The theme of Lost and Found is a brilliant way to introduce KS1 pupils to story writing. With this resource pack, you can teach children how to structure a simple narrative where something is lost, searched for and found again.
Pupils will read and explore the WAGOLL model text Where’s Benji?, a short and engaging story about a toy tiger that goes missing before being found just in time for a trip to the zoo.
The text shows pupils how to use sequencing words and positional language while building suspense with repeated questions like “Where could he be?”.
Pupils can act out the story to help them retell it in order, then use the included planning sheets to create their own versions. They can invent new stories about lost toys, belongings or even pets, drawing inspiration from familiar books such as Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers or Dogger by Shirley Hughes.
Model text included
The WAGOLL Where’s Benji? is written in a clear structure that pupils can easily follow. It introduces the main character and setting, builds tension as Benji is searched for in different places and ends with a happy resolution.
The story highlights key features of the text type: something is lost, someone looks for it and it is found. It also models words that sequence events, prepositions that show position and sentences punctuated with capitals, full stops, questions and exclamations.
What’s inside the pack
- Model text: Where’s Benji? to explore as a class
- Lost and found story writing sheet with success criteria, examples of prepositions and simple time adverbials such as first, next and after that
- Story idea cards with images of things that could be lost and places to search, helping pupils with oral storytelling as well as writing
- Lost and found story planning sheet for organising and sequencing ideas
- Themed writing paper so pupils can present their finished stories
Curriculum links
This pack helps pupils meet key English objectives. In Year 1, children will learn to compose sentences orally, write them down and sequence ideas to form short narratives. In Year 2, they will build stamina by writing longer stories, planning before they write, choosing new vocabulary and developing sentence control.