • Sky

Task 4

WELL DONE!