Writing Dialogue to Move a Story On

Year 6 EnglishWriting2 pages

About this worksheet

A two-page Year 6 writing task on dialogue. The scenario puts the pupil and a best friend at a padlocked iron gate behind the brambles at the back of a park, with a brass key nearby. Pupils write a tense scene in which the two friends argue about whether to open it, and the task asks them to let speech carry the story rather than long description. A four-box plan comes first, then a bank of twelve reporting verbs and adverbs and a full page of lines. It follows the England National Curriculum for Year 6 writing composition.

Remix for free

Writing Dialogue to Move a Story On: Writing - page 1

Writing Dialogue to Move a Story On: Writing - page 2

Curriculum objectives covered

Writing - composition

“In narratives, describing settings, characters and atmosphere and integrating dialogue to convey character and advance the action”

The plan asks how each friend's speech sounds and which final line makes one of them act.

Writing - composition

“Selecting appropriate grammar and vocabulary, understanding how such choices can change and enhance meaning”

The word bank offers verbs such as scoffed and urged, which tell the reader how a line is said.

What's inside this worksheet

The Scenario

A short setting beside a picture of two children at a padlocked gate with a Keep Out sign, then the task: argue about whether to step through.

Quick Plan (5 Minutes)

Four boxes: how the bold friend sounds, what warning the cautious friend gives, what happens between spoken lines and which line ends the argument.

Words You Could Use

Twelve words such as murmured, scoffed, stammered, beckoned and Defiantly, for varying the reporting clauses.

Write Your Scene

A full page of lines for the finished scene.

How teachers use it

Model the first exchange

Write the first three lines of the argument with the class. Show a new line for each speaker and an action, such as rattling the padlock, between two of them.

Improvise first

Pairs act out the argument at the gate for two minutes, one bold and one cautious. The best lines go straight into the plan.

Second draft

After the first draft, pupils change two uses of said to words from the bank and check what each one tells the reader about the speaker.

More Year 6 English worksheets

Reading Comprehension SPaG Spelling

Get started today

Create your own lesson plans, worksheets, and classroom activities in minutes using our AI-powered tools.

Try Chalkie for free