The wrong bag

Objective & content

This writing sheet teaches pupils to write a short story in the past for a competition (It was..., After we..., When they came back..., so, because, Suddenly, Before we landed..., In the end...). Pupils read Nadia's story, take its phrases and write their own story from a given first line. By the end, they can write a story of 100 to 120 words in the past simple, with linkers and a surprise.

Pedagogical guide

Page 1 has Nadia's competition story, "The Wrong Bag", with a photo of a family at an airport. On the first day of the summer holidays, her family got up at five for a plane to Spain; after breakfast in a café, her dad picked up the wrong blue bag. On the plane, Nadia opened it and found six tins of cat food and a pink umbrella. The flight attendant called the airport: an old lady had found their bag in the café, and it arrived in Spain the next day. Pupils answer six questions with three options each, then read the useful phrases, set out in the order of a story (start, order, time, so and because, surprise, feelings). Page 2 starts with four lines of Joe's story to complete with linkers from a box. Then pupils write a story that begins "I opened the door, and I couldn't believe my eyes.", from a picture card (a surprise party, a dog and the birthday cake, snow in July, bubbles everywhere, each with four key words) or their own idea, and tick the checklist. The answer key gives a model story.

Suggested procedure

1. (5 min) Ask "What can go wrong on a holiday?" and collect ideas.
2. (10 min) Read Nadia's story aloud; pupils answer the questions.
3. (5 min) Read the useful phrases with the class; pupils find the linkers in the story.
4. (5 min) Page 2: pupils complete Joe's story.
5. (20 min) Pupils choose a card, write their story and tick the checklist.
6. (5 min) Pupils read their stories in groups and choose the funniest.

Adaptations

[S] Pupils write one sentence for each key word on their card, with First, Then and In the end.

[A] Pupils add what someone said (She said it was...).

Materials & prerequisites

One copy of pages 1 and 2 per pupil. Page 3 is the answer key, the model story and the teacher notes: keep it. Pupils need the past simple of regular and irregular verbs, when, before, after, so and because. To take it further, the class votes for the best story.