This Year 3 Real Writing unit uses A Mother’s Blessing by published children’s author Margaret Bateson-Hill as its model text. Pupils will read a version of a Baba Yaga tale, a folklore character from Russian and Slavic storytelling, and investigate traditional magical elements and imaginative scenarios.
The unit spans two to three weeks and follows a carefully mapped framework, giving teachers clear guidance to support pupils in developing narrative skills.
Curriculum links and objectives
The unit focuses on key Year 3 writing objectives while offering links to geography and cultural studies. Pupils will:
- Use a thesaurus to find synonyms and enrich their writing.
- Write and punctuate direct speech, including reporting clauses before or after dialogue.
- Apply expanded noun phrases for description and specification.
- Use commas for lists and extend sentences with conjunctions, adverbials and prepositions to express time and cause.
- Develop settings, characters and plot, organising writing into themed paragraphs.
Vocabulary focus
Use this unit to introduce and explore a rich range of vocabulary:
- Tier 2 words: wisdom, delicious
- Tier 3 words: pestle, mortar
- Common exception words: believe, promise, strange, notice, separate
Pupils will use word cards, context clues and matching activities to explore meaning and incorporate new vocabulary into their writing.
Key teaching activities
Begin with a hook activity, using props such as a pestle, mortar, lantern or witch’s hat to spark discussion about Baba Yaga and folktale elements. Pupils will explore images and videos, discussing traditional uses of objects and how they might feature in a magical story.
Pupils will then read the model text and identify key features of folktales, including verb forms, direct speech, noun phrases and figurative language. They'll practise transforming adjectives into descriptive phrases, using Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary, and experiment with synonyms to enrich dialogue.
Next, pupils will engage in writing activities, including inventing a magical potion recipe and describing a witch’s house. They'll plan their own folktale or retell a Baba Yaga story using a margin planner, proofreading and editing their work using a writing skills checklist.
Resources included
- Model text in three versions: plain, illustrated, and annotated (PDF)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Teacher notes and full lesson plans
- Vocabulary cards and matching activities
- Visual resources, including images of props and magical objects
- Writing scaffolds and “How to write a folktale” posters
Learning outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will:
- Write an imaginative folktale inspired by Baba Yaga
- Use accurate punctuation for direct speech
- Apply expanded noun phrases, conjunctions and adverbs correctly
- Incorporate Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary confidently
- Demonstrate growing skills in planning, drafting, editing and improving narrative writing
This engaging Real Writing unit helps Year 3 pupils develop storytelling skills, extend their vocabulary and enjoy creating rich, imaginative narratives.