This KS1 adventure story writing unit provides a complete, sentence-driven writing sequence based on a retelling of Whistleless.

The unit follows a clear 8-day structure, guiding pupils from shared reading and oral rehearsal through explicit sentence-level grammar teaching and into independent writing. The focus is on retelling a familiar story so pupils can concentrate on sentence construction, grammar, and vocabulary without the cognitive load of inventing a new plot.

What’s included:
• A high-stretch model text for shared reading and deconstruction
• Four clear plot points to structure the retelling
• Explicit grammar teaching across the sequence:
– adjectives for description
– because sentences (cause and effect)
– coordinated actions using and
– exclamation sentences
• Differentiated dictated sentences for Year 1 and Year 2
• Independent sentence prompts and dual-coded vocabulary support
• Daily oracy and movement activities linked to the plot points
• Dedicated lessons for independent writing, editing, and performance (reading aloud)

This unit is suitable for:
• Year 1 or mixed Year 1/2 classes
• Teachers seeking a structured, practical approach to writing
• Classrooms prioritising sentence quality, oral rehearsal, and independence

The sequence supports KS1 National Curriculum expectations for writing, including sentence demarcation, coordination, subordination, vocabulary development, and spoken language. It is designed to be easy to teach, inspection-safe, and reusable.

Ideal as a standalone unit or as part of a wider sentence-driven writing curriculum.