Talk for Writing: The Old Mill – 4-Week Narrative Writing Unit (Year 6 / Upper KS2)
Description
This Talk for Writing narrative unit is a four-week planning sequence based on the suspense and warning story The Old Mill. It is designed for Year 6 / Upper Key Stage 2 and follows the Talk for Writing process of Imitation, Analysis, Innovation, and Independent Application.
This unit is also included in a full 22-unit KS2 narrative writing bundle covering an entire term of structured writing.
The unit focuses on helping pupils develop atmosphere, tension, and suspense through setting-led storytelling. Pupils explore how writers create unease using descriptive language, pacing, and subtle hints of danger, before applying these techniques in their own original writing.
This resource is intended as a teacher planning pack, giving you full professional flexibility to adapt lessons to your class.
What’s Included
✔️ A complete 4-week Talk for Writing unit plan
✔️ Clear weekly structure:
- Imitation
- Analysis
- Innovation
- Independent Application
✔️ Detailed guidance for:
- Oral rehearsal and storytelling
- Story mapping and narrative structure
- Exploring suspense, setting, and atmosphere
- Planning, drafting, editing, and improving writing
✔️ Learning intentions, suggested teaching approaches, and outcomes for each week
✔️ Teaching notes to support whole-class delivery and differentiation
Weekly Overview
Week 1 – Imitation
Pupils become familiar with the story through oral retelling, story mapping, and identifying warning story features.
Week 2 – Analysis
Focus on how writers build suspense using descriptive language, pacing, and setting.
Week 3 – Innovation
Pupils adapt the model story by changing characters, settings, or events while keeping the warning narrative structure.
Week 4 – Independent Application
Pupils plan, write, edit, and improve an original suspense narrative inspired by the model.
Skills Developed
- Narrative structure
- Warning and suspense writing
- Creating atmosphere and tension
- Setting-led storytelling
- Descriptive vocabulary
- Planning, drafting, editing, and presenting writing
Important Information
📌 This is a teacher planning pack only
📌 No worksheets, slides, or written model text are included
📌 Suitable for Year 6 / Upper Key Stage 2
Why Teachers Choose This Resource
✔️ Clear and structured planning
✔️ Flexible and adaptable
✔️ Ideal for Talk for Writing classrooms
✔️ No unnecessary worksheets
⭐ Want the FULL writing curriculum? ⭐
This unit is part of a complete 22-unit KS2 narrative writing bundle covering an entire term.
✔ 22 ready-to-teach units
✔ Full progression across the term
✔ Save hours of planning every week
👉 Get the full bundle here:
https://payhip.com/b/jfic6
File Format
- Instant digital download
