Short Story Planning: Structure and Pace

Year 6 EnglishWriting2 pages

About this worksheet

A two-page Year 6 story plan, framed as a pitch to a publisher for an anthology called Edge of Your Seat. Pupils first name their target audience and the inciting incident. Then they fill six storyboard panels, from The Hook to The Resolution, each with a sketch and a caption. Every caption says whether the pace is fast (action, short sentences) or slow (description, building suspense). Stick figures are fine, since the focus is on sequence. The sheet follows England National Curriculum writing composition objectives on planning.

Page 1 of 2

When this preview is focused, use the left and right arrow keys to move between pages.

Curriculum objectives covered

Writing - composition

โ€œIdentifying the audience for and purpose of the writing, selecting the appropriate form and using other similar writing as models for their ownโ€

Question 1 asks pupils to name their target audience and the reaction they want at the climax.

Writing - composition

โ€œNoting and developing initial ideas, drawing on reading and research where necessaryโ€

Question 2 and the six panels let pupils sketch and order their ideas before they write.

What's inside this worksheet

Step 1: Initial Ideas

Two questions: who the audience is and how they should react at the climax, and what the moment is that changes everything.

Step 2: Storyboard Sequence

Six panels (The Hook, The Build-Up, The Turning Point, The Complication, The Climax and The Resolution), each with a Caption & Pace box.

How teachers use it

Before extended writing

Use it the lesson before pupils draft their story, so the structure is settled first.

Peer check

Ask pupils to swap storyboards and check that every Caption & Pace box names a speed and gives a reason.

Support for reluctant writers

The six fixed panel titles give pupils a shape to hang ideas on, and stick figures keep the focus off the drawing.

More Year 6 English worksheets

Get started today

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

Try Chalkie for free