KS3 Creative Writing: The Homework Thief

This 1-2 week set of lessons focuses on creative writing. By the end of the lessons, all students will have produced a plotted story.

The focus of the lessons is building an imaginative writing story as a class, rather than as an individual. Instead of developing their own stories, students all write the same story in their own style. This allows for students to focus on the detailed skills of writing, rather than plotting, and build their confidence with sentence structure, punctuation, and figurative language. It also reduces impact on the teacher and puts the emphasis on students to think critically and creatively about their writing.

Lesson 1 (Can be two lessons): Setting.
Introduction to the Homework Thief story, in which a student has their first day at school and their homework is stolen. All students will read extracts from richly detailed novels, then use these as inspiration to write their own school setting. This process is heavily scaffolded and broken down using grids and peer feedback.

Lesson 2 (Can be two lessons): Character.
Continuation of Homework Thief story. All students will watch clips of teachers and bullies, then use these as inspiration to write their own characters for their story. This lesson has a focus on class discussion and oracy. The process is heavily scaffolded and broken down using grids and peer feedback.

Lesson 3 (Can be two lessons): Action.
Conclusion of the Homework Thief story, in which students review their process so far (allowing ill or missing students to catch up), carefully replotting their writing with the help of a grid. By the end of the lesson, students will have created tension through action and formed a solid conclusion. he process is heavily scaffolded and broken down using grids and peer feedback.

Lesson 4 (Can be two lessons): Feedback
Students will critically evaluate their work through redrafting. Peer and self-assessment is used throughout to improve stories on a granular level. This lesson includes feedback on sentence structure, punctuation, and vocabulary. At the end, students are encouraged to read out their redrafted work and give peer praise.