This KS1 resource introduces children to the idea of animal characters in fables. They will:
- write their own dialogue between two animal characters
- explore dilemmas in stories
- improve their comprehension and vocabulary
- look at conjunctions
- plan and write a new fable
This resource comprises six units, each of which includes a unit overview, teacher notes and student resources.
Fables KS1 units
Unit 1 overview
The lesson focuses on introducing Year 2 students to traditional animal-based fables and explores character traits and moral lessons.
Over three days, the activities guide children through understanding and discussing fables, particularly The Frog and the Scorpion and The Hare and the Tortoise.
Key activities
Day 1 – Students learn about animals in fables. They engage in vocabulary-building and collaborative discussions, using fact files and glossaries.
Day 2 – The class hears The Frog and the Scorpion fable and discusses the concept of inherent nature in animals (and people), leading them to reflect and write about their own traits.
Day 3 – Using a story map, students retell the fable, identify its moral. They discuss adjectives to describe the hare and tortoise, enhancing vocabulary with expanded noun phrases.
Unit 2 overview
This lesson is designed to teach Year 2 students how to write and perform dialogue between animal characters from fables.
Key activities
Day 1: performing dialogue
- Students revisit The Frog and the Scorpion fable and create imagined dialogue for the characters. They then role-play a conversation between two animals who were friends of Frog and Scorpion, exploring expressive language and character emotions.
Day 2: writing dialogue
- Students review and write down their created dialogues. The teacher models punctuation within speech bubbles, emphasising initial capital letters, end punctuation, and, for more advanced students, the use of speech marks with dialogue tags.
Hamilton Trust is a UK charity working to support inspirational teaching and learning through its website and projects. Find out more at hamilton-trust.org.uk. Browse more traditional tales resources.
