This Year 2 writing unit from the Real Writing collection uses an original instructional text by published children’s author Dan Smith to teach pupils how to make a hand puppet.
Pupils learn key features such as contracted words, time adverbials, imperative verbs and direct address, while exploring nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs.
Practical links to design technology allow pupils to create and evaluate puppets, strengthening real-world purpose. Core grammar skills include present tense, commas in lists, possession and expanded noun phrases.
Throughout the two- to three-week unit, pupils plan, rehearse, draft, edit, read aloud and proof-read for clarity. The unit ends with pupils writing their own set of instructions for making a hand puppet or a related product.
Teacher notes, slides and activity sheets support each step with clear guidance.
Resources included
- Model text (plain, illustrated and annotated PDF)
- Annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations
- Instruction poster
- Teaching slides and teacher notes
- Vocabulary cards and matching activity
- Instructions planning sheet
- My Sock Puppet writing sheet
- CEW cards
- Writer’s checklist
- Activity sheets for vocabulary, punctuation and sentence forms
Curriculum links
- English: instructional writing, vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, sentence forms, present tense, contracted words, apostrophes, expanded noun phrases
- Design technology: plan, design and make appealing functional products, evaluate existing examples, sequence processes and choose materials
- Speaking and listening: oral rehearsal, presenting steps, reading aloud
Vocabulary focus
Common exception words: hold, after, should, could, would, sure, even, fasten
Tier 2 words: distance, flip, heel, oval
Tier 3 words: attach, fabric, fasten, felt, glue gun, join, materials, needle, scissors, sew, thread, tools
Key teaching activities
- Investigate real or pictured puppets and discuss how they work
- Read and orally rehearse the model text with actions
- Identify subheadings, numbered steps and imperative verbs
- Match Tier 2 and Tier 3 vocabulary to images and definitions
- Sequence ten steps using drawings and key words
- Practise direct address using pronouns and a chatty tone
- Explore contracted words and place apostrophes correctly
- Extend nouns into expanded noun phrases
- Spot commas in lists and create new examples
- Build present tense sentences
- Design an original sock puppet with labelled materials
- Plan and draft a full set of instructions
Outcomes
By the end of this unit pupils:
- write a clear sequence of numbered instructions
- use contracted words with correct apostrophes
- apply time adverbials and imperative verbs
- include expanded noun phrases and commas in lists
- recognise and use statements, questions, exclamations and commands
- design and evaluate a simple product in design technology
- read their writing aloud and revise for accuracy
Assessment opportunities
- Vocabulary sorting and matching
- Oral retelling with actions
- Planning sheet steps and sequencing
- Drafted instructions with checklist review
- Reading aloud to check clarity