Descriptive Writing, Personification - KS2 Text Types: Writing Planners and Model Texts

This pack contains a number of resources to support pupils when exploring personification, using this figurative language technique in their descriptive writing. The resources are based on a model text, which is a description of the natural world, with planning sheets to support pupils to write their own descriptions that include personification. There is also the opportunity to discuss how the senses are also used to add description.

Pupils could complete their own descriptive writing based on a novel that you are currently reading or a topic being studied. Alternatively, a range of images of the natural world is provided to inspire pupils to write a short description using personification that could follow the same theme of the model text: ‘Stopping to Notice’.

What is included in this KS2 descriptive writing resource?

• Model text: Stopping to Notice - this model text is a detail piece of descriptive writing about a hedgerow
• Descriptive writing writing sheet - this contains success criteria for writing descriptive writing using writing features in the model text
• Descriptive writing planning sheet - this worksheet allows pupils to note ideas and organise them before writing
• Natural world image cards - a set of PDF images of the natural world for pupils to describe
• Themed writing paper - the writing paper can be used for pupils to present their work
• Teacher notes - guidance on how the resource could be used within the classroom

What is personification?

Personification is when an author gives human characteristics to an object. It is a type of figurative language that can be used to crate a vivid description for the reader.

Personification examples:

• The leaves danced in the wind.
• Floorboards groaned with every step.

Nation Curriculum English programme of study links

Year 3 / 4 Composition
Pupils should be taught to:

• discuss writing similar to that which they are planning to write in order to understand and learn from its structure, vocabulary and grammar
• plan their writing by discussing and recording ideas
• draft and write by composing and rehearsing sentences orally ...

• plan their writing by noting and developing initial ideas ...
• selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning
• evaluate and edit by assessing the effectiveness of their own and others' writing

This resource is part of the WAGOLL: text types writing packs collection.
View more from this collection

• Model text: Stopping to Notice
• Descriptive writing writing sheet
• Descriptive writing planning sheet
• Natural world image cards
• Themed writing paper
• Teacher notes