This charming Year 2 writing unit from our Real Writing collection invites pupils to explore Cinderelephant, an original story by published children’s author Lucy Strange.
The unit offers a playful reimagining of the traditional Cinderella tale, encouraging pupils to identify key features of fairy tales and to create their own alternative versions.
The example text comes in three formats – plain, illustrated, and annotated – alongside annotated and non-annotated PowerPoint presentations for flexible classroom use.
Unit structure
Every lesson follows a clear, sequenced framework designed to build confidence and independence in writing.
Across two to three weeks of detailed lesson planning, you will guide pupils through the stages of familiarisation, rehearsal, and application. Each phase includes modelled examples, opportunities for discussion, and supported writing tasks.
Teacher notes, slides, and activity sheets are provided for each stage to make teaching smooth and enjoyable.
Curriculum links and objectives
The unit aligns with Year 2 writing objectives and reinforces essential skills in vocabulary, grammar, and composition. Pupils will:
- Spell words ending in –le
- Develop new vocabulary through exploring synonyms
- Use time adverbials to sequence ideas in narratives
- Write narratives using well-structured sentences and varied punctuation
Further links support the teaching of expanded noun phrases, apostrophes for contractions, and proof-reading for accuracy. You can also connect learning to other subjects, such as art – when pupils illustrate scenes or characters – and drama, when they act out parts of the story to internalise structure and dialogue.
Vocabulary focus
This unit promotes rich language development by embedding Tier 2 vocabulary—such as buffet, clumsy, enchantment, good fortune, spectacular, and wicked—and revisiting common exception words, including poor, kind, even, after, could, again, and told.
Pupils use these words in context through reading, discussion, and writing tasks to strengthen both comprehension and spelling.
Resources provided
All the materials you need are included:
- Model text: Cinderelephant (plain, illustrated, and annotated versions)
- PowerPoint teaching slides
- Story sequencing and mapping worksheets
- Tier 2 and common exception word cards
- Writer’s checklist and themed writing paper
- Detailed teacher notes and planning documents
Teaching sequence and activities
You will begin by reading Cinderelephant aloud, helping pupils compare it with the traditional Cinderella story. Together, you’ll identify fairy tale features and characters, explore Tier 2 vocabulary using matching activities, and draw a shared story map.
Pupils then create their own maps to support oral retelling and sequencing.
As writing progresses, pupils experiment with changing settings, characters, or problems to invent their own alternative fairy tales. They will rehearse vocabulary, plan ideas, write their stories, and edit their work before reading aloud to peers.
Outcomes
By the end of the unit, pupils will:
- Understand the key features of a fairy tale
- Use time adverbials and expanded noun phrases effectively
- Apply new vocabulary and common exception words in their writing
- Plan, write, and edit an alternative fairy tale with clear structure and imaginative detail
- Read their completed stories aloud with confidence and expression